Independent Can Company

Founded in 1929, Independent Can is a world leader in the manufacturing of specialty metal packaging and metal lithography. Privately held and managed by its principals, we are an American manufacturer with a long history of success that has brought us to the technological forefront in can making. Our growth, both internally and through acquisition, has allowed us to bring new capabilities and products to market. This growth has been achieved without adding layers of bureaucracy that impede responsiveness. Our product line, which began mainly with large cans for fresh and refrigerated foods for wholesale, has grown to an extensive array of items that serve a wide variety of markets. We have stayed in step with changing market demands without following trendy fads. Financial integrity, experience and vision have enabled continuous investment and innovation to better serve our customers. Foundation The first can manufactured by Independent was made in Baltimore Maryland in January of 1929. The can was produced for a local meat packing plant and was designed to hold 50 pounds of lard. From our beginning into the middle 1950’s this was our main product line along with cans for fresh and frozen seafood products. Key events shaping our future: * 1970’s – Join venture with a Michigan can company to manufacture cans for frozen fruit. As a result of that partnership a can plant was built in Ft. Madison, Iowa for the production of cans for the packaging of minerals * 1980’s – Acquisition of Quaker Can for the manufacture of cans for welding electrodes. Also acquired later in the decade, Western Specialty Container, a packaging distribution company near Los Angeles. * 1985 – Move from Baltimore to a 17-acre campus in Belcamp, MD. Today it houses 370,000 sq. ft. of manufacturing, printing, office and warehouse facilities. * 1988 – First stock decorative line of products was offered * 1990 – Metal lithography introduced * 1993 – First shaped decorative tin was produced * 1996 – First drawn seamless tin was produced * 2004 – State of the Art 6-color Metal Star 2 press begins operation * 2004 – Independent Can celebrates 75th Anniversary * 2006 – Acquisition of Crawford Container located in Conneaut, Ohio * 2007 – Acquisition of Bertels Can Company located in Wilkes-Barre, PA * 2008 - Independent Can celebrates 80th Anniversary * 2008 - New state of the art facility in Ft. Madison Iowa * 2009 - Purchase and installation of a second Metal Star 2, 4 color printing line * 2009 - Purchase and installation of Naroska sheet-fed press * 2010 - Installation of UV trail coater on 6 color press * 2010 - New 4 color printing line operational, adding to print capacity Independent Can, a family owned and operated business with four generations on board, is as committed to can making today as the founders were in 1929.