Palatine manufacturer Container International moving to Crystal Lake

CRYSTAL LAKE – Already starting to relocate, an injection molding company from Palatine gradually will move its entire business to Crystal Lake, bringing as many as 200 new jobs and bolstering the manufacturing sector in the city.

As part of the move, Container International will build a 26,125-square-foot addition to an industrial building at 176 W. Terra Cotta Ave., a site the company for years rented to store its container products made for businesses in numerous industries, President Richard Brandt told the Northwest Herald.

The addition will accommodate expanded manufacturing activity at Container International, which saw overall sales increase 27 percent from 2014 to 2015, he said. Once complete, Container International will have a 105,415-square-foot facility in Crystal Lake.

"Right now, our business is so busy, we can't keep up," Brandt said. "We have so many things going right now that we are trying to keep it all together because we are growing so fast. We are very blessed. We have to keep up with the needs of our customers."

The president cited numerous reasons for the move, a major addition for Crystal Lake officials that have a desire to expand its manufacturing base and attract the type of jobs that could spur additional economic development.

Even with heightened activity, Brandt said the business has had difficulties recruiting quality workers to its operation in Palatine, a northwest suburb in Cook County. Taxes also are "astronomical" in Cook, making it even more challenging for Container International to thrive, he said.

Crystal Lake provides the business with a central location to attract workers based in Carpentersville, Elgin, Huntley, McHenry and Woodstock – areas that often attract other injection molding and plastic manufacturers, Brandt said. He also lives in Crystal Lake, and he said he always liked the idea of locating business there.

"All the pieces of the puzzle came together, and it made total sense to make the move," he said.

The move, however, will take time. Because of the building addition, the business will transition its operation to Crystal Lake over the next two years, slowly bringing between 150 and 200 new jobs, Brandt said.

Container International currently employs about 120 people primarily in Palatine, and the business has moved about a dozen of employees to its future headquarters in Crystal Lake.

Founded in Palatine in 1958 by Brandt's father, the family-owned manufacturer does most of its business in the U.S., making container products for businesses in housewares, appliances, residential construction, electronics and others.

Container International brings a track record of success and innovation to Crystal Lake, said Michelle Rentzsch, community development director for the city. The business' move also fulfills a need within Crystal Lake to attract more primary employers, she said.

"This company is so well run. They have innovation and new technology," Rentzsch said. "It's a nice source of jobs, and it's great to have those jobs coming to Crystal Lake."

City Council members unanimously approved a variance request in December that allowed Container International to build its 26,125-square-foot addition on the west end of the building along Terra Cotta Avenue, according to meeting minutes.

The company also is receiving a 50 percent discount on its building permit fees, as part of a city incentive afforded to businesses that make more than $250,000 in renovations, Rentzsch said.