Manufacturing Partners: A Big Part of What Makes Pipeline Packaging the Distributor of Choice

National Manufacturing Day and National Manufacturing Month offer an opportunity to recognize the more than 400 global suppliers and manufacturers Pipeline Packaging works with to meet our customers' needs. That includes Cleveland Steel Container, which just opened a new one-gallon tin can manufacturing operation in Youngstown, Ohio. Find out how Pipeline puts our distributor's advantage to work for you by leveraging our relationships with global, domestic, and even hyper-local manufacturing partners.

While Friday, Oct. 2 was officially National Manufacturing Day, the entire month of October is designated National Manufacturing Month.

At times, manufacturing can be painted as an outdated industry. But the objective of National Manufacturing Day and National Manufacturing Month is to highlight manufacturing as a high-tech and advanced industry that provides employment and opportunities for millions of Americans.

Truth be told, Pipeline Packaging wouldn't be the company it is today without the excellent relationships we've been able to develop with our more than 400 manufacturing partners and suppliers that help us deliver a depth and breadth of solutions for all your packaging needs.

Our experts can engage with you to explore international, domestic, and even hyper-local packaging sourcing alternatives and assist you in identifying the optimal container for your needs. This includes evaluating various factors such as design, material selection, and capacity needs.

The many factors we consider include:

• Manufacturing locations (United States, Europe, Asia, etc.)
• In-house stock programs versus strictly direct ship
• Existing purchase habits, to consolidate shipments and pass savings along to you

Managing Relationships with Your Manufacturing Partner

Allocating time and resources to manage supplier and manufacturing partner relationships can divert valuable assets from your company that could be more effectively utilized in other areas.

So, take advantage of — and capitalize on — the relationships Pipeline Packaging has meticulously developed worldwide for packaging sources, and reap the benefits, which include:

• We'll negotiate on your behalf
• We'll oversee your freight and logistics
• We'll maintain optimal levels of inventory for you
• We'll smoothly handle your warranty processing and maintain product integrity

Keeping It Local

While Pipeline Packaging has a global network of manufacturing partners, we also work with some very close to home in Northeast Ohio. This includes Cleveland Steel Container, which began operations at a one-gallon tin can plant in Youngstown last year. Product began rolling off the line at the end of 2025, and both Cleveland Steel Container and Pipeline Packaging customers have seen the benefits.

Cleveland Steel Container's Director of Tin Can Sales Tom Palmieri said that being able to provide support to Pipeline Packaging and its customers is a win-win-win situation.

"Both Cleveland Steel Container and Pipeline Packaging customers were asking for this new product line," said Palmieri. "Many customers were already buying five-gallon pails, and the products they're packaging transition well into one-gallon cans. Change is never easy but we're gelling as we bring this product into the fold and make it part of our core offering."

There are few companies manufacturing one-gallon tin cans, so Palmieri said the Cleveland Steel Container team saw it as a great opportunity to expand its product line and grow.

The Youngstown plant's focus on quality manufacturing, quality materials, and quality machinery makes Cleveland Steel Container's one-gallon tin cans some of the best in the business.

Cleveland Steel Container's tin cans come with some industry-leading features, including:

• Strength: Its cans are made with a stronger tin than the industry standard, ensuring superior durability and performance in handling and stacking.
• Consistency: Every one-gallon tin can is produced in Youngstown, guaranteeing consistent quality across all orders. The company cuts its metal, produces its components, and applies interior/exterior coatings under the same roof.
• World-Class Machinery: Cleveland Steel Container invested heavily in the world's most advanced tin-can manufacturing equipment, enabling faster production, superior quality, and shorter lead times.
• Domestically Sourced Tin: Most of its tin is sourced from domestic suppliers, so you don't need to worry about surcharges or tariffs impacting your supply.

Plus, there are some additional benefits with the Pipeline Packaging / Cleveland Steel Container connection, including:

• Air-Tight Seal: Ring-and-plug system ensures a leak-resistant closure for secure storage.
• Beaded or No Bead: Double bead or no bead options to suit your filling and stacking requirements.
• Clinched Ear: Advanced clinched-ear construction enhances durability and quality.
• Industry-Standard Exterior and Interior Linings: Select from plain tin or a durable white roll-coat exterior, and from linings such as plain tin or gold linings for demanding water-based and solvent-based products.

Manufactured in America … and in Ohio

When it comes to celebrating manufacturing — in America and in Ohio — Palmieri is totally on board.

"American manufacturing is important because it provides jobs and opportunities for millions of people," said Palmieri. "It's important to us that we're manufacturing in the United States, and it's even better that we're manufacturing in Ohio. Ohio ranks number three in the country in terms of manufacturing, and we're proud to be able to help make an impact right here."

Palmieri said the relationship between Cleveland Steel Container and Pipeline Packaging helps both teams by enabling open conversations about what will — and won't — work for customers.

"Our leadership teams are communicating on a regular basis, often daily," said Palmieri. "If we get an inquiry from a customer looking for quantities too small for us to handle, we can refer it to Pipeline. And, vice versa, if Pipeline gets an inquiry from someone looking for quantities too large for them to handle, they can refer it to us. So, we're able to work together to tackle customers' needs and challenges."

Pipeline Packaging is one of Cleveland Steel Container's primary distributors. In addition to the one-gallon tin cans, Pipeline buys five-gallon steel pails among other products from its parent company.

A Growing Family

Cleveland Steel Container purchased Falco Group USA Division, which specializes in cone-top and F-style cans, earlier this year, providing yet another in-the-family manufacturing partner for Pipeline Packaging.

Pipeline's sister companies include COEXCELL, EKL Machine, HazmatPac, Lancaster Container, and SKS Bottle & Packaging. Manufacturing operations include Kilgore, Texas; Maumee, Ohio; Niles, Ohio; Youngstown, Ohio; Peotone, Ill.; Quakertown, Pa.; and a tech center in Streetsboro, Ohio. Whenever possible, we work closely within the family to help meet our customers' needs.

From Step One to Done

Close relationships with so many manufacturing partners have enabled Pipeline Packaging to be known as the distributor that stays with its customers from the first phone call through to the just-in-time (JIT) delivery. Here are some of the reasons to work with Pipeline:

• Leverage Our Expertise: We've been a leader in the rigid packaging industry for over three decades. Our people bring the knowledge and experience to help you overcome any commercial packaging and shipping challenges.
• Good People at the Core: We're an employee-owned company, meaning everyone you interact with is also an owner. We take personal responsibility for ensuring you receive the exact solution for your specific needs, as well as unmatched customer service.
• Access to Our Global Supply Network: Our depth of domestic and international suppliers allows us to offer you leverage through competitive pricing and a breadth of choice. Let us put the power of our distributor advantage to work for you.
• Customize Your Packaging Effortlessly: As a customer, you'll gain access to our entire suite of value-added services, from just-in-time delivery to modified stock packaging, custom concept packaging, packaging testing, and much more.

So, if you're ready to work with the packaging distributor with all the manufacturing partners needed to get you what you need when you need it … every time … contact us. Start a conversation with the best packaging company and its Good People at the Core who stand ready to serve your specific needs.