In this vivid and entertaining video, several members of Arkay’s management team join in to speak about their involvement in Arkay’s resilient 103 years of success, beginning with Arkay’s 3rd generation Chairman/CEO, Mitchell Kaneff, who states: “You never get a second chance to make a first impression and at Arkay we specialize in making those first impressions remarkable!”
“Packaging is super important to customers and consumers because it’s a first phase in purchasing a product,” says Josh Kaneff, Arkay’s 4th generation Account Executive, and Brian Hopkins, Arkay’s Corporate VP of Operations, adds: “What people don’t understand about packaging is that it’s an art form, and at the end of the day, that’s what we do: We create art.”
Arkay’s COO, Walt Shiels, believes that Arkay is basically a special effects company. “ What we do with Paint on Press® (Arkay’s registered and trademarked technique) is take our customer artwork they’ve developed into our facility in Roanoke, where we meet with our team of designers and structural engineers, and we turn a 2D art form into 3D!” This specialized method adds value to the product so that it stands out on the shelf with its varied coatings and designs. “We’re not only printing,” Walt continues, “we’re embossing, we’re stamping, we’re laminating. We can review one piece of artwork and deliver over 30 iterations of it!” John Ranson, Arkay’s Quality Manager, adds that the work we do at Arkay is “second to none with quality checks each step of the way: Bringing that quality to our customers has been the cornerstone of Arkay for over a century!”
Laura Slatkin, Founder and CEO of NEST, values Arkay and tells our viewers that “Arkay is extraordinary when it comes to creating beautiful boxes. Their attention to detail, their dedication is enormously important. As a 4th generation company, Arkay has a culture comprised of individuals who really are about their clients in a way that is extraordinary. It’s amazing to work with a company that acts like a partner, that really goes above and beyond to meet all your needs and requirements.”
Mitchell Kaneff believes that what makes Arkay different is that, as a privately held 100-year-old 4th generation family business, we care tremendously, not only about our teammates, but about our customers. He notes that after 100 years we found that being leaders in state-of-the-art technology is paramount and says that at Arkay, we have an ongoing commitment to the future with our investment in state-of-the-art technology and equipment.
Specifically, Mitchell adds: “Our latest AI print technology is incorporated into our Heidelberg printing presses through seamless operation and color management. Our current equipment is also set up with state-of-the-art cold foiling and double Flexo coating units for cost-effective solutions and special effect opportunities. We continue to incorporate high speed manufacturing with our latest Bobst Expertcut Die Cutter and Blanker. It’s the fourth one we’ve integrated into our high performing finishing department, and it yields speeds of over 9,000 sheets an hour with power register and pinpoint accuracy. Another recent investment has been in two Diana folder gluers from MK Masterwork, offering high processing quality, short make-ready times and consistent user-friendliness. They incorporate AI learning into our Accucheck quality control camera systems, ensuring that defects are ejected before anything can be shipped to our clients.” Proudly Mitchell says that, as his company enters its 2nd century in business, "every upgrade reflects its unwavering commitment to innovation, to efficiency and to our customers.”
Robin Rivera, Arkay’s Human Resources Managers, reveals that “every one of our managers has started out in the job they are managing for, so we really understand the ins and the outs of what it takes to get that job done.” And Rhonda Justice, Arkay’s Senior Sustainability Representative, is proud of the many steps Arkay continues to take to be a leader in environmental stewardship: “We’ve installed LED lighting throughout our entire facility,” Rhonda notes, “and we also invested in a white roof to reduce heat absorption and installed high quality, energy efficient air conditioners.” Last, but not least, she tells viewers that, since 2022, Arkay has received every year the prestigious Platinum Certification from EcoVadis, ranking us in the top 1% of rated companies worldwide.”
Mitchell Kaneff reminds viewers that “Made in America means that Arkay has some of the best talent and artisans and experts in the field and that we can react literally within days. We guarantee you that you will get your products rapidly and consistently of the quality that you expect and with the knowledge that, if there are any challenges, Arkay is there to take care of you.” Josh Kaneff concurs wholeheartedly: “At Arkay, we will deliver what our customers need every time!”
