Kaufman Container is celebrating its 100th Year Anniversary. Founded in Cleveland, OH, in 1910, as a small glass-recycling operation, the company has since evolved to become a one-stop packaging source in North America.

According to Ken Slater, president of Kaufman Container, this milestone can be attributed to two things. “Simply put, our success is the combination of our extremely dedicated employees and our very loyal customers. We would not be the company we are today without these two elements.”

Slater admits that in a lot of respects, what Kaufman does is not all that different from other company’s but emphasizes that its commitment to service is what has allowed them to endure for the past 100 years. “It’s our approach to service which exceeds our customers’ expectations and our view of our manufacturers as our ‘partners’ which sets us apart and makes us a unique organization to work with. A company that has stood the test of time.”

To celebrate this milestone, Kaufman Container recently had a 100th Anniversary Open House for many of its customers and suppliers to thank them for their support. The “Past and Present” theme included a showcase of Kaufman products and the markets it represents, which include but are not limited to personal care, household and industrial chemical, automotive, pet and vet, pharmaceutical, food, and beverage. Guests were given a tour of the facility, which incorporated a screen room, quality control lab, warehouse and a state-of-the-art decorating facility. The Open House concluded with a 1910-esque cocktail party where guests were able to mingle with Kaufman’s staff, listen to a Titanic-style string quartet and catch an old-time Charlie Chaplin reel.

Kaufman Container also wanted to thank its own employees for their hard work and dedication over the years. “Being around for 100 years didn’t just happen by accident. It took a lot of planning, hard work, and a little bit of luck to get here,” quips CEO Roger Seid, who decided he would express his gratitude by raffling off a car to a Kaufman employee. “One of our mottos at Kaufman Container has always been ‘One More Thing.’ I wanted to extend that attitude to one of our outstanding and dedicated associates.” All employees were entered and week by week names were removed from the drawing in a reverse-raffle style drawing. The winning ticket–which was picked by Seid’s four-year-old granddaughter, the 4th generation of family involvement at Kaufman–went to a 27-year Kaufman employee.

Over the years, a commitment to deliver what customers want has driven many business decisions for Kaufman Container. In 1982, the company introduced its first decorating services based on customer demand. What started off as a small-scale decorating facility for emergency or rush situations quickly grew into a full-fledge state-of-the-art decorating operation. In 2006, the company relocated its corporate headquarters in Cleveland, combining two buildings–one a warehouse and office, the other the decorating facility–into one. The move drastically improved communication and was a means for the operation to run smarter and more efficiently. Most recently, Kaufman Container has added roll stamping and a steam tunnel for shrink labeling to its decorating options.

As a true turnkey operation, Kaufman Container excels at providing the complete package. “In this day and age, time is money and we are able to coordinate the entire project from start to finish, including multiple packaging components from a variety of sources, as well as utilizing our various decorating capabilities,” adds Slater. “We truly are packaging and decorating experts.” And that is a goal the company plans on continuing for the next 100 years and beyond.