Local Strapping Company to
Global Packaging Leader
Chicago inventor, Ellsworth E. Flora, and his partner, J. Fremont Murphy, organize the Seal and Fastener Company.
The “Signode” name is adopted.
Signode Britain is formed as the first foreign subsidiary.
Signode International, Ltd. is formed to consolidate all international businesses.
Signode develops the first fully automatic power strapping machine, revolutionizing the packaging business.
Signode is listed on the NYSE.
Plastic strapping and tools are developed and sold.
Signode Steel Strapping becomes Signode Corporation.
Signode develops its own polypropylene strapping, called Contrax®.
Corporate offices move to Glenview, Illinois.
Tenax® polyester strapping is developed.
Signode Corporation becomes Signode Industries Inc. in one of the largest leveraged buy-outs in American business history at that time.
Tape and stretch film packaging systems are added to Signode's product line, making Signode the premier full-line supplier of protective packaging systems.
Signode is acquired by ITW and restructured as Signode Packaging Systems.
Signode launches a Closed Loop Recycling Program that enables companies to recycle used polyester strapping to reduce their packaging waste and disposal costs. Recaptured strapping is used for the manufacture of new strapping.
Signode develops High-Strength Tenax® polyester strapping, which later replaces steel strapping in many applications, including lumber and panel products, cotton bales, brick cubes and paper rolls.
Global industry managers are named to address product development and marketing issues affecting select industries worldwide.
A modular strapping system that consists of separate, lightweight tensioning and sealing modules is developed. This innovative system drastically reduces maintenance costs and downtime on strapping equipment.
Signode introduces its high speed, low maintenance LBX and HBX series General Purpose Equipment line featuring jam-resistant technology, automatic loading, no drives, belts or pulleys and 40% fewer parts than competitive strapping machine models.
Committed to being a leader in sustainability for the packaging industry, Signode develops a thin strap that utilizes 40% fewer raw materials in the manufacturing process without sacrificing performance.
Signode is one of ITW’s largest operating divisions. We are committed to continued growth through the development of new products and technologies. Signode annually dedicates substantial resources to the research and development of new opportunities that improve performance, service and product quality.