Sterling Box Company History
The Beginning:
Sauk Valley Container was started in June of 1990 as a cooperative effort of Jake Amsbaugh and Lynn Hammer. Using their personal funds as capital, Jake and Lynn rented three modules at the "incubator" building at 1741 Industrial drive in Sterling, Il. In the beginning, the two of them did sales, production, and delivery. As the business began to grow, employees were added in production, delivery and clerical positions.
In 1993, it became apparent that the company had outgrown its facilities at the "incubator". Land was purchased and building began on a new plant structure in the fall of 1993. Machines were moved in December of 1993, thus making the new home for Sauk Valley Container at the present address, 1980 Eastwood Drive in Sterling. Numerous improvements have been made to improve production efficiency and quality. A sales manager was added in 1995 to help open the company to new markets and better serve our present customers.
Sauk Valley Container is dedicated in our efforts to provide customers with quality products and prompt courteous service. The company will continue to reinvest time and funds to maintain high standards of manufacturing techniques. Yet, the success of our company has, and always will, continue to rest on the quality of people who market, make, package, and distribute our corrugated packaging materials. Jake and Lynn acknowledge with gratitude all those people, past and present, that have helped make the dream a reality. It is hoped that as long as you are connected with our company, the relationship will be one of personal reward, mutual respect, and fun.
Jake Amsbaugh and Lynn Hammer
The Next Chapter
The Next Chapter:
At the end of an extensive study of the corrugated market, the business itself, and with the help of many bankers, accountants, lawyers, and the SBA staff at Sauk Valley College a deal was struck with the current owners (Jake Amsbaugh and Lynn Hammer) and longtime employees (Jodi Adams, Greg Landes and Dave Glazier) to purchase the company in December of 2018. Thus Sterling Box Company Inc. was born DBA (doing business as) Sauk Valley Container. The three new owners at the time of the sale, January 2019, had more than 77 collective years of employment with Sauk Valley Container.
With the extensive knowledge and experience in the corrugated industry and the desire to move our company into the future, we pledge ourselves to carry on the tradition of providing quality products and prompt courteous service. Our long-term vision is to work and think outside the box; to achieve long term growth and sustainability with a friendly, expert staff and a well-trained knowledgeable workforce. Thus, allowing an efficient team to produce and ship a quality corrugated product to fulfill the needs of a growing customer base.
As a member of the Sterling Box Co. Inc. DBA Sauk Valley Container team, we expect everyone from the front office to the production floor, to treat one another with the utmost respect and common courtesy we all deserve at all times. Be it at work or otherwise. As we move our company into a new era, we hope the journey will be a rewarding, enjoyable, and fun experience for all involved.
