Company History

America’s No. 1 Plant Sleeve Manufacturer and our History of Firsts

2022

VERTPAC expands the Lake Wales manufacturing & warehouse space to 20,000 sq. ft.
2021

VERTPAC enters an agreement to acquire 52,500 sq. feet of manufacturing space in Apopka, Florida with prime frontage and interstate connectivity.
2020

VERTPAC employs the services of mechanical engineer Eddy Kames for the design of the next generation of system sleeve machines.
2019

VERTPAC acquires the assets of ONIX Manufacturing in Miami, Florida.
2018

VERTPAC acquires the assets of R&D Sleeves in Apopka, Florida.
2017

Introduction of a circular woven polypropylene “Tree Sleeve” product for larger potted plants and small trees enhances VERTPAC sleeving capabilities beyond paper.
2016

VERTPAC acquires the sleeve making division assets of the WE JONES GROUP and moves operations to newly acquired 20,000 sq. ft. premises in Lake Wales, Florida.
2015

ONIX Manufacturing enters into an agreement with aerospace industry engineer John Smit (INTECH ENGINEERING) to design and build two custom sleeve machines capable of high-speed operation. The resulting machines are the highest output / minute ever designed.
2013

The WE JONES GROUP sleeve manufacturing division in Lake Alfred, Florida conceives the idea to develop a fully automated cutting and folding machine utilizing industrial robotic arms for sleeve making. It hires mechanical engineer and “FANUC Robotics” expert Eddy Kames to design it and the first machine enters service for an industry first.
2000s

The “Sleeving Standard” is introduced to maximize nursery packing efficiencies with an emphasis on labor savings and a lower sleeving cost as a whole.

Since the construction of the sleeves lent itself to the attachment of a header it is marketed as a new way of sleeving to be used in conjunction with a custom adjustable stand, bench clamps and belt clips.
1990s

Zong approaches Riley with an idea for a machine that could make paper sleeves and the development of the first “System” sleeve machine follows over the next few years; once it was perfected, the company was able to quickly build 3 more.
1980s

Ferris wheel system for paper cutting is designed and built by the same team.
1970s

Jim Riley hires James Zong, a creative machinist/mechanic, as chief engineer to design and build a machine that would make sleeves out of plastic. The first plastic sleeve machine is realized to be soon followed by others. Because the type of plastic (polyethylene) used was a natural translucent color, Jim Riley coins the term âSatin’ now an industry staple.
1967

Planters Supplies Inc., opens its doors as a handmade paper sleeve manufacturer. Owner/founder James “Jim” Riley conceives the idea of the paper sleeve after witnessing the wrapping of plants in (news)paper while visiting Floral Acres Nursery in Florida. He coins the term “Plant Sleeve” to describe the traditional paper plant sleeves still in use today.

SOURCED & MANUFACTURED IN THE USA SINCE 1967

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Company History

America’s No. 1 Plant Sleeve Manufacturer and our History of Firsts

SOURCED & MANUFACTURED IN THE USA SINCE 1967

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