BUSI NESS
BUSI NESS
API Beyond
the Box w ritten by SHERIL BE NNE T T TURNER photo g raphed by KRIS DECKER
A
ssociated Packaging Inc. was just looking for
The old metal fabrication plant, though, would prove
more space when they found a building that not
to be a challenge for API. “There were no plans showing
only offered a lot of room, but a little piece of
where the electrical, plumbing, and heating and air com-
Greer history. Known to locals as the old Homelite and
ponents were located,” Bill says. “We spent a lot of time
later the John Deere plant, 306 South Buncombe Road
tracing wires, pipes, and ducts that led nowhere. We still
became local manufacturer API’s new home in October
get a few surprises here and there, but we’ve gone from
2006. During the five months of extensive renovations
killing anacondas to garden snakes,” he laughs.
prior to moving day, many former Homelite and John
API was started in 1974 by Bill Neely, D.D. Williams,
Deere employees stopped by to reminisce. When it
and Bud Alley. Originally based in Taylors, the busi-
came time for the grand opening, API invited not only
ness moved with remaining owner Neely in 1984 to 446
their own staff, but everyone with a connection to the
Pennsylvania Avenue in Greer. In 1991, Bill and Carolyn
building’s past. “More than 100 people showed up,” API
Dorris purchased Associated Packaging and brought sons
President Bill Dorris says with amazement. “It was like an
Scott, Vice President of Operations, and Brad, Vice Presi-
old high school reunion. Everyone had such great stories
dent of Sales, into the business a few years later. “We’re
to tell about their lives in this building.”
not only a family-run business,” Bill admits, “we’re a
Built in 1959 and expanded in 1979, the 230,000-
family-oriented business. We treat our people like they’re
square-foot building sat unoccupied for more than three
family. We’re really blessed to have good long-term
years before its current rebirth as a corrugated sheet
employees because they’re the ones that make it happen
plant. With the help of David Swenson, formerly of the
every day.” To show appreciation of their dedicated staff
Greer Development Corporation, API swapped their old
of 65, API included a comfortable break room, a fully-
plant on Pennsylvania Avenue for the South Buncombe
equipped exercise room, and a cafeteria in the design of
Road building. “There are not many people looking for
their new plant.
that kind of space in Greenville County,” Bill explains.
Under the direction of Plant Manager Brad Dennis,
“We looked at the cost of adding on to our old build-
API not only produces the brown boxes from corrugated
ing but it was more cost effective to renovate the new
sheets that they are known for, but point-of-purchase
location. Plus, we got to save a wonderful building with a
displays and specialty shipping containers. “The basic ma-
great past.”
chine process to make a box has not changed over the last
34 GreerNow MAY 2007
Associated Packaging had its own “Extreme Makeover” last year, and is now home to some 65 employees.
GreerNow MAY 2007
35
BUSI NESS
30 years,” Bill explains, “but with advances in technology,
ner. “Our on-time delivery is 98 percent,” Bill says. “We
the speed of the machines has increased. We automate
work really hard at taking care of our customers by get-
everything that we possibly can as far as material flow.
ting them their order when they need it.” API’s customers
We bring it in one end and ship it out the other. At API,
are varied and include a wide range of businesses from
we’re all about fingerprints — the less we have to touch a
the automotive, electronic, food, pharmaceutical, and
product, the less it costs to make, and the less expensive
even the music industry. “We cater to everyone from the
it is for our customers to buy.” API also provides contract
mom-and-pop operation that buys packaging twice a year
packaging, or fulfillment, as well as a full-range of pack-
to the multi-million-dollar company that buy boxes two
aging supplies.
and three times a day.”
Another area in which API is quickly expanding
With new facilities complete, API already has an
is the graphics market. Graphics, as it pertains to their
eye on the future. “We’ve already seen a growth rate of
business, is multi-color printing on corrugated boxes.
35 percent this year,” Bill says. “In addition to our new
“Graphics is our ability to print as opposed to our ability
home base in Greer, which has plenty of room for growth,
to just make a brown box,” Bill explains. “Right now there
we’d like to have a sheet plant in each of the four cardi-
are a lot of companies that print graphics on boxes, but
nal directions from here. We already have a plant, 3-D
not a lot that do it well.” With specialty equipment, API’s
Packaging, in Asheboro, North Carolina. We’d also like to
design team has the ability to print high-quality images,
have one near Atlanta, one at the coast, and one toward
turning a plain brown box into a showpiece.
the mountains in Tennessee.” Associated Packaging Inc.
Using their own trucks and drivers, API currently ships five days a week to customers within a 130-mile ra-
— a Greer company that not only thinks outside the box, but beyond the box. d
dius, which includes the Asheville, Charlotte, and North Atlanta markets. Shipping Manager Doug Golden is in
For more information on API, visit their Web site at www.
charge of getting the product delivered in a timely man-
associatedpkg.com.
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