By John Keith, General Manager at Kruger Packaging Elizabethtown Plant
The following op-ed was written by John Keith, who is general manager at Kruger Packaging’s Elizabethtown advanced packaging plant slated to open in 2022.
Most Kentuckians are familiar with Stephen Foster’s “My Old Kentucky Home,” but Kruger Packaging is proud to call the Bluegrass State “Our New Kentucky Home.”
Right now, Kruger Packaging is building our first ever American packaging plant at the T.J. Patterson Industrial Park in Elizabethtown, Kentucky. We’ll take another important ‘concrete’ step in making our new home a reality with the raising of the packaging plant’s first concrete wall in a few weeks.
A family-owned and operated company – with over 117 years of history – Kruger is a North American leader in eco-friendly packaging that strives every day to build better boxes and deliver smarter solutions. As our motto makes clear, we work hard to be better than we were the day before. With our new E’town Packaging Plant, we continue to build on that mission.
Our new $114 million state-of-the-art, climate-controlled facility will be among the most advanced packaging plants in the United States. Once complete, the E’town Packaging Plant will utilize both robotic and automated technology to build better boxes and deliver smarter solutions for scores of well-known brands like Little Caesars and Tim Hortons, as well as countless medium and small businesses throughout Kentucky.
Not only will the plant provide us a leg up on the competition, but E’town and the surrounding communities will help us be that much better too. The area has a strong, diverse, talented workforce and is an ideal location to start and grow a business.
As General Manager, I tell people that Kruger Packaging is a family. We are a tight-knit group, and we want our team members to succeed and advance in their careers with us. I also tell people the really good news that we’re hiring.
In fact, we’re holding a job fair at the Colvin Community Center in Radcliff, on Wednesday, November 17, from 8 to 11 a.m. and 3 to 6:00 p.m., to fill openings in management, production and maintenance. Hourly pay ranges from $16 to $32 depending on experience and position. We also offer an extremely competitive benefits package, including medical, dental and vision coverage, 401K and matching. So, be sure to stop by and see us. If you’re unable, you can apply for one of our numerous positions and learn more about Kruger Packaging at elizabethtown.kruger.com.
The months and years ahead are exciting times certainly for Kruger Packaging and the entire region. Hundreds of millions of dollars in investments are flowing into Hardin County, and with it, even greater opportunities. I’m happy to report that Kruger was one of the first to recognize that untapped potential.
It’s true: the sun shines bright on “My Old Kentucky Home,” but there is no doubt that the future is equally as bright for “Our New Kentucky Home.” Kruger Packaging is proud to call E’town home and we look forward to working with our newest neighbors to make the city even better than the day before. You can help us make it happen by joining our Kruger Family.
