Foundation

The first can manufactured by Independent Can was made in Baltimore, Maryland in January of 1929. The can was produced for a local meat packing plant, and it was designed to hold 50 pounds of lard. From our beginning and into the middle 1950’s the major product lines included cans for the packing of lard, and many fresh and frozen seafood products, especially oysters and wax products. A clear plastic end for oyster cans was developed. This innovation gave the product packaged the strength of metal and visibility of glass.

• In the early 1970’s Independent Can entered in a joint venture with a company in Michigan to manufacture cans for frozen fruit – particularly for frozen cherries. By the end of the decade a partnership was created whereby a can plant was built in Ft. Madison, Iowa for the production of cans for the packaging of minerals.

• In the early 1980’s Quaker Can, a manufacturer of cans for the packaging of welding electrodes was acquired. Later in the decade Western Specialty Corporation, a packaging distribution company near Los Angeles, was acquired. This gave us locations on the east coast, the mid-continent, and on the west coast.

Key events shaping our future