Encompassing 30 years of innovation, El Paso Paper Box is redefining the possibilities of carton packaging
El Paso Paper Box (EPPB) is more than just a leading manufacturer: it’s a manufacturer that cares. Combining imagination and innovation, EPPB is dedicated to telling stories through paper packaging, producing premium-quality, custom folding cartons that encapsulate its clients’ brand personalities in a vivid and exciting way. Formed from humble roots, EPPB was founded in 1995, beginning its operations in a single shop on the Mexican border in El Paso, Texas. A small family business with a big heart, it started out printing jean tags, but soon expanded into die cutting, folding cartons and packaging as the demand for its services grew. In the years that followed, EPPB continued to flourish and, by January of 2000, relocated to a 60,000-square-foot facility with new cutting-edge equipment and an increased capacity. By 2013, the company had to upgrade once again, this time to a 105,000-square-foot, 6.5-acre state-of-the-art facility situated in the Airport Industrial Park – and the rest is history.
Today, EPPB is a paper box powerhouse – a one-stop shop doing everything from high-quality printing to die cutting, corrugation, micro-fluting and gluing.
Throughout its journey, its mission has remained the same: to ‘develop long-term partnerships with customers, providing satisfaction through top-tier service, quality of product, innovative designs, and cost-effective value’. Subsequently, EPPB’s products and solutions are sought after by some of the world’s leading brands, including Factory Foods, Goodell’s Macaroni and Invisalign, and its foothold only continues to grow with each passing year.
In 2025, EPPB is proud to celebrate its 30th anniversary – an incredible milestone that’s representative of its operational excellence and continuous innovation. The anniversary comes right as the company embarks upon the latest phase in its growth trajectory: the opening of its brand-new, state-of-the-art facility in Florida. In celebration of EPPB’s anniversary and its continued success, Manufacturing Today is joined by Patrick Malooly, President and Chief Executive Officer of EPPB, to learn more about how the company is maintaining its client-centric approach as it evolves, as well as what its next chapter may hold. Patrick begins by sharing insight into EPPB’s core promise: to provide a ‘meaningful journey’ for its clients.
“Our primary goal is service; anybody can offer a good price, some can deliver on time, but we’re committed to making the process as easy and turnkey as possible,” he explains. “If you have a new product that you want to take to market or an existing product that you want to adjust, and, because we do everything in house, we’re able to provide a seamless service. Our customers really appreciate that extra attention to detail.”
In pursuit of paper packaging perfection, EPPB is committed to continuous improvement, both in its product innovation and technological advancements. The company’s research and development processes are customer-oriented and compelled by passion – two qualities that place EPPB above its competitors in terms of upholding strong, collaborative relationships with its clients and partners.
“We’re constantly going to trade shows and scouring the internet for fresh ideas and new technology, particularly die cutting, folding and gluing technologies,” Patrick elaborates. “Our R&D department is very passionate; our Head of Design, Julio, will design boxes for fun. I’ll create a challenge for him – say ‘hey, try to make a childproof box that’s not patented’ – and he’ll run designs and mockups, which we’ll then send to customers to see if they like it. We also work closely with our suppliers and any ideas they may have.”
Such excellence has been integral in EPPB’s journey and is the main driving force behind the expansion that the business is experiencing today. “We’re very happy to be expanding in the way that we are,” he adds. “We’ve just added another 30,000 square feet to our existing facility to give us more storage space. We store raw materials on hand for our customers in case they need a fast solution, which they usually do. It allows us to move quickly, which has been a key part of the aggressive growth that we’ve seen over these last couple of years,” Patrick shares. “On top of that, we’re currently in the process of buying a facility in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, which will be our second location. The facility was owned by an older couple who were in business there for 20 years; they didn’t have any children, so they were looking for a succession plan, and it was a perfect fit. We’re hoping that the acquisition will be complete by September as it’s going to open up a lot more market share and allow us to better serve our customers on the East Coast.”
This growth signifies an exciting new chapter for EPPB as it moves forward into the future – a brilliant way to celebrate its 30th anniversary milestone. Reflecting on the last three decades, Manufacturing Today asked Patrick what he feels has been the secret sauce behind EPPB’s continued success, and his answer was simple.
“Our people have been the reason behind our success. We’ve got the best people, some of whom have been with us for over 20 years, and because of them, we’ve been able to grow in the way that we have,” he affirms. “We’re currently running a lot of overtime, so having the flexibility of a great team has really helped us to make the right strategic moves to serve more customers. Our people really make us who we are at EPPB.”
With 2025 marking another successful year for EPPB, it’s clear that the company is well-positioned to continue to grow and prosper. As the future unfolds, EPPB is set to remain on its growth trajectory, delighting customers all over the country with memorable, innovative packaging.
“Once the expansion is done, we’ve got four machines to move and install between now and October. Alongside this, we’ll also be finalizing the Florida acquisition and purchasing new machinery for that,” Patrick reveals. “In the next five years, I’d like to have our Florida location up and running, achieving two to three times the sales it’s doing now, with a larger customer base to serve.
“I would like to see El Paso continue to grow steadily, expanding into new territories with different technologies,” Patrick concludes. “We’d like to continuously reinvest back into our business and our people, possibly even look for a third location and expand on our current capabilities and successes.”