Two packaging companies, both owned by Quad/Graphics Inc., are planning to expand their neighboring facilities in Franklin, according to information filed with the city.

Transpak Corp. and Proteus Packaging Corp. both operate on World Packaging Circle, a cul-de-sac within Franklin Business Park, south of W. Ryan Road and west of S. Oakwood Park Drive. Both companies moved to Franklin from Milwaukee in 2007 and were sold to Quad in 2013.

Transpak's services include export, domestic and military packaging, as well as product distribution. It operates a 300,000-square-foot facility, according to the company's website.

Proteus designs, prints and makes paperboard packages for food and beverage makers, pharmaceutical companies and other industrial customers. It operates a 246,000-square-foot facility, according to the company.

A spokeswoman for Sussex-based Quad, among the nation's largest commercial printers, didn't respond to requests for information about the expansion plans.

Quad leases the Transpak and Proteus buildings from VTLC Development I LLC and VTLC Development II LLC, two groups operated by Thomas Wamser, the retired chief executive officer of the two packaging companies. Neither Wamser nor VTLC Development's attorney, Bernard Kearney, could be reached for comment.

Wamser's groups also own vacant parcels just west of both buildings. Those groups have agreed to sell the buildings and vacant parcels to ElmTree Net Lease Fund II LLC, according to information filed with the Franklin Community Development Authority.

Proteus and Transpak plan to use the vacant lots "for additional expansion of these facilities in the immediate future," according to that information.

ElmTree Net Lease Fund is an affiliate of ElmTree Funds LLC, a St. Louis-based private equity investment firm. An ElmTree executive couldn't be reached for comment.

The Community Development Authority's board, at its Wednesday night meeting, is to consider waiving its rights to repurchase the vacant parcels that are proposed as expansion sites for Transpak and Proteus. No detailed expansion plans have yet been filed with the city, said Joel Dietl, Franklin's planning manager.

Proteus, formerly known as Beck Carton Corp., operated at 311 E. Chicago St., 172 N. Broadway and 153 N. Milwaukee St., in Milwaukee's Historic Third Ward, and Transpak was based nearby at 235 E. Pittsburgh Ave., in Walker's Point, before both companies moved to Franklin.

The former Beck buildings were sold and redeveloped into offices and retail space. Transpak's former buildings were sold and are now part of the South Water Works development that includes apartments and offices.

 

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