Nearing its 100 year old milestone, this family-owned business is the largest independent premier paper and plastic folding carton converter in the Northeast 

KBA North America is pleased to congratulate Hub Folding Box, an innovative leader and custom manufacturer of quality folding paperboard cartons headquartered in Mansfield, MA, for being awarded the Family Business Award in 2015 in the large business category. The award was presented by the Massachusetts Family Business Association at a late-October ceremony in Cambridge, MA, run by the Family Business Association (FBA), the leading independent, non-profit organization serving family business enterprises.  

The company was one of nineteen businesses selected for this honor among hundreds.  The FBA Awards recognize the importance of family businesses in the state and the critical role these companies play in providing significant employment opportunities, revenue generation, as well as economic development and growth in their communities, the state, and the region. The honorees were chosen from a variety of successful companies from across Massachusetts, and represent small, midsize and large companies (employees and revenue) as well as first generation businesses.

“As Hub approaches its milestone anniversary of 100 years in 2018, KBA applauds this successful, entrepreneurial, family-oriented firm that delivers exceptional packaging for its high-profile customers,” says Mark Hischar, president and CEO of KBA North America. “It is a testament to its vision and integrity that an immigrant can come to this country with a dream to start his own business and realizes that vision with today’s 300 employee organization. We are pleased that Hub is a valued partner with KBA.” 

In honoring Hub, the Massachusetts Family Business Association took into account a number of professional and personal aspects of the firm. The organization asked for a detailed business history of Hub including how the company was started, how it has changed over the years, and how many generations have been involved in the operation, ownership, and management. Hub was founded by Francesco DiRico, an Italian immigrant, who traveled to New Haven, Connecticut at the age of 18 where he found work at National Folding Box. He worked his way up the ladder, becoming a die maker and packaging designer by age 25. His entrepreneurial spirit and determination drove him to start his own company, Hub Folding Box Company in 1918 in South Boston, the “Hub” of New England. Today, the third generation of the DiRico family continues to be specialists in this world-class business. Five members of this generation are employed in various management, sales, engineering and manufacturing positions. 

The FBA asked how the family’s values and lifestyles have impacted the business. Over the course of its business, the DiRico family has diligently worked to integrate its family values into the daily operations of the business, while also promoting a friendly atmosphere for its employees. These values consist of high levels of collaboration, innovation and creativity within an excellent environment for employees. The family also places a lot of its focus on safety and lean manufacturing principles. The FBA also wanted to know if the firm is involved in the community. The DiRico family and Hub Folding Box Company support many women’s and children’s organizations both nationally and locally.  Some of these include: South Shore YMCA, the Friendship Home, the Boys & Girls Club, the N.J. Children's Specialized Hospital Foundation, St. Jude’s, Italian Home for the Children, Children’s Hospital, Toys for Tots, Marshfield Youth Baseball League, and the Milton Wild Cats Football League, as well as Dress for Success, which promotes the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support and career development tools to help women thrive in work and in life. 

Finally, FBA wanted to look at Hub’s innovation, impact, and if it is unique. Dating from its inception nearly 100 years ago, Hub has had a reputation as being innovative. During the past 30 years, the innovations of Hub Folding Box Company have come from many different areas, some of which include: building improvements and sustainable interests, capital reinvestment, and extensive research and development programs that allow Hub to introduce revolutionary product lines to its customers. Hub Folding Box Company’s impact and successes can be seen at local grocery stores and pharmacies, high-end retail stores and local liquor stores, as well as inside on its manufacturing floor. Hub is also responsible for additional advancement in the printing industry, including newly designed and more efficient UV curing and coating systems for many different types of printing presses as well as unique product lines, such as Liquid Ink Technology™, OPTIPAK™ and other CD/DVD/Blu-Ray products, EZ Box™ AND Lok-Box™.

“With packaging in our DNA and our unparalleled customer service, Hub Folding Box Company brings years of experience, innovation and cutting edge technology to deliver perfection with each and every carton produced in our 300,000 sq ft state-of-the-art facility,” says Mark DiRico. “With our Eco-Hub difference, we make it our duty to conduct our business by reducing waste and preserving the environment. With over 54 million dollars reinvested in the past six years in new capital improvements and state-of-the- art game-changing technologies, Hub stands apart from all its competitors.”

“We are thrilled to celebrate family businesses like Hub whose accomplishments and particular success stories are not told nearly enough and whose contributions power Massachusetts' economic engine and continue to be the backbone of what has and will continue to drive the U.S. economy,” says Jeffrey Davis, FBA Founding Director.

Founded in 1918 by Francesco DiRico, Hub Folding Box Company, Inc. is committed to being an innovative leader and custom manufacturer of quality folding paperboard cartons using all of its resources to service and respond to its customer's requirements. Hub has a diversified customer base with consumer end-user markets in the liquor, cosmetic, food, sporting goods, pharmaceutical sectors and media. Its philosophy of "Creativity Through Packaging" embodies the vision of founder Francesco DiRico in its highly focused operations. Management is committed to continually exceed customer expectations through new innovation, technology, continuous quality improvement, lean manufacturing, and employee empowerment. The company has carved out a niche in the graphic intensive, value-added printing and packaging markets.