Steel Drum & Packaging Blog | North Coast Container

Avoid Downtime After a Hurricane with Strategic Locations | North Coast Container

Written by Dave Lorz | Aug 19, 2025 1:00:00 PM

Unplanned disruptions can halt even the most efficiently run operations – especially when they strike close to home. That was the case for one of North Coast Container’s (NCC)’s customers, who faced significant delays at a critical production site after hurricane-related damage impacted their region.

The customer needed to maintain their packaging supply seamlessly – and quickly. Within days, NCC proved the value of its national footprint and operational flexibility by rerouting production and fulfillment to another facility. This swift shift kept the customer’s supply chain running smoothly during a critical period, helping them avoid delays, missed shipments, and costly penalties.

The Challenge: Maintain Supply After a Regional Weather Event

A severe hurricane temporarily impacted operations in the customer’s region, including local transit routes and third-party suppliers. This disruption posed a risk to packaging continuity – and by extension, their production schedule.

The customer needed to shift incoming orders to another supply point but wasn’t sure how quickly that could happen without interrupting operations.

The Solution: Flexible, Redundant Production Across NCC Locations

Thanks to NCC’s national manufacturing footprint and built-in redundancy, the team was able to move the customer’s orders from the impacted region to another facility without delays.

NCC team members coordinated:

  • Transferring active orders and inventory
  • Updating logistics and delivery schedules
  • Communicating status updates with the customer in real-time
  • Meeting the original delivery commitments, despite the disruption

This shift was made possible by NCC’s network of strategic facilities, which include locations in:

Each site operates with shared quality systems, production standards, and service expectations, allowing NCC to quickly adapt to customer needs.

The Results: No Missed Orders, No Downtime, and Continued Trust

By shifting production and delivery through a separate NCC location, the customer avoided any downstream issues. They were able to maintain their production schedule, meet commitments to their customers, and avoid revenue losses.

We’re proud to share that this customer experienced:

  • No missed shipments
  • No emergency sourcing
  • No change in product quality or lead time
  • Clear communication throughout the process

Most importantly, the customer was able to stay focused on managing storm recovery, not scrambling for packaging solutions.

“We knew we were at risk after the hurricane hit, but NCC didn’t miss a beat. The team found another way to get us what we needed – and fast. That kind of flexibility is exactly why we keep working with them.”
 — Operations Manager, Industrial Packaging Customer

Operational Continuity, No Matter What

At North Coast Container, we’re committed to keeping our customers running, even when the unexpected happens. With five strategic locations and a commitment to service, we provide reliable packaging solutions that adapt to your reality, not just our schedule.

Whether you're facing a logistics challenge, seasonal demand shift, or something more urgent, we’re built to respond. Contact us to learn how we can support your business.