Welcome to Automated Packaging Systems, a company whose values are rooted deep within our heritage, and whose mission and vision are geared towards continued global growth and success.
Who we are
Automated Packaging Systems was founded in 1962 by brothers Hershey and Bernie Lerner in a garage in Queens, New York. Hershey and Bernie, both engineers, invented the very first pre-opened bags-on-a-roll and called them Autobag®. Shortly after, the original Autobag bagging machine was born – a cardboard box with a dowel bar and a small air compressor mounted to the top.
From those humble beginnings, we have grown to be a world leader in packaging machines and materials. Now, we are a team of more than 1,000 people worldwide, holding a 55% stake in our success through the company’s generous Employee Stock Ownership Program.
We take pride in being a company with the resources to get the job done, while maintaining a close-knit culture not far removed from those days in the garage – keeping us agile in an ever-changing global marketplace.
As for Hershey and Bernie, they were inducted into the Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Institute (PMMI) Hall of Fame in 2012. They don’t dwell on that, though. Most days, you’ll find them in one of our facilities, checking out what’s new and sharing their ideas.