News

Boylston, MA  - Rand-Whitney officials were joined by business leaders, Town of Boylston officials and their design-builder, PROCON, for the groundbreaking ceremony of its 384,000 square foot packaging facility in Boylston, MA.   The state-of-the-art facility represents the latest investment by the company in equipment and capacity to meet the significant growth in worldwide demand for packaging that was accelerated by the COVID pandemic.   When fully operational, the new packaging facility will have the potential to manufacture 300 million boxes annually.

Operating in Massachusetts since 1938, Rand-Whitney chose to build the facility in Boylston due to its proximity to major transportation corridors and access to a skilled workforce.  The state-of-the-art sustainable facility will feature energy efficiencies and the industry’s most efficient robotics and automation equipment.   A leader in environmental responsibility for the packing industry, Rand-Whitney’s vertical integration will allow the facility to manufacture packaging that uses a very high percentage of post-consumer waste, using 100% post-consumer waste linerboard produced in the company’s own mill in Connecticut.  

“We are excited to break ground on the construction of what will be a world class facility to help us meet the fast-growing demand for packaging,” said Nick Smith, President and CEO of Rand-Whitney.  “Boylston is a great location with an amazing work force, and we are happy to continue to invest in manufacturing in Massachusetts where it all began for us some 75 years ago.”  

“We’re beyond excited for the commerce and job creation that this project will bring. When this project was initially being discussed, I mentioned that it wasn’t simply about economics and tax revenue.   Boylston wants businesses that will have a positive impact on our community. We weren’t looking for simply a municipality to taxpayer relationship or vice versa. We want to partner with our local businesses to support their success and for them to be part of our extended Boylston family. We want those businesses to support both the town and communities’ success as well.

What better fits into that description than the Kraft Group and Rand Whitney. A family-owned business for over 100 years.

So today is more than the start of the construction of a brick-and-mortar building. It’s the beginning of a valuable relationship and partnership that I believe will have an immensely positive impact on our community.” Said Matt Mecum, Board of Selectmen for Town of Boylston

Rand-Whitney is one of several companies owned by New England Patriots’ Owner Robert Kraft and is the largest independent corrugated packaging manufacturer in New England with areas of expertise in cost-saving package re-engineering and custom lean manufacturing programs. The company also produces and ships corrugated displays, shipping containers and folding cartons to a variety of industrial and consumer end-users. The Boylston facility is their fourth collaboration with PROCON, who previously partnered with them on facilities in Worcester, MA, Dover, NH, and Pawtucket, RI. 

“Working with the leadership at Rand-Whitney over the past decade has been incredible,” said John Stebbins, PROCON Managing Director. “The design and construction of the Boylston packaging facility will reflect that leadership by featuring innovation, energy efficiency, and cutting-edge automation.”   

“This is our fourth and largest project working with PROCON and it has been a great experience”, said Smith.  “They are an amazing partner, and we have full confidence our collaboration will once again lead to the creation of an incredible facility that we can all be proud of.”

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For over 75 years, Rand-Whitney has been a leading innovator in the packaging industry. They are an independent, privately-owned company with a unique, family values approach to the way they do business. As a member of the Kraft Group companies, Rand-Whitney prides itself on delivering only the highest levels of quality and service to all business partners.

Supporting their strength in the market is their ability to service an entire company’s packaging needs while providing individual support along the way. Starting with initial design to production quality samples, their goal is to provide their customers with a quality packaging product and topnotch customer service and support.

PROCON is a single-source, architecture, engineering and construction management firm serving commercial developers throughout the Northeast. For 87-years the 4th generation Company has been built on integrity, lasting partnerships, and a steadfast commitment to client success. The Company’s one-stop-shopping approach to design, engineering and construction services means that at PROCON, every solution is just down the hall. https://proconinc.com/

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In the Groundbreaking Photo:
Left to Right
Matt Mecum, Chair of Board of Selectman - Town of Boylston
Kim Ames, Chair of Planning Board - Town of Boylston
Adam Tominsky, General Manager - Rand-Whitney Container
Nick Smith, President and CEO - Rand-Whitney Container
Christopher Harrigan, Chief Financial Officer - Rand-Whitney Container
Ted Fire, VP of Construction and Development - The Kraft Group
Matt Wirth, SVP Architecture PROCON
Phil Germain, SVP of Preconstruction PROCON
Jen Stebbins Thomas, Managing Director PROCON
John Stebbins, Managing Director PROCON
Daniel Messier, SVP of Construction Operations PROCON
Tom Haubrich, Sr. Project Manager PROCON