About EFP

EFP is an industry leader specializing in exceptional high-volume molding, fabrication, and cold chain solutions. For 70 years, we’ve been committed to developing innovative products designed to protect what matters to thousands of companies nationwide.

Who We Are

EFP is a vertically integrated manufacturer specializing in engineered protective packaging, cold chain solutions, and packaging supply chain services. Headquartered in Elkhart, Indiana, EFP operates seven strategically positioned manufacturing and distribution facilities across the U.S.—including Indiana, Tennessee, Alabama, South Carolina, and Arizona—enabling optimized service coverage from the Canadian border to the Gulf Coast and across the Western U.S.

As a subsidiary of J.B. Poindexter & Co., a privately held, diversified manufacturing enterprise, EFP leverages advanced materials science, automation, and data-driven process optimization to deliver high-performance, cost-effective, and sustainable packaging solutions. Our product development and engineering teams are focused on continuous innovation in thermal insulation, molded foam products, and recyclable materials to meet the evolving demands of regulated industries including healthcare, food, appliances, and e-commerce.

EFP’s mission of Protecting What Matters is what drives our commitment to quality, sustainability, and customer-centric service across every stage of the packaging lifecycle.

Protecting What Matters

With 6 world-class manufacturing facilities across 5 states, and growing, our targeted distribution network ensures the exact product you ordered is delivered safely and on-time, every time. Additionally, EFP is committed to taking a 360-degree approach to sustainability. We’re evolving the materials we use, the takeback systems we create and the industry-driven partnerships we pursue to keep sustainability in our line of sight and spark industry-wide lasting change.

History of EFP

1954

Beginnings

In his basement, Dale Fonner replaced cotton balls with foam pads to protect Alka-Seltzer. This became the start of EFP as Engineered Foam Plastics.

1960

EPS

Dale and his brother-in-law built their own molding equipment and invented moldable expanded polystyrene (EPS).

1963

New Location

EFP moved to its current location in Elkhart, Indiana.

1980

First Acquisition

Mahoney Plastics in Decatur, Alabama became the first acquisition of EFP.

1985

JBPCO Family

EFP became the first business unit of John B. Poindexter’s family of companies, J.B. Poindexter & Co., Inc. (JBPCO). At this time, EFP changed its name from Engineered Foam Plastics to EFP Corporation (EFP Corp.).

2001

Acquisition

EFP finalizes Crackle Cutters acquisition in Nashville, Tennessee.

2006

A New Structure

EFP changed from a Corporation to a Limited Liability Company (LLC) and became known as EFP, LLC.

2008

PharmaTuff®

We announced our partaking in Cold Chain Solutions and launched our PharmaTuff® brand.

2015

New Location

EFP Nashville moved to its current location in La Vergne, Tennessee. With this move, we relocated our 1 chamber, 2 residential freezers, 1 residential refrigerator, and 2 commercial grade freezers from our Decatur, Alabama plant to the La Vergne, Tennessee plant. This relocation was the kick start of EFP’s expansion of Cold Chain Solutions. During this time, EFP also celebrated 30 years as a best-in-class company under JBPCO.

2016

Center of Excellence

We built our Center of Excellence (CoE) Laboratory in our La Vergne, Tennessee plant to better test our cold chain products and solutions. We also launched our eQUAL product line of pre-qualified EPS shippers.

2018

New Capabilities

Our company broadened its capabilities by investing in packaging automation, updated presses, and cold chain improvements.

2019

New Facility

We opened a new molding facility in Evansville, Indiana to better serve our existing and future customers.

2021

We Keep Expanding

EFP opened a new gel manufacturing and kitting facility in Reno, Nevada to expand access to our cold chain shipping solutions for our customers on the West Coast.

2022

Rebrand

A lot of exciting news and improvements came to EFP in 2022. EFP updated our company logo to expand what EFP stands for, from EFP to EFP – Engineered Foam Packaging. At this time, EFP rebranded our Cold Chain department to EFP’s Temperature Solutions Group. We released our Climatemp product line of economical seasonal shippers, acquired NatureKool™, a natural fiber thermal packaging company, and lastly, expanded again by opening a new operations facility in La Vergne, Tennessee.

2024

New Facility & New Program

EFP opened a new kitting, molding, and fabrication facility in Bishopville, South Carolina. EFP also launched an eCommerce program for their EPS Stocking Program to give easier access to small quantity shipper orders.

Frequently Asked Questions

EPS is short for Expanded Polystyrene. Most people refer to this as Foam. You will find this material in many shipments to your home today as it is a durable, versatile, and protective material comprised of 90% air and proven to minimize waste and lower CO2 emissions.

EFP has its headquarters in Elkhart, Indiana with other locations spread-out nationwide:

Evansville, Indiana
La Vergne, Tennessee
Decatur, Alabama
Bishopville, South Carolina
Casa Grande, Arizona

Our locations in Elkhart, Indiana, Evansville, Indiana, La Vergne, Tennessee, and Decatur, Alabama recycle EPS packaging. Drop off hours are between 9am-2pm, Monday-Friday. If our locations do not match your needs, please visit https://www.epsindustry.org/recycling-map to find a recycling location near you.

Yes! Our recently acquired company, NatureKool, Inc., is a natural fiber based packaging material which can be found more in-depth under our Temperature Solutions tab. We also offer recycled and biodegradable EPS.

Please fill out our contact form and someone will contact you within 24 hours.

It is recommended to dispose of EFP Gel Packs by placing the gel pack into a trash receptacle. The gel bag filling has the potential to clog pips if incorrectly disposed of into a drain with insufficient running water to dilute the filling material.

Get In Touch

Whether you’d like to get to know more about EFP, learn more about our career opportunities or if you’d like to potentially do business, we’d love to talk with you.