Who We Are > Triple Container's, Inc. Company History

Triple A Containers came into existence in 1956. It was formed by three men who left Fibreboard to start a sheet plant. They were Rollie Kelley, Don Hamilton, and Earl White. Rollie was to run the office and schedule paper and orders through the plant. Don Hamilton was to bring in the sales and Earl was the machine maker, etc. Their equipment in a small building in South Gate consisted of a 2-bar slitter, a Gang Saw (for slotting), a Band Saw, an old Thompson Die Cutter (33x47) and two tape dispensers. They had no press for printing and used a hand stamp for BMC and ident.

I was a commissioned salesman for National Container. A great number of my accounts had needs for short runs, but National wanted large quantity orders. They said to take my short run boxes to a sheet plant. I knew about Triple A, so I started having them run my small quantities. After about eight months (1957), Rollie Kelley asked me if I would be interested in buying out the other two partners. The price was $7500, which I did not have. I discssed it with my wife Lydia and she didn’t like the idea, but I did. We borrowed money from the bank and Rollie and I became partners. We soon found that we needed more room and we found a small plant (6000 Sq. ft.) in Huntington Park, across the railroad tracks from Fibreboard. We added an old one color printing press, a laminating machine and a Nichols down stroke bailer. In 1961, Boise Cascade wanted to purchase us so as to have a foothold in the Los Angeles area. They paid us in stock which was growing daily. Boise had a small operation in Denver, Colorado and they asked Rollie to move there and manage that operation. I stayed on as sales manager and hired two additional salesman. Boise was interested in running large quantities so as to build their board usage. However, we did not have adequate machinery to run these orders profitably. Since part of my income was based on profit, it was apparent that there would be no increase in earnings. In early 1963, I asked to leave Boise and become a broker. I asked if I could use the name “Triple A Containers.” They did not object. I encouraged Lorne Hurlbut, one of the salesman, to join with me and we formed a partnership and opened up an office in South Gate. After one year, I saw the need to establish our own manufacturing plant. Lorne did not wish to join me in this endeavor. We parted our relationship and I rented an old orange packing plant in the city of Pico Rivera. We scrounged around for some old equipment and we began making boxes with six employees. We managed to survive - somehow - and slow but sure we continued to grow. We needed more space. In 1965 we found a nice building in Santa Fe Springs (about 7000 sq. ft.) As we continued to grow, we asked the landlord if he could build us additional space. He added 7500 sq. ft. We finally were able to purchase a one color Rotary press, a taping machine and we ordered a new two color press (Isowa) from Japan. We had three salesmen, two trucks and about 25 employees. We secured an adjacent 10,000 sq. ft. building adjoining our plant.

In 1975, we sold our home in Downey and with some of the proceeds, I purchased two acres of land in Buena Park, across the street from Georgia Pacific and built a 40,000 sq. ft. plant. We added another two color printing press, another taping machine, a four bar slitter and a horizontal bailer.

In 1977, our son, Brad, graduated from college and came to work for the company.

In about 1997-98 we purchased Action Container in Fullerton and brought their employees and machinery to Buena Park. In the year 2000 we moved into a 100,000 sq.ft. plant in the city of Cerritos. We upgraded our machinery and purchased new equipment where needed. We were employing close to 100 people - office and plant.

One of our prime accounts moved from Santa Ana to Mexicali, Mexico. To continue servicing them along with some others, we leased a 100,000 sq. ft. plant with about 50 employees.

In the year 2000, Brad McCroskey assumed full ownership of Triple A Containers.

Triple A Containers, Inc. is an ISO 9001 Certified manufacturer who produces ROHS compliant packaging. We
maintain these stringent standards to ensure that your needs are met.