Improving the way companies package and protect their products for shipment for over 50 years

Jim Lancaster is the CEO and owner of Lantech. Before joining Lantech, Jim worked in the financial industry with Catalyst Energy in New York City. In 1990, Jim joined Lantech as a Sales Manager in the Custom Machinery Group. After several promotions, he became President/CEO in 1995.

Lantech is known as the leader in stretch wrap technology and innovation, as well as case handling equipment. Lantech is also one of the earliest companies to implement the Toyota Lean Principles, as chronicled in Lean Thinking by James Womack, the Harvard Business Review and other publications. Jim has been leading the Lantech lean journey for the past 25 years.

Jim personally supports and advocates for improved education in Louisville, through his longtime involvement and board Chairman position at Jefferson Community and Technical College as well as involvement in numerous entities with Jefferson County Schools and with many other educational related efforts.

Patrick R. Lancaster, III, is Chairman and Co-founder of Lantech. In the early 1970’s, Pat and his brother, Bill, saw the potential for industrial machinery that could wrap pallet loads of goods at greater savings and stability than the existing technology could provide. Starting in a 1,600 square foot warehouse and only $3000, the brothers began designing and selling stretch wrap equipment.

Since that time, Pat has continually led the stretch wrap industry with his innovations. He is the named inventor on over 150 patents worldwide, including the basic stretch wrapper, resulting in over 4 billion loads shipped annually benefiting from Lantech innovations.

In 1995 Pat stepped down as President, passing that title on to his son Jim, and has remained in a “chief inventor” role ever since.

Darryl Gee is the Vice President of Global Sales for Lantech, a manufacturer of packaging machinery in Louisville, Kentucky, and has been in that role for the last 15 years.

Prior to that, his 30-year career at Lantech has included several other sales and business development roles. Those have included Director of National Accounts, Director of Distribution Sales, Director of International Sales and time as a Regional Sales Manager and Product Specialist.

Additionally, he has started business entities in Asia and set up sales infrastructures in Europe. He lives in Louisville, Kentucky with his family and enjoys cooking, hiking and golf.

Frank Wijers is Managing Director of the Lantech Europe facility in Malden the Netherlands. Frank joined the company in 1995 as a young, ambitious engineer.

The team in those days consisted of approximately 30 motivated, mainly technical, members that believed the case product line had potential to conquer the world. The organization started to grow and later merged with the Lantech organization in the US.

During those years, Frank had several roles. From engineer to project manager, to plant manager, and management member, to the current role.
Frank enjoys being with family and friends, enjoying active holidays; tracking, hiking and skiing. By playing soccer in his free time he tries to stay in shape.