Origins
Selig's origins date to the beginnings of modern packaging when American Civil War veteran and Ohio attorney John S. Giles (1843-1918) opened a company in Bowling Green which began blowing glass food jars on March 19, 1889. Like other industrial entrepreneurs of his time, Mr. Giles set into motion an evolution of products, technologies and companies that survive to the present day. One of these companies is Selig.
Food distribution in 1889 was just beginning its departure from the cracker barrel era. Automation of closure and container manufacturing was primitive and neither component had yet been standardized. But it was clear to Mr. Giles that food and medicinal packaging would expand upon a foundation of glass containers and metal closures. After manufacturing his first closures under license in 1899, Mr. Giles refocused his resources on closures and sealing systems. In 1905 he merged with a San Francisco cap maker to form the Hermetic Closure Company and became a cap manufacturer exclusively.
Though the cork stopper would remain unit packaging's predominant closure for another decade, J. S. Giles developed innovative sealing systems for the metal cap, and, in particular, those designed for wide-mouth food and meat packing applications.
Early Liner Development
A year after forming Hermetic Closure, Mr. Giles discontinued glass-blowing operations and traveled to Europe to explore emergent sealing technologies he would bring back to the United States. In 1907 Hermetic Closure became the first American company to use composition rubber to create a hermetic container seal.
Other early liners included those made of pulp board, paper-faced felt, composition cork, wax and even linoleum. Foil facings were first used on crown beer caps in 1916. Wax-coated liners were first devised to prevent the odor and flavor of pulp from migrating into the product. Black varnished papers protected metal caps in contact with alkaline and alcohol-based solutions. Among the first membranes directly glued to a finish were those of transparent cellulose in use by 1930.
Though the names of successive Giles firms changed with each major consolidation, the companies remained focused on closures and closure lining technology. Successive Giles companies pioneered in one-piece and laminated closure liners and innerseals.
The Formation of Selig
Following World War II sealing technology grew vastly more complex as markets expanded and products became more diversified. The most significant packaging materials revolution came with thermoplastic molding technology in the 1950s, the same decade heat-induction sealing was developed. In the 1970s, plastic closures showed a 60% market increase and came to dominate rigid packaging. The decline of metal caps meant further divestiture of the closure companies four generations of Giles family members had owned and operated.
In 1972 Selig was formed as an independent company wholly focused on sealing technologies, its name an inverted spelling of the Giles name. Selig's manufacturing operations were created in Central Illinois and an independent sales office served customers from suburban Chicago. In 1975 the first FoilSeal products were developed to maintain freshness and discourage pilfering. In less than a decade, pilfering issues would be eclipsed by concerns over product tampering and the FoilSeal line expanded to meet these new challenges.
In 1999, Selig opened Selig Europe Ltd., a sales office and converting operation in Manchester, England. Following steady growth and expansions into international markets Selig partnered with The Riverside Company in 2002 and most recently in 2005 with Behrman Capital, a leading private equity group with offices in New York and San Francisco. Today, Selig continues its development of advanced sealing systems as it meets new challenges in container materials, product protection, accelerated line speeds, and consumer preferences for convenient use.