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Walk Through Our History with Will Rehrig

Continuing The Legacy

Innovation Is A Part of everything we do

For over 100 years, Rehrig Pacific has believed the key to success is making products that give our customers a real advantage. In 1913, a young carpenter named Will Rehrig saw new possibilities emerging as the Second Industrial Revolution began. Merging woodworking skills with a knack for designing machinery, Will built a business supplying customers with manufactured wood containers.

Over the next few decades, Rehrig Box & Manufacturing Co. grew to be a well-regarded supplier to the milk industry. The Great Depression and WWII slowed the progress of the business, but Bud Rehrig, a second-generation Rehrig, ably managed it. Under his guidance, the company flourished along the West Coast. Proving our staying power, we became the sole manufacturer of milk crates in California, when in 1929, there had been nine.

 
Rehrig Pacific introduced its first plastic milk crate, and the transformation from woodworkers to plastic manufacturers began.

We changed our name to Rehrig Pacific Company as our expertise in manufacturing steel-reinforced wooden cases was augmented by a growing knowledge of the milk industry. We transitioned from a product supplier to a consultative solution provider. Brad Rehrig, a third-generation Rehrig, saw the capabilities of the growing supply of a new material—plastic.

Rehrig Pacific introduced its first plastic milk crate, and the transformation from woodworkers to plastic manufacturers began. The plastics machinery industry was coming into its own, and Rehrig Pacific took full advantage of the advancements in manufacturing technology. This enabled us to focus more on both manufacturing quality containers and deepening our knowledge of our customers’ operations rather than spending time and resources designing our own equipment.

 
Brad's legacy is seen in the core values we hold dear today: Family, Service, Growth, Intrapreneurship, and Innovation.

During the second half of the twentieth century, Rehrig Pacific expanded from a regional supplier to a national supplier with manufacturing capacity throughout the United States. The key to our success was Brad Rehrig’s belief in the capability of Rehrig Pacific’s employees and the returns that could be realized by investing in this wonderful resource. Brad’s legacy is seen in the core values we hold dear today: Family, Service, Growth, Intrapreneurship, and Innovation.

Rehrig Pacific’s belief in the strength of its employees is shown in the promotion of Mike Doka, our fourth President and first non-family leader. Mike oversaw the cementing of Rehrig Pacific as the dominant force in the industries we served, our entry in large part molding, and the introduction of automated manufacturing.

 
Today, we continue Will Rehrig's legacy of helping companies move goods, resources, and ideas.

Today, we are in our second century of business, carrying on under the leadership of Will Rehrig, our founder’s great-grandson. Rehrig Pacific continues to build upon our expertise in manufacturing, our extensive knowledge of our customer’s operations, and the incredible talent of our people to originate new solutions for our customers. Today, we continue Will Rehrig’s legacy of helping companies move goods, resources, and ideas.

 

The Rehrig Pacific Company

Product Timeline

 

1913

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In 1913, Rehrig Pacific began as a small Los Angeles manufacturer of reusable wooden crates for the dairy industry.

1930

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In the 1930s, seeking to improve product life and utility, the company expanded its technology base to include producing crates from steel wire. 

1950

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In the 1950s, Rehrig Pacific continued to expand and modify the wire crate to make it lighter and easier to accommodate different bottles. 

1960

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By the 1960s, when advances in plastic molding brought about the potential for manufacturing products that would provide enhanced value to our customers, Rehrig Pacific moved into the world of high-pressure injection molding. The new technology enabled designs of complex geometric shapes with a unique combination of high strength and lightweight. 

1968

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The dairy, beverage, and baking industries were the first to realize the benefits of Rehrig Pacific's new injection molding capabilities. Demand for milk cases led Rehrig Pacific to open a new manufacturing facility in Erie, PA, to serve the Eastern United States.

1970

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This success allowed Rehrig Pacific to expand to new industry segments and prompted the design of innovative transport packaging across the Retail supply chain. 

1973

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Rehrig Pacific opened a branch manufacturing facility in Atlanta, GA in order to serve the Southeast United States. 

1980

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Rehrig Pacific opened a branch manufacturing facility in Kenosha, WI, to serve the Midwest. 

1981

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Rehrig Pacific opened a branch manufacturing facility in Dallas, TX, to serve the South.

1987

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In the late 1980s, the realization of declining landfill capacity and growing environmental awareness all across the country drove curbside recycling to become an important component of the waste collection industry. 

1992

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In 1992, Rehrig Pacific’s line of Roll-Out Carts was introduced. Growing partnerships led to a significant investment in plants and machinery to make and supply these large injection molded parts.  

2000

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Rehrig Pacific opened a branch manufacturing facility in Desoto, KS, to serve the Midwest. 

2004

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By 2004, Rehrig Pacific recognized a growing demand from our partners for assistance with managing the reusable transport packaging assets and one-way transport platforms utilized throughout their supply chain. 

2005

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Rehrig Pacific opened a branch manufacturing facility in Orlando, FL, to help serve the  Southeast.

2008

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In 2008, Rehrig Pacific introduced the Shed-Pack Grape Crates, designed to transport grapes safely from the field to the cooler while extending their shelf life in the market. 

2010

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Rehrig Pacific introduced a new line of plastic rear-load and front-load commercial containers. 

2012

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In 2012, Rehrig Pacific introduced new technology upgrades to Rehrig Pacific's Container Asset Recovery Tracking System (C.A.R.T.S.) software program for municipalities and private waste haulers. 

2013

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In 2013, Rehrig Pacific announced the launch of their new GMA rackable plastic pallet. The new GMA pallet is 100% recyclable and made from high-density polyethylene resin using high-pressure injection molding that prevents moisture and bacteria absorption. 

2014

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In 2014, Rehrig Pacific introduced a new Direct Store Delivery (DSD) System Solution. The DSD-GS solution is specifically designed to optimize beverage and other retail delivery applications. 

2015

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In 2015 Rehrig Pacific Company introduced the new Egg RPC  (Reusable Plastic Container). The new Egg RPC delivers on that promise, and we believe there is no better egg protection solution available to help producers and retailers minimize shrink. 

2015

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In May 2015, Rehrig Pacific announced the launch of EnviroGuard, a new organics stream solution. EnviroGuard's primary focus was to provide a sustainable solution that addressed the common issues associated with organics material collection - such as rodent intrusion, ergonomics and ease of use, collection efficiencies, and safety. 

2017

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In 2017, Rehrig Pacific introduced the new Bear-Resistant Roll-Out Cart. The cart, engineered to withstand the efforts of even the most determined bears, is designed to help communities that struggle with the animals getting into residents' waste. 

2020

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The Oceancore Roll-Out Cart demonstrates our commitment to sustainable practices and environmental stewardship by featuring the ability to contain up to 40% post-consumer recycled materials and up to 10% plastics sourced from ocean-bound sources.

2021

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Our groundbreaking Fusion™ Duo Lift is the material handling industry's first adjustable tine (fork) span system that optimizes delivery in the beer, beverage, and food service industries. The Duo Lift is designed to meet the needs of warehouse-to-store delivery while improving drivers' lives.

2023

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Transforming direct store delivery with Vision™ Optical Recognition (VOR): an AI-powered platform providing transparency and efficiency like never before.

 

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