PCA’s History
PCA History
1867
1970
PCA acquires 100% of Tennessee River Pulp & Paper Company
PCA acquires 100% of Tennessee River Pulp & Paper Company (Counce, Tennesee, mill), gaining full access to cutting rights on 30,000 acres of timberland in Tennessee, Alabama and Mississippi.
PCA’s 34th corrugated container plant is opened in Burlington, Wisconsin.
1990
PCA acquires Hanover Container
PCA acquires Hanover Container (in Pennsylvania), a manufacturer of corrugated products, and Deseret Container (in Salt Lake City, Utah), a corrugated sheet plant and established supplier of low-volume, fast-turnaround orders.
PCA also acquires Produce and Poultry Container Corporation, a producer of wax-cascaded boxes, later merged into Harrisonburg Container, and six facilities from Dixie Container Corporation, the largest independent corrugated company in the Southeast.
1996
The Counce, Tennesee, paper mill receives the “America’s Best Plants” award
The Counce, Tennesee, paper mill receives the “America’s Best Plants” award, making it the first paper mill to earn this distinction from Industry Week magazine.
Tenneco Packaging acquires a specialty sheet plant in Allentown, Pennsylvania.
1999
A new entity is formed by Madison Dearborn Partners, LLC
A new entity is formed by Madison Dearborn Partners, LLC, a Chicago-based private equity investment firm. The new entity re-establishes the name Packaging Corporation of America (PCA). Pactiv Corporation (formerly known as Tenneco Packaging Inc.) sells its containerboard and corrugated packaging business to PCA.
2004
PCA’s design network is expanded
PCA’s design network is expanded as the company opens a creative design center in Bentonville, Arkansas.
Acorn Corrugated Box Company, located in Bedford Park, Illinois, is acquired by PCA, strengthening the company’s presence in the retail packaging industry and the Chicago market.
2006
PCA’s market presence in southern Florida is expanded
PCA’s market presence in southern Florida is expanded and strengthened by the establishment of a sheet plant in Miami Gardens, Florida.
2009
PCA celebrates its 50th anniversary as a company
PCA celebrates its 50th anniversary as a company, marking a half-century of building relationships based on trust.
PCA opens a new design center and project management facility in Hong Kong. Operating under the name Packaging Corporation of Asia Limited, the new facility is structured to support its U.S. customers with their needs in Asia.
PCA acquires Elwood Packaging, a specialty sheet plant in Chicago. The acquisition strengthens PCA’s position in the Chicago market as a premier value-added provider.
2011
PCA acquires three packaging businesses
PCA expands its reach and coverage by acquiring three packaging businesses: Field Packaging, a specialty sheet plant located in the Chicago area; Packaging Materials Company, a sheet plant in Huntsville, Alabama; and Colorado Container Corporation, a full-line combining plant located in the Denver area.
PCA opens a new full-line converting plant in Reading, Pennsylvania.
2014
PCA acquires Crockett Packaging
PCA strengthens its position in the California market with the acquisition of Crockett Packaging. The acquisition includes a full-line plant in the City of Industry, California, and a sheet plant located in San Bernardino, California.
2016
PCA acquires TimBar Corporation
PCA acquires TimBar Corporation, a large independent corrugated products producer. The acquisition strengthens PCA’s ability to provide value-added solutions to customers in the retail, industrial packaging, and display and fulfillment markets with a focus on multi-color graphics and technical innovation.
PCA also acquires Columbus Container, a full-line corrugated products manufacturer located in Columbus, Indiana.
2018
RISI Names Kowlzan Global Containerboard CEO of Year
PCA’s Chairman and CEO, Mark Kowlzan, named 2018 Global Containerboard CEO of the Year by RISI, a leading information provider for the global forest products industry.
2021
Advanced Packaging Acquired
PCA strengthens its position in the midwestern market by acquiring Advance Packaging Corporation, located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Advance Packaging is a full-service producer of corrugated packaging products, including graphics, retail displays, sustainable shipping containers, and protective packaging.