About us
Who We Are
More Than a Container Supplier
Founded in Chicago in 1946, BASCO is a family-owned industrial packaging distributor serving businesses throughout the United States.
What began as a small company supplying gaskets to the drum industry has grown into a nationwide source for industrial containers, material handling equipment, dispensing and transfer products, spill control supplies, packaging accessories and more.
Today, customers turn to BASCO for both the products they need and the people who know how those products work. Whether you are sourcing a single packaging component, replacing an existing container or outfitting an entire operation, our goal remains the same: help you find the right product for your application.
BASCO combines products + people.
Customers can source the container along with the equipment and accessories needed to fill, close, seal, dispense, transfer, move, store and protect it.
What BASCO Does
Industrial Packaging, Equipment & Accessories
From bulk industrial storage to smaller consumer product packaging, BASCO helps businesses source more of what they need from one supplier.
Drums & Bulk Containers
Explore our selection of industrial drums and IBC totes , including steel, plastic, fiber, stainless steel and specialty containers.
Pails & Plastic Containers
Shop steel and plastic pails , along with plastic bottles, jars and containers in a wide range of sizes for industrial and commercial applications.
Closures & Components
Caps, lids, plugs, fittings, gaskets, capseals and tamper-evident solutions.
Pumps & Dispensing
Hand pumps, faucets, valves and liquid transfer equipment for industrial applications.
Container Handling
Drum trucks, dollies, lifters, grabbers, racks and related material handling equipment.
Protection & Spill Control
Absorbents, spill pallets, secondary containment products and workplace safety supplies.
Who We Serve
Packaging Solutions Across Industries
Industrial packaging is not one-size-fits-all. BASCO works with businesses whose materials, processes and packaging requirements vary widely.
Our customers include manufacturers, chemical companies, laboratories, food and beverage producers, pharmaceutical and nutraceutical companies, agricultural businesses, automotive companies, paint and coatings manufacturers, personal care brands, municipalities, distributors and other commercial and industrial operations.
WHY BUSINESSES CHOOSE BASCO
The Right Prouduct Starts With the Right People
Finding a container online is easy. Finding the Right container, closure, pump, fitting or accessory can be much harder.
Real Product Knowledge
Knowledgeable customer service representatives, sales professionals and product specialists help identify compatible products and solutions.
Broad Product Selection
Thousands of containers, components, equipment, and accessories help customers consolidate sourcing.
Nationwide Distribution
A growing network of strategically located U.S. warehouses helps place inventory closer to customers.
Big or Small
BASCO supports customers purchasing smaller quantities, pallets, truckloads and recurring production quantities.
Our History
80 Years of Industrial Packaging Experience
BASCO's story began on July 20, 1946, when Henry Rudy founded the company with $500 and began selling gaskets to the drum industry from a loft above a Chicago hardware store.
Over the decades, BASCO expanded its facilities, inventory, ecommerce capabilities and geographic reach. The BASCO organization also grew through businesses including Sun West Container, INSCO, Jar Store, Discount Vials and Kaplan Container. While the products and footprint have changed considerably, the philosophy remains consistent: help customers find the right product and provide knowledgeable service they can depend on.
The BASCO Family
Specialized Packaging Brands
Together, our businesses support packaging needs ranging from small consumer-facing containers to industrial durms and bulk storage systems.
PACKAGING FOR MAKERS
Jar Store
Glass jars, containers and packaging supplies for candle makers, food producers, makers, manufacturers and growing brands.
SAMPLE & SPECIALTY PACKAGING
Discount Vials
Glass and plastic vials, bottles, jars, droppers, sprayers and related components for labs, manufacturers and product developers.
Our Mission
Right People. Right Products. Dependable Service.
BASCO's mission is to be the packaging supplier customers can rely on. We work to make industrial packaging easier to source by combining a broad product offering with knowledgeable people, strategically located inventory and resources that help customers make informed purchasing decisions.
WHOLESALE & VOLUME PURCHASING
Guidance for safer, smarter decisions.
Use BASCO guides to compare materials, understand specifications, and choose equipment for safer, more efficient handling.