May/June 2023 - 22

INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT
100 years of solutions
TRIANGLE PACKAGING CO. CELEBRATES CENTENNIAL
TRIANGLE PACKAGING CO., a
Staff Report
founding member of the Packaging
Machinery Manufacturers Institute
(PMMI), celebrated its centennial
anniversary on May 1.
Founded by Louis R. Muskat in 1923,
the Chicago-based company began as a
contract packaging company. In 1926,
Muskat developed his first packaging
machine and sold six from blueprints
alone, according to a news release from
Triangle. Drawing on his experiences
as a co-packer, Muskat introduced the
company's first carton sealer.
Now in its third generation of family
leadership, the vertically integrated
company is known for long-lasting
designs and sanitary machinery. Its full
line of machines includes VFFS baggers,
bag-in-box cartoners, multihead weighers
and pre-made pouch machines.
Throughout the last century, Triangle
has fostered long-term relationships with
Fortune 500 companies and smaller
contract packagers. One of the company's
oldest customers is National Biscuit Co.
(popularly known as Nabisco), which
purchased its first machine from Triangle
in July 1929.
" All dry pasta companies in
the 40s, 50s, 60s were using
Triangle equipment. "
- JAY VERMYLEN, A. ZEREGA'S SONS
Other long-time customers include
Goetze's Candy Co., A. Zerega's Sons
Inc. and Tootsie Roll Industries.
" All dry pasta companies in the 40s,
50s, 60s were using Triangle equipment, "
said Jay Vermylen of A. Zerega's Sons.
Todd Goetze, president and chief
operating officer at Goetze's Candy,
22 MAY/JUNE 2 0 2 3
 Paul Muskat (from left), Bryan Muskat, Jim Pittas, and David Muskat at PACK EXPO 2022. Family-owned
Triangle Packaging Packaging Co. is celebrating its centennial in 2023. Photo: Triangle Packaging Co.
credited Triangle's durable equipment
for the businesses' long partnership.
" The machine we had from the early
1960s was literally just replaced at
the end of 2021, " Goetze said. " The
machinery clearly is built for a long life
and holds up. "
In the 1970s, following regulation
changes such as the Sanitation Programs
administered by the FDA in 1969,
Triangle began focusing on providing
sanitary packaging equipment suitable
for products being scrutinized for food
safety, including shellfish and food
service products.
In the 1980s, under the leadership
of L.R. Muskat's son, Robert Muskat,
Triangle developed and introduced the
industry's first vertical zipper applicator.
Over the years, Triangle has further
developed this technology and is the
longest running partner of Zip-Pak, an
industry leader in reclosable packaging.
Bryan L. Muskat is currently Triangle CEO,
with brothers Paul Muskat (vice president
of business development) and David
Muskat (vice president of manufacturing,
safety and environmental services) also in
company leadership positions.
According to PMMI, Triangle is the
oldest member still run by its founding
family, the release stated.
" It is an honor to be part of this
momentous occasion, " Bryan Muskat
said. " We simply would not be here
today if it were not for the foresight of
L.R. and Robert and our loyal and
dedicated customers and employees. "
Innovation continues at the company.
Triangle has become a leader in online
support and, in anticipation of the Food
Safety Modernization Act, introduced
the X-Series platform of sanitary VFFS
baggers in 2009. Most recently, Triangle
developed its hygienic Delta Series of
baggers in 2021.

May/June 2023

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