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92 W o r c e s t e r 3 0 0 : C i t y o f I n n o v a t o r s F or over 75 years, Rand-Whitney Container has been a leading innovator in the packaging industry, specializing in the design and manufacturing of custom corrugated, protective packaging, point of purchase and digital print solutions. Rand-Whitney's roots run deep in Worcester. e company has been a local mainstay since moving here in the 1960's. Jacob Hiatt, father to Myra Hiatt Kra, served as president before handing the reins to Robert Kra. In 1972 Robert purchased Rand-Whitney and is owner to this day. For the Kra family, Worcester is home. Family matriarch Myra Kra was born and raised here. Robert and Myra's four sons each worked on the manufacturing floor here before moving on to leadership positions. At the 2018 ribbon cutting of the 45,000 square- foot addition in Worcester, MA Robert was quoted saying, "I still get goose bumps when I come here because the greatest person in my life came from here," referring to his late wife, Myra. Nicholas Smith, President and CEO, emphasizes that the company's focus remains in Worcester. "Our Worcester facilities' achievements have given us the confidence to make investments in new equipment." he said. Smith stated that the revitalization of the city and the accomplishments of officials played a key role in their plans. "Worcester leaders have been remodeling the city from an economic standpoint. ey have achieved one success aer another. As the city succeeds, so do we. e company is committed to staying and expanding in this area because of our history here, the exceptional workforce and the rebirth of Worcester in recent years." e crowning moment was a 45,000 square-foot addition and makeover of the manufacturing facility completed in 2018. e upgrades included improved warehousing, new equipment and capabilities, a state-of- the-art waste recycling system, 22 new dock doors, truck storage areas, a dedicated truck- access driveway, increased trailer storage, and redeveloped onsite parking. e improved facility is now outfitted with completely new equipment capable of producing quality packaging more consistently. e Kra Group has also branched out into several other ventures over the years including their commodities trading division, International Forest Products, sports and entertainment, construction and real estate development, Unified Global Packaging Group, and New-Indy Container Corporation. New-Indy Container Corporation, along with Rand-Whitney Containerboard and Rand-Whitney, create a network of paper mills and packaging manufacturing facilities that work with customers nationally. rough many challenges in recent years, from economic crises to a global pandemic, Rand-Whitney has continually operated through times of turmoil. "Our supply chain has complete vertical integration, making us well suited to continue operating uninterrupted during emergency situations," said Smith. "Rand-Whitney's manufacturing locations have steady access to the supplies and resources they need to service our customers. We have access to mills, sheet feeders, and converting. is gives our customers complete transparency into where their packaging comes from." In order to grow with and meet the demands of their customer base, Rand- Whitney is constructing a new manufacturing RAND-WHITNEY CONTAINER LLC: Investing in the Future 1 Rand-Whitney Way Worcester, MA 01607 508.791.2301 www.randwhitney.com Nicholas Smith, President and CEO Year Founded: 1938 "e company is committed to staying and expanding in this area because of our history here, the exceptional workforce and the rebirth of Worcester in recent years." Nick Smith, President of Rand-Whitney (on right), and Adam Tominsky, General Manager of Rand-Whitney, are pictured in Boylston, MA for the ground breaking ceremony for the new Rand- Whitney facility. S P O N S O R E D P R O F I L E S