26

Nov

Liberty Diversified International (LDI) has begun construction on a new $45 million facility for its Omaha Box Company subsidiary, a designer and manufacturer of custom corrugated cartons and displays.

The move strengthens LDI’s ability and capacity to serve packaging customers in its northern region.

The planned 335,000 square-foot facility is being built in the Omaha suburb of Papillion, about 20 miles from the current facility, and is slated to be completed in 2019. In the meantime, company operations will continue in its East Omaha leased building.

Ron Kenkel, General Manager of Omaha Box Company, said, “Our customers are at the heart of this move. A new, modern facility with a new corrugator and additional finishing equipment will help us meet customer needs quickly and efficiently.”

Kenkel said all 75 current employees will be asked to transfer to the proposed new building, and the expanded operation will likely require additional employees.

Greg Theis, Vice President of LDI’s Packaging North business unit, said, “When LDI acquired the Omaha Box business in 2016, we knew we’d outgrow its leased space. This proposed new facility will provide the added capacity and product capabilities needed by our customers.”

Theis said, “We’re proving our dedication to customers’ future needs with this new facility.”

“We are building a powerful engine to serve customers in the nation’s heartland with our Liberty Carton Company operations in Minnesota, our Miller Container Company operations in the Quad Cities and this expansion of Omaha Box Company,” he said.

Theis noted that LDI is 100 years old this year, and Omaha Box Company is 128 years old.

Kenkel said that after an extensive search, the Papillion site located south of 150th Street and Schram Road proved to have the right combination of freeway access, room for expansion and the ability to keep valued employees. He said that maintaining production at the existing plant until the new plant is up and running will make the transition seamless for customers.

Construction will be managed by the Minneapolis-based Opus Group, which also constructed the Gavilon World Headquarters and Creighton University Harper Center in Greater Omaha.