Group O Inc., an end-to-end business process outsourcing provider specializing in packaging, supply chain, and automation solutions, today announced it has joined PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, strengthening its place in the packaging and automation industry.
PMMI (formerly the Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Institute) is a globally recognized trade association representing more than 1,000 manufacturers and suppliers of packaging and processing equipment, components, materials, and services across North America and the world. Membership provides access to industry research, technical standards, business intelligence, and collaborative networks that drive advanced manufacturing and automation practices.
“Becoming a PMMI member aligns naturally with Group O’s longstanding focus on helping complex organizations modernize and optimize their packaging operations,” said Daniel Caceres, Vice President of Packaging Solutions at Group O, headquartered in Milan, Ill.
Group O’s PMMI membership supports the company’s continued expansion in packaging automation systems and equipment, enabling deeper engagement with manufacturers, technology providers, and standards-setting bodies across the industry.
Group O delivers a comprehensive portfolio of packaging automation solutions designed to improve throughput, accuracy, and operational consistency. These solutions help manufacturers reduce labor intensity, improve safety, and scale efficiently in high-demand production environments.
Decades of expertise for Fortune 500 companies
With more than five decades of experience, Group O has built a reputation as a trusted partner to Fortune 500 companies seeking to optimize their end-to-end packaging operations. The company provides a single-source model that integrates packaging materials, equipment, automation, testing, and continuous improvement services to reduce complexity and total cost of ownership.
“PMMI’s leadership in packaging and processing technologies supports our ability to stay ahead of industry trends and continually deliver smarter, more efficient solutions to our clients,” said Maria Badger, Director of Integrated Packaging Solutions at Group O.
She joined Group O about six months ago after working six years as engineering product manager for Robopac, one of the world's largest original equipment manufacturers of packaging equipment, headquartered in northern Italy.
“I designed and engineered packaging systems, and that's why I was an ideal candidate for this role that I have here now at Group O, as our director of integrated packaging solutions,” Badger said Wednesday, May 13. “Group O has been selling packaging equipment for 50 years. But Group O hasn't had a strong focus on integrated packaging systems.
“And it's something that our leadership identified as an important strategic market for us, because when companies like Group O sell integrated packaging systems, we solve bigger problems, and we want to solve big problems,” she said.
Admission into PMMI “recognizes our commitment to not just selling individual packaging machines, but selling complete packaging systems,” Badger noted.
In layman's terms, that might mean that the bottle of water that you have on your desk next to you, the water had to get put into a bottle, the bottle had to get capped, the bottle had to get labeled, and a bunch of other bottles had to get bundled together into shrink wrap, she explained.
“That bundle had to get put onto a pallet. That pallet then had to get stretch wrapped and labeled and sent out the door so that you could buy it at Kroger or Costco or wherever you purchased it,” she said. “And so that's what we do.”
Growing to integrated systems
The company is growing from selling individual packaging pieces to selling integrated systems, Badger said. “It's an expansion of our business and it's exciting to us because it enables us to offer a deeper set of solutions to our customers.”
“That system that I just described has multiple machine centers in it. And in the past, we would have just sold one of the machine centers, not integrated into the entire packaging system,” she said. “So the way that this is different than what we've done in the past is that we're now offering full-line integration services that we didn't offer in the past. And being a member of PMMI indicates that we're a qualified supplier of those integrated systems.”
PMMI is the preeminent global trade association for this industry, Badger said, noting she led the process to apply for membership and be accepted, requiring Group O meet several standards for the business.
“You can't just fork over some money and get the sticker, so to speak,” she said. “I had to answer very in-depth questions about our business, what we do, what our goals are. How many service technicians do we have, how many engineers do we have? So it's not something where you can, like I said, just hand over the money and become a member.
“Also, you have to maintain your qualifications by sending employees to training events, which we're excited to say, we already have employees signed up to attend training events,” Badger said. “There's also a professional certification which is optional but strongly encouraged. And it's a certification that I personally have from a past job, but I'll be encouraging our team members to get those certifications as well. It really says to the industry that these people are qualified members of our qualified supplier of this type of system.”
“One of the reasons it's such an exciting event for us is that now it grants our employees access to a level of training and certification that they did not in the past have access to,” she said. “That's exciting because it makes our employees better problem-solvers for our customers. And our customers are really big companies. These are companies that make all the products that you buy to run your life.
"Food products, beverage products, medical devices, every shampoo, conditioner, lotion -- all of the products that consumers need in their lives. These are the kinds of products that we package.”
“That's why it's so important to us. It says to the Nestles and the Proctor and Gambles and the Kraft-Heinzes of the world, this is an authorized supplier.,” Badger said. “We've recognized their capabilities. And this is an authorized supplier because as you can imagine, multi-billion-dollar corporations don’t want to go hire Billy Bob's packaging company to make an investment like this. Packaging systems like the one I described to you are typically multimillion-dollar investments and they must last a very long time to make the investment worthwhile.
“And so by being accepted as a member of PMMI, we now are illustrating that we're qualified to do that kind of work,” she said. “And that's very appealing and important to those large consumer product manufacturers and food and beverage manufacturers to illustrate that they're making good choice when they partner with us.”
“Kind of a big deal”
“Joining PMMI recognizes our commitment to doing it in the highest quality way and with a real focus on total cost of ownership and sound engineering principles,” Badger said. “So it's kind of a big deal in our world.”
Group O’s packaging services include:
• Packaging design and engineering support
• Packaging material sourcing and optimization
• ISTA-certified package testing and performance validation
• Equipment integration, parts, and service
• Data-driven packaging assessments and continuous improvement initiatives
Through detailed packaging analyses and proprietary optimization methodologies, Group O helps organizations improve efficiency, enhance sustainability, and protect product integrity throughout the supply chain.
Group O Inc. (which has 1,000 employees across the country) is a privately held, end-to-end business process outsourcing provider specializing in packaging solutions, supply chain management, incentive marketing, and automation services.
Headquartered in Milan, with major operations in Texas, Indiana, Pennsylvania, and Mexico, Group O helps leading organizations simplify operations, increase efficiency, and support long-term growth through integrated, technology-driven solutions.
Founded in 1974 as a small, family-run packaging company, Group O has grown into a thriving enterprise with world-class industry experience under the leadership of the Ontiveros family.
PMMI is “an important organization for us to be involved in because it again illustrates our credibility, but it also gives us access to so many resources that don't just benefit our employees but allow us to pass those benefits on to our customers,” Badger added. “It’s higher education, higher standards and recognition that our program is doing the highest quality work.”
For more information on Group O, visit GroupO.com.
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