Prairie Industries is celebrating 25th anniversary
Company continues to evolve and expand
By Ted Pennekamp
Prairie Industries is proudly celebrating 25 years in business. The company was established in April 1994 by Jim Hutchison, with a starting workforce of just eight employees. Today, Prairie Industries has grown to a workforce of more than 350 employees.
According to Hutchison, the company started by providing inspection and packaging services of abrasive disc products for 3M Company in Prairie du Chien. Over the next 25 years, under the ownership of Jeff Panka and Jim Hutchison, the company has grown and expanded into three facilities in Prairie du Chien and a fourth facility in Lansing, Iowa.
The company specializes in contract packaging and converting services including blister packaging, retail display assembly, mixing/bottling liquids and various other packaging services. They service seven different divisions of 3M Company globally in addition to numerous other customers.
In 1998, Prairie Industries purchased Nu-Pak, a food packaging facility, in Boscobel. Together, the companies employ almost 800 employees.
Hutchison said, “We are grateful to our customers and dedicated employees who have provided the quality of service that has allowed us to expand. It’s been 25 wonderful years with this community, and we are very proud to be here.”