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Industrial Container and Supply Co.


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This is Fred Ball for Zions Bank, speaking on business.

Containers have been around for a long time. The first containers ever used were probably made of natural things such as gourds and shells. And though it's something you've probably never thought about, the containers you use every day wouldn't be possible without scientific research, creativity and even a few mistakes. Celluloid, a forerunner of today's plastics, was discovered after a scientist accidentally spilled collodian, a chemical formerly used to seal cuts.

Industrial Container and Supply Co., located in Salt Lake City, puts all this modern technology and creativity to use to provide just about every container you can imagine.

Operating out of his basement and using the family station wagon as his first delivery vehicle, Reid Johnson began Industrial Container and Supply Co. in 1962.

Today, the company has grown to fill a warehouse equivalent to two and one-half football fields and has delivery trucks that can be seen across the state.

The first product Industrial Container and Supply ever sold was a gallon bottle used by the chemical industry. Now, the company provides more than 2,000 products to the general public and various industries nationwide.

Arnold Ashby, president of Industrial Container and Supply, is one of four employees who bought the company from the original owner eight years ago. Arnold tells me some of his employees started as teenagers and love working at Industrial so much that they've stayed, moving up the ranks as they've gone to school, gotten married and had children.

Arnold tells me one of the most unique things about Industrial is that it has a complete silkscreen operation to custom label clients' containers. Additionally, Industrial keeps all of its products in stock. And that's a lot of stock because Industrial sells plastic, steel and glass containers of all shapes and sizes, ranging from containers large enough to enclose a motorcycle to small enough to encircle several peas.

For Zions Bank, I'm Fred Ball. I'm speaking on business.

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