deSter stands at the forefront of the food packaging and serviceware industry, delivering innovative concepts to aviation and food service sectors. With a remarkable manufacturing history spanning 50 years, our journey began with a legendary fries’ fork. Over the years, we have expanded globally, and today, we operate manufacturing facilities in Belgium, the USA, and Thailand, embodying a glocal approach. Our strategic presence across three continents enables us to reduce delivery times, minimize costs, and lower CO2 emissions by producing closer to our valued customers.
To mark a milestone in our production capabilities, we’re introducing a special article series delving into our manufacturing facilities. Let’s begin this journey in Lima, Ohio, USA.
Established in 2018, the Lima facility represents deSter’s inaugural and sole North American production center, primarily dedicated to serving the food service sector. Despite its relative youth, this factory has made considerable progress, continuously evolving, broadening its customer base, and diversifying its product offerings.
Leading the Lima facility is Duane Cameron, a seasoned professional with over 25 years of experience in the manufacturing industry. Duane, who joined deSter in the summer of 2023, possesses a keen eye for operational efficiency. He focuses on enhancing day-to-day operations, including reducing downtime to better control labor costs and improve responsiveness to customer needs. Furthermore, Duane emphasizes inventory reduction and control, local supplier management, and minimizing waste. Establishing a responsive team driven by urgency is crucial for the future success of deSter.
In the realm of products, the Lima facility currently produces a variety of items, ranging from PP clam shells and PP cutlery to trays and lids. These offerings cater to esteemed clients such as Bob Evans, Havi, Pure, Innopak, and Skyline.
Sustainability lies at the core of our operations. Employees in Lima actively engage with the community, volunteering at local events and food drives while also conducting educational sessions to raise awareness about sustainability and responsible plastic usage. The sustainability journey kicked off in August 2022, with team members volunteering at the Allen County Fair to support local 4-H groups. Subsequent initiatives included a canned food drive in November 2022 and educational sessions at local events, focusing on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles, particularly with the younger demographic.
As we look to the future, the Lima facility remains steadfast in its commitment to growth and diversification. Planned additions, such as silos and in-line grinders, underscore our dedication to continuous improvement and expanding our product range not only to meet but exceed the expectations of our valued customers.
Follow our journey as we uncover deSter’s global manufacturing excellence in future articles.