A Day at Packout with Panini America

I didn’t make my normal trek to Panini America headquarters in Arlington, Texas, for work on Tuesday morning. Instead, I ventured across town to the city of Allen to spend some quality time witnessing the finer points of trading card production.

I left, however, with two huge regrets: One, that I couldn’t stay longer — like, say, two weeks longer; and two, that it took me 15 years in this industry to finally make it to the production facility.

What in the world took me so long?

It truly was a remarkable experience that left me buzzing, beaming and wide-eyed with wonderment — sometimes all at once. From start to finish, I was completely mesmerized.

I got to see it all, from how the cards begin as 100-up sheets and how those sheets get passed through a slitter to become cards. I got to see how those cards then travel on conveyor belts before being fed into packs via predetermined “loops.” I got to see how those packs are sealed and then placed into boxes and how those boxes are shrink-wrapped and then placed into cases.

I got to see the application of UV coating, card backs being serial numbered, die-cut cards being die cut and the construction of memorabilia cards.

The good news: You’ll get to see it all, too, beginning Friday with the first of several videos chronicling my four-hour fantasy field trip. I’m certain you’ll find the sights and sounds to be as utterly fascinating as I did.

But until tomorrow’s premiere, I figured this gallery of still shots from my visit would help set the table.

Enjoy . . .