Reithceif Packaging Receives November Honor
The Wells County Chamber of Commerce staff and Ambassadors congratulated Rethceif Packaging as the November Member of the Month. Rethceif Packaging is located at 420 Industrial Parkway in Ossian.
Founders, Tim and Vicki Fiechter, started the business in 2005 selling equipment from Italy. Within the first year, Chris Honegger, Chief Engineer, joined as an owner with the task of modifying the equipment to run consistently. “We had enough expertise in servicing, modifying, and upgrading machines so we developed our own product line,” said Tim Fiechter.
“We started out building equipment for cellulose insulation and then the market crashed in 2008. However, what we did discover was a market to bag wood shavings for animals,” explained Fiechter. In 2009 Rethceif bought the Ossian location and the company started growing fast. Greg Thornton joined as an owner in August of 2012 as part of the plan to grow the business. In 2016 they added on to the building, doubling the size and adding fabrication.
Rethceif Packaging currently employs 45 people with a variety of skills. “We make the machines to package the materials for other businesses,” stated Fiechter. Their product lines expanded from cellulose insulation to a variety of animal beddings, grass seed, wood pellets, fertilizer, popcorn, rubber mulch, and much more.
“We refer to the process as form, fill and seal (FFS). Flat sheets of film are wrapped around a collar to make the bag, the customer fills the bag with their product, and the machine seals it up,” said Fiechter.
Rethceif Packaging has over 120 customers in North America, Canada, Mexico, and Australia. Fiechter explained that they build 30-40 machines a year, with approximately 20% in the cotton industry; which is a large market spanning the south from Florida to California.
“We have a great, and above average, workforce at Rethceif Packaging with very low turnover. Our employees are designing and building custom equipment and many of them are multi-disciplined in hydraulics, welding, and electrical,” said Fiechter. “We support them with continued education as well.”
Fiechter concluded, “This honor as Member of the Month is very humbling and we are so grateful. We truly appreciate the Chamber of Commerce and all they do and try to take advantage of the many services they offer. Thank you.”
Pictured in the photo are Rethceif employees and Chamber Ambassadors.