For over 100 years, Rehrig Pacific has believed the key to success lies in 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 was in full swing. 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 it was ably managed by Bud Rehrig, a second generation Rehrig. 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.
Proving our staying power, we became the sole manufacturer of milk crates in California, when in 1929 there had been nine.
We changed our name to Rehrig Pacific Company as our expertise in manufacturing steel-reinforced wooden cases was now being augmented by a growing knowledge of the milk industry. We were transitioning from product supplier to consultative solution provider. Brad Rehrig, a third generation Rehrig, saw the capabilities of the growing supply of a new material—plastics.
Rehrig Pacific introduced its first plastic milk crate and the transformation from woodworkers to plastic manufacturers had begun. 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.
Rehrig Pacific introduced its first plastic milk crate and the transformation from woodworkers to plastic manufacturers had begun.
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. 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 can be clearly seen in the core values we hold dearly 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 introduction of automated manufacturing.
Brad’s legacy can be clearly seen in the core values we hold dearly today: Family, Service, Growth, Intrapreneurship, and Innovation.
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 customers’ 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.
Today, we continue Will Rehrig’s legacy of helping companies move goods, resources and ideas.
In 1913, Rehrig Pacific began as a small Los Angeles manufacturer of reusable wooden crates for the dairy industry.
In the 1930s, seeking to improve product life and utility, the company expanded its technology base to include producing crates from steel wire.
In the 1950s, Rehrig Pacific continued to expand and modify on the wire crate to make them lighter and easier to accommodate different bottles.
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 light weight.
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 to open a new manufacturing facility in Erie, PA to serve the Eastern United States.
This success allowed Rehrig to expand to new industry segments and prompted the design of innovative transport packaging across the Retail supply chain.
Rehrig Pacific opens a branch manufacturing facility in Atlanta, GA in order to serve the Southeast United States.
Rehrig Pacific opens a branch manufacturing facility in Kenosha, WI to serve the Midwest.
Rehrig Pacific opens a branch manufacturing facility in Dallas, TX to serve the South.
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.
In 1992, Rehrig Pacific 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.
Rehrig Pacific opens a branch manufacturing facility in Desoto, KS to help serve the Midwest.
By 2004, Rehrig Pacific recognized a growing demand from our partners for assistance with the management of the reusable transport packaging assets and one-way transport platforms that were being utilized throughout their supply chain.
Rehrig Pacific opens a branch manufacturing facility in Orlando, FL to help serve the Southeast.
In 2008, Rehrig Pacific introduced the Shed-pack Grape Crates are designed to transport grapes safely from the field to the cooler while extending their shelf life in the market.
Rehrig Introduces a new line of plastic rear-load and front-load commercial containers.
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.
In 2013, Rehrig Pacific announces the launch of their new GMA Rackable Plastic Pallet. The new GMA Pallet is 100% recyclable and made from a high-density polyethylene resin using high-pressure injection molding that prevents moisture and bacteria absorption.
In 2014, Rehrig Pacific introduces a new DSD System Solution. The DSD-GS solution is specifically designed to optimize beverage and other retail delivery applications.
In 2015, Rehrig Pacific introduces 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.
In May 2015, Rehrig Pacific Company announces the launch of EnviroGuard, a new organics stream solution. The EnviroGuard, 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.
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.
