History of the CalBox Group

Our Promise to Our Customers since 1978:

We will constantly meet and exceed our customer’s expectations with the products and services we provide by being On Time with Quality and No ‘Excuses’
John Widera began his career in the corrugated industry after working for such companies as Fairbanks Morse, Beloit Wi. Caterpillar in Peoria, and Belgium, and Bemis Co.
1970
His new employer was General Corrugated Machinery Co., in New Jersey, selling box making and packaging machinery in western USA, western Canada, and Mexico.
1976
John and two partners started Action Box Co., in Houston, Texas
1978
He started a custom packaging company Tucson container (TCC) and Kino Packaging in an airplane hanger.
1983
John resigned from General Corrugated Machine Co. as western regional manager, to devote full time to building his enterprises.
1984
California Box Co. was created in April 1984, by Ed St. Hilaire and John Widera. The sheet plant operated out of a leased 60,000 sq. ft. facility in Pico Rivera CA. It sold custom corrugated boxes, pads, and displays to brokers and distributors.
1986
Took legal action against INS immigration agentson 4 suprise visits and won. Story was covered by the L.A. Times with a follow-up story in 1987.
1990
Cal Box II was started in Rancho Cucamonga (located near Ontario International Airport).
1993
After buying out his partner, John relocated Cal Box to its present 180,000 sq. ft. facility in Santa Fe Springs CA.
1995
CalBox Group designed, built, and moved into an 110,000 sq. ft. facility on 7 acres next to a Rancho Cucamonga golf course. An architecturally modern facility with state-of-the art automated machinery, it is one of the finest sheet plants in California.
1997
West Texas Container (WTC) started operating in a 35,000 sq. ft. building leased near Mexico's border in El Paso, Texas. Why? There was a need for quality printing and J.I.T. (Just In Time).
1999
John Widera was chosen by Boxboard Containers-International, as one of fifty 20th century leaders in the box industry – with only two independent box makers being from the west coast.
2000
Tucson Container moved into its new modern 150,000 sq. ft. building on 18 acres, near the Tucson airport. It manufactures corrugated boxes & displays, foam, and wood crating and is also a distributor for packaging supplies.
2001
Our sheet feeder, CB Sheets, opened operations with the purchase of a new 98” computerized fast setup corrugator. A 25,000 sq. ft. addition was built for conveyors moving sheets from the corrugator to converting machinery and shipping.
2003
West Texas Container moved into its own 85,000 sq. ft. facility, located on 8 acres. It is about 5 minutes from the border crossing from El Paso to Juarez, Mexico.
2003 – 2007
Replaced old machinery and technology at all four plants with state-of-the-art converting machinery. Financing came from CalBox Group. Result: Quality products, with minimal debt to suceed in the most competitive corrugated and folding carton market in U.S.A.
2006
Action Box, Houston TX, built a new building and installed a corrugator. Sales are $40 million annually.
2011
CalBox Group purchased a 150,000 sq. ft. industial building on 8 acres in Mesa (Phoenix) AZ, and installed a new $9,000,000 corrugator, plus $4,000,000 in anciliary equipment.
2012
John resigned as president, but remaines as Chairman of the Board. His son, Chris Widera, is named CEO of Cal Box Co. and Cal Box II.
2015
Chris Widera became CEO of all five corrugated facilities of the CalBox Group.
2016
After 40 years, John Widera sold his stock and part ownership of Action Box, Houston TX, a corrugator plant, to Hood, a paper mill. He received $15 million (before taxes).
2017
Purchased $4 million in upgrade machinery. Purchased 16,000 sq.ft. building in Mesa AZ., as usual, with cash.
2019
Bought for CalBox ll, a new mini Emba FFG for $2-million and moved another Emba mini flexo-folder-gluer to ACC.
2020
Purchased $5-million of computorized converting machines for ACC and CalBox l. John Widera published his 6th book "Swimming With Corporate Sharks in a Crisis "
We now have close to 400 employees, and 700,000 sq. ft. under roof,
with combined sales close to $100 million.
So, let us quote you a price. Call Tucson Container at