Robert Gair
Robert Gair was a Scottish-born American paper bag maker who in 1879 developed a way to cut and crease paperboard in one operation, making mass production of folding boxes practical.
What they did and why it matters
Gair's method of cutting and creasing paperboard in a single press made cheap, flat-shipped boxes possible, and the folding carton remains the basic unit of e-commerce packaging. The idea came when a metal rule meant to crease paper bags cut them instead, showing that one die could both cut and score. Boxes could then be shipped flat and folded where needed, saving space and cost. His Brooklyn factories later became a large packaging business. Brands choosing carton sizes, right-sizing packaging, or ordering custom printed boxes are working with the product his process made affordable.