When people ask what makes PackGen different, the answer isn’t just our products, it’s our roots and heritage. PackGen is more than a packaging manufacturer. It’s a third-generation family business born in Maine, built on hard work, community values, and a belief that manufacturing should remain a cornerstone of Maine’s economy.
Growing Up in the Business
For our family, PackGen has always been more than a company. It’s where we learned the value of showing up early, working hard, committing to high standards, and giving back to your community. My father and grandfather laid that foundation back in 1979, designing and producing some of the most reliable hazmat packaging in the industry.
I grew up watching them balance the pressures of running a business with the simple goal of doing right by our employees, our customers, and our community. When I left to serve as an officer in the United States Marine Corps, those lessons stuck with me. And when I came back home, I knew that being a part of PackGen meant carrying those same values forward.
Reinventing Ourselves for a New Era
Maine has a long, proud tradition of manufacturing; shipbuilding, paper mills, and textiles are just a few products in our storied history. But too often, the story has been one of manufacturing jobs moving away instead of new opportunities being created. At PackGen, we want to help rewrite that narrative.
That’s why we’ve invested heavily in innovation and continue to bring new products to markets not accustomed to breakthroughs in their bulk packaging solutions. Four years ago, we launched our new line of liquid totes, designed to redefine conventional thought behind liquid packaging. By rethinking how liquid packaging is built, we’ve created a solution that:
- Moves more product per truckload, which reduces the number of trucks on the road, thereby lowering freight costs and CO2 emissions.
- Collapses for storage, saving customers floor space and storage costs.
- Is lighter and easier for operators to handle.
- Uses fully recyclable materials, contributing towards our state’s sustainability goals.
What started as an idea here in Maine is now finding traction across the country, from manufacturers in the Midwest food and beverage producers on the West Coast. Every tote that leaves our Auburn facility carries with it a little bit of Maine ingenuity.
Why It Matters to Maine
We believe manufacturing matters, not just for the products we make, but for the jobs we create and the communities we support. When PackGen grows, it means more opportunities for Maine families. It means keeping good-paying, hands-on jobs right here. It means proving that a family business in Maine can go toe-to-toe with anyone and win.
Looking Ahead
Our story isn’t just about packaging. It’s about resilience, community, and the belief that Maine can continue to be a place where manufacturing thrives. Just as my father and grandfather built PackGen to serve the toughest industries of their time, we’re building the future with packaging that helps companies ship smarter, safer, and more sustainably.
At the end of the day, PackGen is, and always will be, a Maine story. One of family, hard work, and a commitment to making sure that Maine manufacturing remains a staple for generations to come.