Nichols Paper Products Company, Inc.

It all started in 1951 when Straubel Paper Company of Green Bay, Wisconsin, was looking to build a second paper converting plant.

They bought and refurbished the old jam and jelly factory in the Village of Nichols, which is located 25 miles west of Green Bay and 25 miles north of Appleton.

The historic building, which was built in the 1920s, has its original hardwood floor and is still utilized today.

ONE MAN GANG TAKES ON THE GOLIATHS OF THE PAPER INDUSTRY

Fast forward to 1981. Green Bay businessman, Bernie Dahlin owned and operated a successful roof trusses and housing components company for nine years before closing the doors for good in February of 1981.

This was due to skyrocketing mortgage rates, which rocked the housing industry (can you imagine paying 21% interest on a home mortgage loan today?).

With a wife, four young children and a home mortgage of his own, Dahlin wasn’t just looking for another job.

So at the age of 40, with the entrepreneurial spirit still burning inside him, Dahlin started his search to own and operate another business.

Since Google didn’t exist back in the ’80s, he found a 3″ thick City Directory book and started cold calling hundreds of companies in Northeastern Wisconsin and asking the owners if they wanted to sell their businesses.

This went on for seven months until he called and spoke with Charlie Nothstine of Straubel Paper Company.

Nothstine and his business partner, Dwight Fisk, were very interested in selling the Nichols Paper Products division of their company.

But before a sale was made, Dahlin was hired as the new general manager of Nichols Paper.

He handled all aspects of the company, including production, sales, purchasing and finance, while still growing the business.

Then 15 months later, on December 1, 1982, Dahlin became a business owner again by purchasing Nichols Paper Products Company for a price of $250,000.

A NEW ERA OF PRINTING AND CONVERTING…

Under Bernie Dahlin’s leadership and vision, Nichols Paper expanded both the size of its facilities as well as its flexographic printing and converting capabilities.

This has allowed us to increase our customer base by developing products for new markets and industries.

New converting lines were added to enhance our main value-added service offerings, which include waxing, creping, laminating and contour fiberboard forms.

Additional product lines that complement our converting services were acquired to provide packaging products for the floral and dry-cleaning industries.

As a contract manufacturer, an even greater commitment was made to develop our team.

Because of the unique requirements presented by our customers, we have created an atmosphere for our team to utilize their technical expertise, apply proven work flow processes, and focus on continuous learning learning and improvement.

The result is a team of dedicated professionals, many 20, 30, and even 40 years of experience, here to serve your specialized printing and converting needs.