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MSI, a Model of Growth and Excellence

With an eye on sustainability, strategy, and customer care, the co-manufacturer expands and perfects its services.

MSI Express’ Batavia, IL, location and center of excellence for stick-pack production.
MSI Express’ Batavia, IL, location and center of excellence for stick-pack production.

Charles Weinberg, CEO of MSI ExpressCharles Weinberg, CEO of MSI ExpressIn 2008, Charles Weinberg and his partners founded what would one day become MSI Express (MSI). It started as one small contract manufacturing and contract packaging facility, then grew to a national company boasting 15 locations in six states and is considered one of the top-five co-manufacturers in the country.

“I've always enjoyed consumer packaged goods. And once I got into contract manufacturing, I knew where my career was going to go and what my passion was,” says Weinberg, CEO of MSI Express.

Weinberg says the business was built up through organic growth and acquisitions. The original plan was to expand to the four corners of the country, but customer demand led to a more centralized empire in the Midwest.

A history of growth

MSI acquired and merged with the following:

  • Per Pak in 2012 (Ind.)
  • Max Mochal in 2014 (Ind.)
  • 6575 Daniel Burnham in 2016 (Ind.)
  • Express Packaging in 2019 (Ill., Ind., La., Ohio)
  • Power Packaging in 2020 (Ill., Texas, Wis.)
  • Ameriplex in 2020 (Ind.)
  • PacMoore Hammond in 2021 (Ind.)
  • 6750 Daniel Burnham in 2022 (Ind.)
  • JW Smucker Ripon in 2023 (Wis.)

Different acquisitions and mergers have offered their own benefits to MSI. Some brought many facilities with equipment and/or technology, all expand the customer base, others provided new capabilities to increase MSI’s service offerings. These include PacMoore Hammond, with large scale blending both for finished goods as well as private label business and B2B blending; and JW Smucker Ripon, with expanded liquid filling capabilities.

All were strategic opportunities the co-manufacturer could not pass up. A partnership with HCI, a middle-market private equity firm, opened the door to MSI’s largest growth opportunities with Express Packaging and Power Packaging.

Weinberg also notes that MSI’s primary business in shelf-stable food products increased drastically during the COVID-19 pandemic from a volume standpoint which led to expanded production capacities. That business allowed MSI to solidify relationships with its customer base and continue to drive organic growth, which has not dissipated today.

Connection through digitalization

With each growth opportunity, MSI had to find ways to connect its facilities to synergize its business as well as to ease operations and make the facilities more efficient. MSI turned to digitalization through the implementation of various platforms that run in each MSI location.

Transitioning acquired facilities from paper to digital is sometimes a struggle, which can lead to failures. Weinberg emphasizes it takes a lot of work, both on the factory floor and behind the scenes, and requires transparency throughout the ranks. He says the digital tools brought in must fit the business and be for the benefit of the workers and require simple assimilation. 

Weinberg says the company often has individuals from other operations share their knowledge and teach those being onboarded, using the main management resources MSI has built through data collection.

“I can't emphasize enough that it takes a village, it takes everybody in the company. It takes management to listen, it takes people to execute, it takes folks on the floor to work with the systems and raise their hands when it's not working. It takes accurate data entry,” says Weinberg. “Give them the appropriate tools, help them to succeed, and they will do a great job for you.”

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