TimBar Packaging and Display was formed when two competing corrugated box salesmen, Thomas Cline and Kenneth Wenk joined forces to launch Oxford Container in September 1955. What started out as a modest 10,000 sq. ft. plant based out of New Oxford, PA and ten employees manufacturing can cases and brown shipping containers for the local marketplace, expanded throughout the years to include facilities in Florida, South Carolina, Tennessee and New York.

Coming off of a difficult 2009 like all businesses, TimBar fared well going into 2010. Matt Heleva, the company’s president, didn’t consider the economic crisis a trend, but an opportunity to reenter the market differentiating themselves through excellent customer service.

Observing competitors reducing their staffs during the recession, Heleva decided to take a different approach. “Our goal was to reemphasize our focus on our customers and improve reliability and flexibility,” said Heleva. “We expanded our sales force and cut back on capital in 2009. Our primary focus was on doing what we could to help our customers get through this economic crisis successfully. We weathered very well, we even reduced out debt.”

HISTORY

Heleva, who entered the manufacturing business right out of college 32 years ago, sought to enter new market segments and improve efficiency of existing operation. Heleva worked for several large integrated paper and packaging companies throughout his career. Even though Heleva has a sales and marketing background, he has always been intrigued with manufacturing.

Heleva expressed. “I’ve always been enamored with how things are built and made.”

Heleva combined his love for manufacturing and sales to progress his career into where he is today. He’s better able to relate to clients and customers by knowing so much about the products, how they’re built and how the customers’ products travel through the distribution channel.

Today, Heleva makes sure employee recognition is a must. In January 2010, while other firms were continuing to cut back, Heleva reestablished wage increases and 401K matches. “It is critical to take care of your employees,” said Heleva. “We were able to reinstate wages without increasing medical premiums, which is unheard of right now. We were able to achieve this because of our employees firm and successful commitment to productivity improvements and waste reduction during 2009. It was their hard work that enabled us to weather the economic storm so we only thought it right to give back to them when we could.

ENDURANCE

Not knowing how deep the recession would get, Heleva took corrective actions early by freezing wages, cutting 401K, selling some business in Upstate New York and embarking on a very effective cost reduction program from purchasing to cost operating.

“We knew if we didn’t start preparing from the get go, the recession would have depleted our cash reserves,” said Heleva. “We’re still coming out of it, but after reinvesting in new market segments we we’re able to get faster and better at growing our businesses.”

TimBar has been able to maintain its connections and commerce with several different industries, such as packaged food, produce, nondurable goods, household cleaning, cosmetics and personal care products. In addition to corrugated shipping containers, they design and manufacture specialty items, such as pizza boxes, protective foam packaging, fresh flower transport, jumbo boxes and packaging supplies in many different capacities. Through acquisitions, the company has grown 20-25percent larger to complement its existing footprint.

TECHNOLOGY

In October or November of this year, TimBar plans to install a state-of-the-art rotary die cutting machine in its Tampa, Florida facility. “What’s unique about this machine is that it can glue a jumbo size box in one pass,” said Heleva. Our current process requires two passes through the equipment and a lot of hard labor. This new machine will enable us to produce approximately 500 pieces per hour verses our current ability of 35 pieces per hour. The process is geared towards speed and accuracy enabling us to produce more, more efficiently. That benefits us and our customers.”

SAFETY

Heleva also adds safety as the hallmark of the company as they impose their own safety training. TimBar also incorporates ergonomics. “Much of our equipment has pre feeders so workers won’t have to lift the heavy board,” Heleva says. “We also take care to ensure our office associates are part of our ergonomics program. We are very proud of our safety performance and the fact that we are recognized as one of the safest companies in our industry. We have very safe work environments, have taught our associates how to work safety and encourage them to look after their co-worker to ensure they are always working as safely as possible.”

SUSTAINABILITY

TimBar employs a Director of Sustainability to assess how the company can improve on how they utilize natural resources. TimBar has a sharp understanding of what their carbon footprint is as they implement better use of electricity, gas, lowering waste, improving shipping techniques and substituting carcinogenic products that may be detrimental to the environment.

“Our goal is to work on different types of initiatives and to become good stewards of natural resources while continuing our need for product excellence, affordability and quality,” said Heleva. “Green is good for business, it means bottom line improvement and that’s what we’re after in order to create more business and more wealth for future investment in the business.”

TimBar is still developing its green initiatives. Three months ago they put a recycling program in place. For the first time, Heleva feels they have a good handle on what their plan is and a clear vision of how well it will be executed.

At TimBar, Sustainability and Lean Enterprise initiatives work hand in hand. “Our focus is on main principles,” Heleva added. “We’re good at identifying waste in the system, preventing and predicting it. We measure everything, within the last five to six year journey, we saw an eight to nine percent productive improvement. Our goal is continuous improvement.”

CUSTOMER SERVICE

Above all, customer service is TimBar’s number one priority. Their quality of sales and service components allow them to be reliable and flexible when it comes to their customers.

“We have to become knowledgeable enough to be successful in presenting the best products, service and value,” said Heleva. TimBar stresses loyalty, closeness and intimacy with its customers, service they will not find at any other packaging agency. “We don’t just want to be their supplier, we’d like to be their business partner and do what we can to help them be successful long-term,” said Heleva. “That way it’s a win-win for everyone. They have a viable, reliable supplier and we have a strong, successful, loyal customer.”