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Regional Strengths Provide Growth Opportunities
Chicago - Cook County offers packaging industry companies an excellent location in which to expand and prosper. Chicago - Cook County is the nation's largest industrial market, providing packaging firms a huge cluster of customers in important areas such as food processing and pharmaceuticals. The large industrial base also provides with a large cluster of suppliers of machinery, parts, raw materials and transportation services. Strong sectors in Chicago - Cook County include paper and allied products, miscellaneous plastic products, glass and glassware, metal cans and shipping containers and packaging machinery.|
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Chicago-Cook County Industry Leaders
- Dean Foods Corporation - A network of 28 regional dairies
- Stone Container Corporation - The world's largest producer of containerboard and one of the world's largest producers of pulp, paper, and packaging products
- Tenneco Packaging, Inc. - The world's largest producer of aluminum foil and clear plastic containers for fast food, food service and food processing uses. Also, the company is the world's largest molded fiber manufacturer and uses 100% recycled material for egg cartons.
- FMC Corporation - Bag-making, wrapping and packaging technology
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Small & Innovative Firms in Chicago-Cook County
- Cloud Corporation - Contract packager and a high speed packaging machinery manufacturer
- Hipak International, Inc. - One of the largest producers of high-density and low-density bags, sheetings and tubings in the country
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Chicago-Cook County Strategic Assets
Chicago-Cook County, home to more than 5 million people, is the second largest county in the U.S. Industry leaders in the manufacturing and service sectors are clustered in Chicago-Cook County.Their presence attracts and retains midsize companies interested in local partnering, distribution and supply sales opportunities.|
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Experienced Well-trained Labor Force
Four million workers in the region provide high qualifications and skill levels to perform any job. Wages are competitive with other major metropolitan areas and growth in regional employment has outpaced Los Angeles, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Dallas and many other major cities.|
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Diversified Industrial and Service Economy
The region ranks second in the nation as a headquarter for Fortune 500 Companies and is a center for manufacturing, wholesale trade and transportation. Chicago is a premier trade show and convention location, a major international financial center and the capital of risk management for its international exchange markets.|
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World-renowned Universities and Research Institutions
Northwestern University, the University of Chicago and the University of Illinois are among the top20 universities producing thousands of well-trained graduates. Technology parks provide a supportive entrepreneurial environment. Major federal research centers, Argonne National and Fermi National Accelerator laboratories, are internationally acclaimed for innovation and technology transfer to commercial production.|
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Superior Air, Highway, Rail and Public Transportation
Over 69.2 million passengers and 1,259.9 million tons of cargo pass through O=Hare International, the world's busiest airport. Chicago-Cook County's businesses extend their reach beyond the 60 million people in the Midwest consumer market because of the busines' access to the region's premier truck, rail, ship and air transportation network.|
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Information Technology Infrastructure
Chicago-Cook County-based companies are leaders in the modernization of telecommunications systems that enhance the communications capabilities of local companies. Local corporate high technology companies are leaders in developing new wireless communications and computing technology.|
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Cosmopolitan Cultural and Recreational Attractions
Magnificent architecture, performing arts, world class museums and exciting sports teams attract thousands of international visitors. Navy Pier, an exciting urban park and exhibit complex joins numerous parks and recreation facilities along the 33-mile Lake Michigan shoreline.|
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International Trade AlliancesInternational Trade Alliances
Chicago-Cook County has a global infrastructure of business development organizations that assist small and medium sized businesses. Chicago-Cook County has a trade alliance with the Region of Emilia-Romagna, Italy and is developing new trade partnerships with Songiang/China, Cork County/Ireland, Santiago/Chile and Flanders/Belgium.|
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EMPLOYMENT WAGES in the Packaging Industry
Job Title |
Entry Hourly Wage |
Median Hourly Wage |
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Industrial Gen. Manager
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$25.00 |
$33.00 |
Industrial Designer |
$14.54 |
$18.91 |
Manufacturing Engineer |
$16.83 |
$19.23 |
Mech. Design Tech. |
$13.00 |
$16.01 |
Maintenance Mechanic |
$11.50 |
$14.94 |
Extruder Operator |
$9.24 |
$13.97 |
Tool Machine Setup |
$9.00 |
$11.46 |
Metal Prod. Fabricator |
$7.61 |
$9.50 |
General Laborer |
$6.50 |
$8.50 |
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Source: Illinois Dept. of Employment Security
1996, Chicago MSA
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INDUSTRIAL MARKET |
Available Space in Chicago-Cook County (sq. ft.) |
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Total Chicago-Cook County |
33,683,946 |
Chicago North |
6,141,281 |
Chicago South |
9,438,969 |
North Suburban |
1,618,902 |
Northwest Suburban |
4,971,809 |
West Suburban |
6,681,052 |
South Suburban |
4,831,933 |
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Source: Cushman & Wakefield,
2nd Quarter, 1998
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