our timeline
Our story begins with
1980s
1988
Introduction to Safety-sleeve®, first patents issued. Innovative product designed for consumers and packaging company to store and ship compact disc style products
1990s
1996
Reno – Sales and Manufacturing expansion Rapid adoption of products by software CD-ROM companies required manufacturing expansion to serve western US
1997
Developed U-1000 automated disc packaging equipment. CD’s or DVD’s packaged at high speed into a variety of clear polypropylene sleeves used by major publishers and software developers. Launched strategy of placing U-1000 packaging system into customer manufacturing facility under a vending agreement leading to rapid growth of safety sleeve product line
1997
Ross Youngs Entrepreneur of the Year Ohio Manufacture of the Year
1998
Univenture marks expansion into European market by opening a manufacturing facility in Dublin, Ireland to service explosive growth of personal computers and software in Europe. Safety-sleeve® disc packaging products shipped from Ireland to customers throughout Europe and Asia including major brands Apple Computer, Dell and Gateway 2000.
1998
SBA Business of the Year United States of America National Winner. Receiving an award from the former Vice-President, Al Gore in Washington D.C.
2000s
2000
UniKeep patents filed, launched as co-packaging
In October of 2002, Ross’ newest invention, UniKeep was named by Modern Plastics as the 2002 Excellence in Design winner. UniKeep was intruduced in 2001 and within 7 months was virtually available in every major office supply retailer nationwide including, Staples, OfficeMax, and Office Depot
2001
UniKeep Binders introduced as an office product brand
2001
Unikeep multiple disc cases and Safety Sleeves were chosen by Compaq Computer to package CD’s included with all Compaq, later Hewlett Packard, servers. Unikeep products shipped worldwide to HP assembly facilities in the US, Europe, and Asia.
2003
EnvyPak™ Brand was developed as a way to assemble plastic films to create new products
2008-2009
Biobent – focus on new products that are better, faster, cheaper and differentiated
The team of Battelle, Ohio Soybean Council, and Univenture won one of the coveted R&D 100 Awards, which has been called “the Oscars of Innovation.”
2008
National Archives Approved Sheet Protectors
2004
EnvyPak™ introduces a revolutionary line of crystal clear polypropylene envelopes for the U.S direct mail market. EnvyPak™ envelopes are tested and approved for machine insertion at multiple letter shops and printers.
2009
Algaeventure DAPPA-E – $6.3 million Awarded by ARPA-E for disruptional harvesting of Microbes for Bio based products
2006
EnvyPak™, working with leading book printing manufacturers, develops line of bind in sleeves for major US music publisher that are compatible with production lines, leading to reduced labor and assembly costs when including discs with books. EnvyPak™ bind in sleeves are adopted as the gold standard for packaging multiple discs into books and magazines
2006 – 2020
EnvyPak™ clear polypropylene envelopes are adopted by major brands to showcase their direct mail marketing in an attractive and durable clear envelope. EnvyPak™ is utilized by industry leaders in the automobile, travel, financial, hospitality, and retail markets.
2010s
2010
EnvyPakTM packaging products approved for use in packaging medical instruments
2012
Re-branded Biosortia. Biosortia spun out as a separate company, Univenture has a partial ownership interest
2012
PackZen packaging – PackZen brand was the next step in the evolution of our company. as we use our expertise working with all types of plastics to establish the premier source for creative plastics packaging products.
2016
Biosortia 4th generation algae technology harvesting
2017
United States Postal Service approves EnvyPak envelopes to mail at an automation letter rate, the only clear envelope in the United States to be awarded this classification. EnvyPak ALR envelopes are introduced as a result of this award and lead to an immediate increase in EnvyPak direct mail envelope sales
2017
The CardNoter brand is introduced to the promotional products industry. CardNoters developed as a tool for use in meetings, conferences, tradeshows, and seminars to hold business cards and record important details about new contacts.
2020s
2017-2019
Ecommerce, Amazon, Etsy, Walmart
2019
Biosortia technologies are proven and peer-reviewed creating massive potential in Life Science product discovery.
2020
MaskEzeTM began – Univenture patent-pending MaskEzeTM face mask is invented and made in the USA. MaskEzeTM is made from biodegradable renewable plant material. This face mask is designed to meet the needs of a rapidly growing and explosive marketplace by offering flexibility and customization.
