NAICS 333993 Quarterly Industry Report
Packaging Machinery Manufacturing
Comprehensive industry research for valuation professionals, business owners, buyers, and lenders
NAICS Code: 333993Sector: 33Updated: Q1 2026
About This Report
This Fair Market Value industry profile for NAICS 333993 integrates Census Bureau[5] economic data, Bureau of Labor Statistics[6] occupational surveys, and SBA[7] regulatory data for the packaging machinery sector. Our research team tracks trade statistics and industry association publications to monitor competitive conditions. Content undergoes quarterly review to reflect updated Census data and SBA program changes for NAICS 333993.
Industry Snapshot
Key metrics for the packaging machinery manufacturing industry.
Industry Definition & Overview
Packaging Machinery Manufacturing (NAICS 333993) encompasses establishments primarily engaged in producing machinery used to package products for shipping, storage, and retail display. Equipment types include wrapping machines, stretch wrap systems, shrink tunnel units, bottling lines, canning machinery, filling machines, sealing equipment, labeling systems, capping machines, cartoning equipment, case packers, palletizers, and blister pack forming machines designed for food, beverage, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and consumer goods packaging operations.
The U.S. Census Bureau[5] identifies roughly 194 active establishments employing an estimated 20,100 workers. Production involves precision machining of stainless steel components, servo motor integration, pneumatic actuator assembly, PLC programming, vision system installation, and clean-in-place system fabrication for sanitary applications. Most manufacturers operate as custom equipment builders, designing packaging lines to meet specific product dimensions, fill rates, and throughput requirements.
Per the Bureau of Labor Statistics[6], core occupations include mechanical engineers, CNC machinists, controls programmers, and field service technicians who install and commission packaging lines at customer facilities. Regional concentration follows food and beverage processing corridors in the Midwest and Southeast. Steel, stainless steel, aluminum, servo drives, pneumatic components, and electronic sensors represent primary material inputs. Long lead times of 12 to 26 weeks characterize custom packaging machinery orders, requiring manufacturers to maintain skilled engineering and fabrication workforces throughout demand cycles.
What's Included in This Industry
- Bottling and filling machine manufacturing for beverage and liquid products
- Canning machinery and seamer equipment production for food processors
- Wrapping and shrink wrap machine manufacturing for retail packaging
- Labeling machine production for product identification and compliance marking
- Capping and closure application equipment manufacturing
- Cartoning and case packing machine production for secondary packaging
- Palletizer and depalletizer manufacturing for warehouse automation
- Blister pack and thermoform packaging machine production for pharmaceuticals
- Bag forming, filling, and sealing equipment manufacturing
- Stretch wrapping and strapping machine production for pallet loads
NAICS Classification Hierarchy
| Level | Description | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Subsector | Machinery Manufacturing | 333 |
| Industry Group | Other General Purpose Machinery Manufacturing | 3339 |
| NAICS Industry | All Other General Purpose Machinery Manufacturing | 33399 |
| National Industry | Packaging Machinery Manufacturing | 333993 |
Related NAICS Codes
| Code | Description | Relationship |
|---|---|---|
| 333922 | Conveyor and Conveying Equipment Manufacturing | Manufactures conveyor and conveying equipment that integrates directly with packaging lines for product transport between filling, sealing, and palletizing stations |
| 333241 | Food Product Machinery Manufacturing | Produces food product machinery including mixing, cooking, and processing equipment that feeds material into downstream packaging machinery systems |
| 333912 | Air and Gas Compressor Manufacturing | Manufactures air and gas compressors that supply pneumatic power for actuators, blow molding stations, and air-driven packaging machine components |
| 333248 | All Other Industrial Machinery Manufacturing | Produces other industrial machinery including general-purpose equipment that overlaps with packaging line auxiliary systems and support machinery |
| 332431 | Metal Can Manufacturing | Manufactures metal cans and containers that packaging machinery fills, seals, labels, and cases in high-speed production line configurations |
| 333310 | Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing | Produces commercial and service industry machinery including vending and food service equipment that incorporates packaging-related dispensing mechanisms |
Geographic Concentration
Top states by share of national establishments.
| # | State | % Est. | Total Est. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 11.2% | 56 |
| 2 | Illinois | 7.4% | 37 |
| 3 | New Jersey | 7.0% | 35 |
| 4 | Pennsylvania | 6.2% | 31 |
| 5 | Minnesota | 6.0% | 30 |
| 6 | Ohio | 6.0% | 30 |
| 7 | Florida | 5.4% | 27 |
| 8 | Texas | 4.8% | 24 |
| 9 | New York | 4.6% | 23 |
| 10 | Wisconsin | 4.6% | 23 |
% Of Establishments
0%
11%
Source: County Business Patterns, U.S. Census Bureau[3]
SBA Lending Summary
16
Total SBA Loans
$8.7M
Total Loan Volume
$544K
Average Loan Size
10 yrs
Average Loan Term
11.28%
Average Interest Rate
168
Jobs Supported
Source: SBA 7(a) Program Data, U.S. Small Business Administration — FY 2025[4]
Key Insight: The SBA[7] classifies NAICS 333993 with a size standard of 500 employees. Most packaging machinery manufacturers operate as mid-size custom builders well below this threshold. Small businesses in this sector can access SBA 7(a) loans[8] for CNC machining equipment, assembly floor expansion, and working capital to manage long production cycles on custom machinery orders. Additionally, 504/CDC loans[9] provide long-term, fixed-rate financing for major fixed assets such as real estate and equipment.
Top SBA Lenders
| # | Lender | Loans | Volume | Avg Loan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Readycap Lending, LLC | 8 | $7.7M | $963K |
| 2 | JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association | 8 | $1.0M | $125K |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this industry.
What types of businesses manufacture packaging machinery?
Packaging machinery manufacturers range from large companies producing standardized equipment lines to small custom builders designing one-off machines for specific products. Some firms specialize in beverage filling and capping systems. Others focus on pharmaceutical blister packing, snack food bagging, or cosmetic tube filling equipment. Many operate as custom engineering shops where each machine is designed around a specific client's product dimensions, production speed, and packaging format requirements.
How is the packaging machinery manufacturing industry structured?
The U.S. Census Bureau[5] reports roughly 194 active establishments employing about 20,100 workers in NAICS 333993. Industry structure divides between mid-size custom builders and larger firms producing standardized product lines. Most companies maintain in-house engineering departments for application-specific machine design. Field service teams handle installation, commissioning, and ongoing maintenance at customer production facilities across food, beverage, pharmaceutical, and consumer goods sectors.
What is the SBA size standard for packaging machinery manufacturers?
The SBA[7] assigns a 500-employee size standard for NAICS 333993. Most packaging machinery builders fall below this threshold, operating with 30 to 250 employees in specialized fabrication and assembly facilities. Qualifying firms access small business federal procurement preferences and SBA-guaranteed lending programs for capital equipment and facility investments.
What NAICS codes are related to packaging machinery manufacturing?
Conveyor equipment manufacturing (333922) produces transport systems integrated into packaging lines. Food product machinery manufacturing (333241) covers upstream processing equipment feeding packaging operations. Per the Census Bureau[10], commercial machinery manufacturing (333310) includes related service industry equipment, and metal can manufacturing (332431) produces containers that packaging machinery fills and seals.
What industries are major buyers of packaging machinery?
Food and beverage processors represent the largest customer segment, purchasing canning lines, bottling systems, and wrapping machines. Pharmaceutical manufacturers (325411) require validated filling and blister packing equipment meeting FDA standards. Cosmetic and personal care product makers purchase tube filling and cartoning equipment. According to the BLS[11], consumer spending growth on packaged goods drives capital investment in packaging line equipment across these manufacturing sectors.
What products and activities fall under NAICS 333993?
This classification covers manufacturing of wrapping machines, bottling equipment, canning machinery, filling machines, sealing systems, labeling machines, capping equipment, cartoners, case packers, palletizers, blister pack formers, bag form-fill-seal machines, stretch wrappers, and strapping machines. Production activities include stainless steel machining, servo motor integration, pneumatic assembly, PLC programming, vision system calibration, sanitary design fabrication, and factory acceptance testing.
Can packaging machinery manufacturers access SBA financing?
Manufacturers under the 500-employee threshold qualify for SBA loan programs[12] including 7(a) general purpose loans and 504 fixed-asset financing. Common applications include purchasing five-axis CNC machining centers, laser cutting systems, clean room assembly areas, and expanding fabrication floor space. Working capital loans help manage cash flow during extended build cycles that typically span 12 to 26 weeks from order placement to final delivery.
Where are packaging machinery manufacturers concentrated geographically?
Packaging machinery production clusters in the upper Midwest, with concentrations in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, Ohio, and Michigan according to Census geographic data[13]. These states offer proximity to major food and beverage processing operations, skilled machinist labor pools, and established precision manufacturing supply chains. Additional clusters exist in California and the Northeast near pharmaceutical and cosmetic manufacturing hubs.
Sources & References
Government datasets and editorial sources used in this report.
- [1]U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages bls.gov
- [2]U.S. Census Bureau, Economic Census census.gov
- [3]U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns census.gov
- [4]U.S. Small Business Administration, SBA 7(a) Loan Program Data data.sba.gov
- [5]U.S. Census Bureau data.census.gov
- [6]Bureau of Labor Statistics bls.gov
- [7]SBA sba.gov
- [8]SBA 7(a) loans sba.gov
- [9]504/CDC loans sba.gov
- [10]Census Bureau census.gov
- [11]BLS bls.gov
- [12]SBA loan programs sba.gov
- [13]Census geographic data census.gov
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