Packforce celebrates 50 years in style

Stationery giant STAEDTLER will print the Packforce logo on its best-selling products as public endorsement of Cerebral Palsy Alliance’s supported employee division.

Packforce, with its dedicated team of workers with a disability, took over STAEDTLER’s blister card operations in late 2009.

Packforce currently pack and distribute the AFL school ambassador packs.

It also provides packaging and assembly services for a wide range of STAEDTLER stationery products including pens, pencils, erasers, sharpeners, pencil tubs, back to school stationery packs and highlighter packs.

To celebrate Packforce’s 50th birthday and coinciding with International Day of People With Disability, STAEDTLER  agreed to introduce the Packforce logo on these products.

They will start to be seen on the shelves of major retailers across the country from next year.

CEO of Cerebral Palsy Alliance, Rob White, said STAEDTLER’s very public support of Packforce acknowledges the great work done by the dedicated team of employees with a disability.

“For 50 years, Packforce has been providing reliable and cost-effective assembly and packaging services for Australian and international clients”, Mr White said.

“It is fitting that as supported employees gather today to celebrate this half-century milestone, STAEDTLER announces its plan to bring the reliable work of Packforce to the attention of millions of Australian consumers.”

Long time employee Ian Tracey said “I love working at Packforce because it gives me a sense of achievement. It’s great seeing the things I’ve worked on in the shops – like Staedtler pens, rubbers and sharpeners. It makes me feel like I have made a contribution to the community.”

Packforce was established in Frenchs Forest in 1961 by what was then The Spastic Centre (now Cerebral Palsy Alliance).

Under its original name Centre Industries, it was an innovative business venture that moved away from the sheltered workshop model and towards an open, competitive operation.

The first contract was to manufacture relay sets for telephone exchange junctions.

In the 50 years since, Packforce has grown into a renowned service provider with warehouses in both Frenchs Forest and Wetherill Park.

It now provides employment for over 160 people with cerebral palsy and other disabilities and provides services for an estimated 100 business clients.

Speaking at Packforce’s 50th birthday celebrations, Managing Director of STAEDTLER in Australia Paul Cashmore said the stationery giant was proud to publicly support Packforce.

“When we closed our Australian production facility after 40 years, we needed to outsource our considerable volume of blister card work and other special packaging projects to a reliable and efficient local organisation”, Mr Cashmore said.

“Packforce has provided a very successful and professional transfer of operations and have from day one been extremely conscious of the need for STAEDTLER’s high level of quality to be maintained.

“We are looking forward to a long and successful business relationship with Packforce and are proud to have our professional relationship on public display.

“I would encourage other organisations to consider Packforce for their packaging and assembly requirements. Quite simply, it makes good business sense.”