Great Northern Corporation Through the Years

View a few Great Northern Corporation highlights and accomplishments over the past 50 years. Over the next few months we'll be adding highlights from each decade.

1980's

1985 - A state of the art package testing facility is estabilished in Appleton.

 

1986 - Great Northern becomes one of the most modern box operations in the country with the completion of a 90,000 sq. ft. addition, high-speed converting equipment and computer automated conveyor systems.

 

1987 - Great Northern celebrates its 25 year anniversary and installs cellular phones in company vehicles.

---

1970's

1972 - After 10 years of operation, Great Northern in Appleton is now 150,000 square feet with 150 employees.

Racine adds 33,000 square feet for additional converting equipment.

 

1973 - Great Northern forms a joint venture with Hayes Manufacturing, named Laminations Corporation, to produce edge protection.

 

1976 - 80,000 square foot facility is constructed across from the original Appleton
facility, and Great Northern installs its own corrugator.

 

1976 - Great Northern forms the Specialty Group, consisting of Rollguard® and Custom Packaging.

1979 - A separate packing operation is launched in Racine to offer subassembly and pre-packing services to point-of-purchase display customers.

1979 - Racine Container facility expands with a 40,000 square foot addition.

---

1960's

1962 - Great Northern Container Corporation was founded in Appleton, Wis.,
by three partners, J. James Davis, Bob Brown and John Maring.

1966 - The manufacturing facility in Appleton is doubled to 60,000 square feet.

 

1967 - A 30,000-square-foot manufacturing facility is constructed in Racine, Wis.

 

1969 - The Appleton facility expands to 87,000 square feet.