BoardConverting Serving the North American Corrugated and Folding Carton Industries for 39 years February 27, 2023 VOL. 39, NO. 9
Video Content Marketing: 5 Rules For Greater Reach BY PATRICK MCGOWAN
Flexpak Acquires Preferred Packaging Products, Inc. Woods Cross, Utah based Flexpak announced the acquisition of Preferred Packaging Prod- ucts, Inc. on February 1, 2023. Preferred is a distributor of corrugated, custom foam, poly bags, wood crating, bubble, stretch wrap, tapes, and labels, based in Thornton, Colora- do, where it has been serving customers since 1985. Preferred specializes in custom packag- ing for high value products, and supports cus- tomers across diverse end markets including electronics, instrumentation, consumer prod- ucts and healthcare. The combination of Flex- pak and Preferred creates a premier regional platform serving Utah, Colorado, Arizona and Idaho. “We are delighted to welcome Bob Abbott and the Preferred team into the Flexpak family. Preferred and Flexpak share similar cultures and take great pride in providing superior customer service and customized packaging solutions to our customers. We look forward to continued growth in Colorado and expand- ing the set of specialized capabilities offered to Preferred’s customers,” said Flexpak CEO Brian Kellen. Bob Abbott, President of Preferred, added,
Being on video and watching videos is today’s business norm. A recent survey showed 76 percent of consumers watched a video before pur- chasing a product. Social media influencers promote products through video-based storytelling. You login to video meetings daily with pros- pects and customers.
Since 2005, the year YouTube launched, video has increasing- ly grown in prevalence, production value, and consumption. Then in 2020 video marketing took a massive leap forward with the pandem- ic-induced use of video conferencing, podcasts (with video), and lives- treams. Today, YouTube is the most used social platform for research purposes among business-to-business decisions makers with 50.9 percent of users. And every day more than 300 million people partici- pate in a Zoom meeting. The reluctant say about video meetings, “It’s not going away.” Stra- tegic leaders, though, say, “Video is how we do business now.” In today’s business world all video is video content marketing. Zoom is not a phone call with video. Whether it’s a livestream or a self-pro- duced YouTube short, your videos still need to follow a handful of rules. 1. Positioning: Some marketers consider the word brand to be a four-letter word. The job of marketers and business leaders, they say, is to position a company or product in the market. The brand becomes how customers define it, and, hopefully, they define it based on your considerable efforts. CONTINUED ON PAGE 18
CONTINUED ON PAGE 4
WHAT’S INSIDE Independent Or Integrated: Box Plants Look To Automation 12 Metsa Board Recognizes Winners Of Design Challenge 22 FBA: FTC 'Green Guides' Need Input From Corrugated Industry 24 Supplier Reports: Part 4 6 x x 8 x x 12 x x 26 x x
It’s What is on the Inside & Outside That Counts The SUN 625 RDC brings together two-sided printing in a single pass, ideal for high-speed and high-volume production
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AVERAGE CONTAINERBOARD PRICES The average prices reported are tabulated from prices PAID by various sources throughout the United States the week previous to issue. Prices in some areas of the country may be higher or lower than the tabulated average. The prices tabulated here are intended only for purposes of reference. They do not connote any commitment to sell any material at the indicated average. Transactions may be completed at any time at a price agreed upon by seller and purchaser.
REGION E. Coast Midwest Southeast Southwest
42# Kraft liner $ 9 55.00-960.00 $ 9 70.00-980.00 $ 9 70.00-980.00 $ 970.00-980.00 $ 1000.00-1 010.00 $ 9 73.00-983.00
26# Semi-Chem. Medium
Short Ton Del. Short Ton Del. Short Ton Del. Short Ton Del. Short Ton Del. Short Ton Del.
$ 890 .00-9 4 0.00 $9 0 5.00-9 2 5.00 $9 0 5.00-9 2 5.00 $9 0 5.00-9 2 5.00 $9 2 5.00-9 4 5.00 $9 0 8.00-9 2 8.00
West Coast U.S. Average
SHEET PRICES BY REGION (AVERAGE) Per 1MSF, local delivery included, 50MSF single item order, truckload delivery. Sheets
E. Coast Midwest South-SW S. CA N.CA/WA-OR US Aver.
200# 275#
$62.26
$72.05
$62.69 $82.80
$85.35 119.54
$73.13 101.29
97.32
99.89
90.86
113.65
More box makers, brokers and end users are relying on the containerboard pricing in Board Converting News to negotiate their contracts than ever before.
OYSTER UP-CHARGE 8.34
8.34
8.34
8.34
8.34
8.34
275# DBL-WALL 350# DBL-WALL
107.46 118.45
114.69 129.32
116.54 137.25 117.82 145.56
141.08 148.46
122.76 131.80
CANADIAN SHEET PRICES (AVERAGE) In Canadian Dollars, per 1MSF, local delivery included, under 50MSF single item order, truckload delivery. 200# 275# Oyster UC 275#DW 350#DW $78.56 $99.18 $9.00 $96.32 $105.83 CANADIAN LINERBOARD & MEDIUM The average prices reported are tabulated from prices PAID by various sources throughout Canada. Prices may be higher or lower in various areas of the country. The prices tabulated here are intended only for purposes of reference. They do not connote any commitment to sell any material at the indicated average. Transactions may be completed at any time at a price agreed upon by seller and purchaser. Prices are Canadian $ and per metric ton.
See the current prices every week right here on Page 3.
Len Prazych at 518-366-9017 lprazych@nvpublications.com
42# Kraft Liner 26#
Semi-Chem Medium
East West
$9 2 0.00 $ 96 5.00
$9 1 0.00 $9 4 5.00
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February 27, 2023
www.boardconvertingnews.com
Flexpak Acquires (CONT’D FROM PAGE 1)
Core Competency
“We are excited to join forces with Flexpak and Shorehill. They have a unique partnership that I found compelling. Their emphasis on culture, growth and partnership will benefit our customers, suppliers, and employees.” Flexpak’s acquisition of Preferred is consistent with its strategy to expand its geographic presence throughout the Mountain West region of the United States. The com- bination of Flexpak and Preferred immediately creates a leading packaging solutions provider with a high-quality sales team and expertise across a variety of end-markets. “We are excited to partner with the Preferred Packag- ing team to expand Flexpak into Colorado. Preferred is an impressive company with deep expertise in packaging design and customized solutions. Going forward, the com- bined company is well-positioned to continue to expand its capabilities and geographic presence through acquisi- tions and organic growth,” said Charlie Denison, Managing Director at Shorehill Capital. Flexpak and Shorehill part- nered in 2021. Preferred Packaging represents the part- nership’s second acquisition, having acquired ACE Pack- aging of Arizona in July 2022. The Shorehill team has been active in the packaging industry over the last two decades, having invested over $300 million in equity across 21 acquisitions. The team’s experience includes packaging distribution and manufac- turing across a wide variety of substrates.
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The value of quick change.
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Independent Or Integrated: Box Plants Need To Look At Automation BY PAUL ALIPRANDO Don’t hold me to these numbers, but they are close enough for a discussion. For the US, the industry produces about
The big guys have the same labor issues as anyone else in the industry. So, they use 50-inch FFG cells running at 330 kpm costing over $9 million with automation – pre- feeders, dual slotter, box slitters (660 boxes per minute), double bundlers, automated loadformers and sometimes, dual take-offs. That’s how they can get the volume. How- ever, they still need people. I have spoken to some plants who have 30 percent turnover or giving out bonuses for an employee who stays six months! Some plants (big and small) are going back to past “released” employees and asking them to come back, forgetting whatever had them released. Most times it worked, but others, not so well. Maybe just five years ago, discussions with some plants about reducing headcount with automation was met with the “can’t justify the labor reduction ROI.” Now these same plants are looking for this equipment because of the la- bor issues. Scissor lifts and other ergonomic devices were tried but these still require the people. Now customers
30BSF per month. Eighty percent of this volume is produced by integrated companies that operate 30 percent of the box plants. The remaining 20 per- cent of production is produced by in- dependents operating 70 percent of the box plants. Yes, it all comes down to volume out the door. I would wa-
Paul Aliprando
ger that the 70 percent of plants run by the independents have a higher margin (and possibly higher contribution) than many of the individual integrated plants.
are looking for prefeeders with powered in- feeds for old Wards or even Langstons (try finding two big people to flip and load big sheets into a Langston). The reduced labor can be justified, when there isn’t any around or the cost of the labor increased by over 50 percent. When labor (and freight) was a blip on the operation cost, it is now upwards of double-digit percentage, even with paper at $900+ a ton. If you are thinking about going with auto- mation, don’t take too long thinking. Some of the ancillary equipment has longer lead times than the press. There is an indepen- dent who has two new high speed FFG in- stalled and powered up with concrete holes where the automation will go. Seems like the equipment is about three months be- hind the presses. They are “pitching and catching” boxes by hand for now. So much for your ROI. Let’s try to get more from your operation and cut into the other guy’s volume. Wheth- er you are producing 50K boxes an order or 500, you need to look into automation to relieve some of your labor issues and bot- tleneck. There are many automation compa- nies, most are advertised within these pag- es. Talk to them and see how they can help your needs for higher production speeds, lower labor costs and reduced lost time in- juries. The box plant of the future starts with the decisions of today! Paul Aliprando has over 35 years in the industry as an Engineer, Box Sales, Opera- tions, and Equipment Sales. He is recently retired from Sun Automation Group (“Au- tomation” is our middle name!). He can be reached at paliprando@outlook.com.
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Feeder
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AICC Announces New Members Savings Program: Procure Analytics AICC, The Independent Packaging Association, an- nounced a new members savings program offered through a new affinity partnership with AICC member Procure Analytics. Procure Analytics, a group purchasing consultancy that manages indirect categories for over 1,000 member companies with $1.5 billion in controlled spend, can of- fer members strategic sourcing, cost reduction, and tail spend management. “This is a great opportunity for AICC members, both box converters and suppliers,” says Mike D’Angelo, AICC President. “Procure Analytics can bring great savings and efficiencies, especially in today’s rising cost environment, all of which fall right to the bottom-line.” Procure Analytics was founded to address the com- plex challenges of a frequently ignored indirect spend category – Maintenance, Repair and Operations Supplies (MRO). The nature of MRO supplies (millions of SKUs, thousands of individual transactions, hundreds of poten- tial suppliers, and the relatively small cost for individual products) make MRO an under-managed category within most organizations. Procure Analytics has since broadened its portfolio of savings programs to address a number of other un-
der-managed indirect spend categories including freight services, pallets, uniforms and rental garments, corporate travel, and many others. “Procure Analytics is thrilled to partner with AICC,” said Billy Medof, CEO of Procure Analytics. "Leveraging $1.5 bil- lion of group spending and a team of 100+ data-focused procurement experts, Procure Analytics enables indepen- dent boxmakers to buy critical items at pricing and terms on par – and often even better – than Fortune 100 companies.” Visit www.AICCbox.org/Savings for more information about Procure Analytics and other money saving programs. AF&PA Releases January 2023 Packaging Papers Monthly Report The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) released its January 2023 Packaging Papers Monthly Report. Total packaging papers and specialty packaging ship- ments in January decreased seven percent compared to January 2022. The bleached packaging papers operating rate was 78.6 percent, down 6.9 points from January 2022. Shipments of the biggest subgrade in unbleached pack- aging papers – bag & sack – were down 4.2 percent from the previous January. The complete monthly report with de- tailed tables, charts and historical data can be purchased by contacting Kory Bockman at Statistics_Publications@ afandpa.org.
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Superior boxes require precise printing and cutting.
APSTAR HG2 ROTARY DIE CUTTER
You can’t have quality without precision. The APSTAR HG2 offers print-to-print registration accuracy through as many as seven inline flexo sections. That precision creates less downtime and higher profits. When you balance speed, print quality, and precision, you get an APSTAR… and that means better boxes. Contact Haire Group to see how the APSTAR's precision can impact your bottom line.
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MAPR Appoints Kathleen Stark To Leadership Team As Controller Chicago, Illinois based Mid America Paper Recycling (MAPR) appointed Kathleen Stark to its leadership team
Box Shipments ( U.S. Corrugated Product Shipments) Industry Shipments In Billions of Square Feet Month December 2022
Year
Actual
Percent Change Avg Week Percent Change
2022 2021
30.124 34.180
-11.9
7.927 8.545
-7.2
Industry Total
as Controller, a new position, effec- tive February 6. Part of the compa- ny’s executive team, Stark joined Mid America Paper Recycling after a 26- year financial career as a controller, auditor, and other financial manage- ment roles. A CPA, Stark will oversee financial reporting, budgeting, fore-
Year-to Date
December 2022
Year
Actual
Percent Change Avg Week Percent Change
2022 2021
400.520 416.189
-3.8
7.979 8.291
-3.8
Industry Total
Containerboard Consumption (Thousands of Tons)
Kathleen Stark
Year
Month
Percent Change Year-to-Date Percent Change
casting, and other strategic initiatives. “I have a passion for accounting and finances, so I’m very excited to work with the management team at MAPR in its next phase of building financial efficiencies,” Stark said, adding that one of her key priorities will be to provide financial insight to the company’s leadership team as it continues to grow and add value by proactively educating, serving, and presenting a clear pathway for fiber recycling to customers across the U.S. “Kathleen has been a great addition to the executive team,” said MAPR President Paul Pirkle. “Although she has been here for a short time, she fit into our culture imme- diately, rolling up her sleeves to learn about our business. Her understanding best practices will serve all of us well.”
2022 2021
2.4260 2.7360
-11.3
32.5461 33.8321
-3.8
Container Board Inventory - Corrugator Plants (Thousands of Tons)
Corrugator Plants Only
Date
Percent Change Weeks of Supply
Percent Change
Dec. Nov.
2.2603 2.2586
0.1
3.5 3.6
-2.8
Shipping Days
Year
Month
Year-to-Date
2022 2021
19 20
251 251
SOURCE: Fibre Box Association
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Metsä Board Recognizes Winners Of 2022-23 Better With Less Design Challenge Metsä Board, the leading European producer of premium fresh fiber pa- perboards, has announced the winners of its international 2022-23 Bet- ter with Less Design Challenge. A jury of package design experts chose two submissions to share first place: Kid’s Headphones Packaging by designer Kitty Ching, Aus- tralia, and the Cardboard Protecting Filler by designers Marcin Michalski, Monika Klimpel and Adrian Olejnik, Poland. The winners will share the combined prizes of 1st & 2nd place and will receive 6,500 euros each.
Packaging ERP Algorithmic Scheduling Web-Based Access Online Customer Portals Paperless Workflows Mobile Sales Systems Digital Signage Production Monitoring Mobile Logistics Analytics & Reporting Cloud Hosting IT Management Services Cyber Security Management
Kid's Headphones Packaging, above, and Cardboard Protecting Filler, below, shared first place in Metsä Board's Better With Less Design Challenge.
600 + Plants 60,000 Users North America Latin America
“Choosing the winner from such excellent entries was an incredibly difficult decision, so the jury decided to select two first-place winners,” says Ilkka Harju, Chairman of the jury and Packaging Services Director at Metsä Board. Kid’s Headphones Packaging focuses on consumer usability and re- cyclability. Elegant design engineering provides easy-to-open packaging and excellent protection of the product. It also allows for reuse, as the inner part of the packaging provides an option to store the headphones. Cardboard Protecting Filler is a TV or electronics transport protection
CONTINUED ON PAGE 14
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Lead. Perform.
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Durst Names Slingerland New Corrugated Sales Manager
Metsä Board Recognizes (CONT’D FROM PAGE 12)
solution that creates a protective beam-like structure on the TV packaging, protecting the contents on each side of the package. The fresh fiber packaging is lightweight and durable, supporting the circular economy in terms of easy recycling and minimizing the amount of material used. The third prize, 2000 euros, was awarded to the proj- ect, RESHAPE by Dawid Thiel, Poland. This packaging concept is designed to work for a wider range of products thanks to an innovative packaging format, which signifi- cantly reduces the number of packaging items that need to be stored. An internship at Metsä Board’s Paperboard and Pack- aging Excellence Centre in Finland was awarded to one student. The winner was Zero Waste Medication Blister Pack designed by Patrick Walby, Australia, a package for the pharma industry that aims to replace plastic and alumi- num often used in medication packaging with paperboard. The international packaging design competition third organized by Metsä Board, part of Metsä Group. The com- petition invited designers to create the zero-waste pack- aging of the future. As many as 124 entrants from 27 coun- tries joined the challenge with their creative ideas. The competition jury included renowned packaging design experts from around the world. Learn more about the winning designs and the finalists from the competition website www.betterwithless.org.
Rochester, New York based Durst announced the appoint- ment of industry specialist Chuck Slingerland as the new
corrugated sales manager for Durst North America. In this position, Sling- erland will continue to focus on and grow the presence of Durst and Koe- nig & Bauer Durst in the industry. “Chuck brings a wealth of experi- ence and a positive growth-oriented mindset to Durst, which has always
Chuck Slingerland
been and will continue to be at the forefront of digital print- ing technology. We strongly believe the market will contin- ue to expand rapidly and are thrilled to have Chuck as a part of our team in North America,” said Tim Saur, CEO and Managing Director, Durst North America. Starting on the flexography side of the business, Slin- gerland then built over two decades of experience to the corrugated packaging industry. In his new role, he will fo- cus on the offerings of Koenig & Bauer Durst, such as the Delta SPC 130. Developed for high-speed short, medium, and long run jobs, and equipped with water-based ink, manufacturers and converters can achieve fully automat- ed and sustainable production, while fully exploiting the potential of digitization.
We’ve got our customers covered… …with our fiberglass backed, boltless, full double-wide blankets and an extensive inventory of corrugated parts needed by virtually every box plant in the country. The innovator of the original fiberglass-backed knuckle locking anvil cover, Stafford is the industry’s go-to source for everything corrugated. TM
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HP Introduces PageWide C550 Press For Corrugated Packaging Palo Alto, California based HP announced the launch of its newest high-speed, post-print digital corrugated press, the HP PageWide C550 Press. This advanced single-pass platform is designed to help converters optimize manufac- turing costs and improve operational efficiency to produce corrugated packaging.
Based on field-proven technology, the C550 offers en- hanced productivity and value to the industrial packaging industry. It uses HP's Thermal Inkjet technology and wa- ter-based inks to deliver consistent offset print quality at fast production speeds, while also supporting packaging converters' circular economy goals. With a speed of 90 linear meters per minute (295 linear feet per minute), the C550 can produce high-quality flexo and litho boxes at a constant speed, without slowing. It will also help converters to optimize inventories, reduce obso- lescence, and accelerate turnaround times through digital printing technology.
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Video Content Marketing (CONT’D FROM PAGE 1)
Distribution can include everything from the social me- dia platform (LinkedIn, TikTok) to the video distributor (You- Tube, Vimeo) to the livestream platform. It answers what and how of your video content strategy. Regardless of platform, you want all your videos to do one thing: direct interested parties to your website. There
The best marketers see this work of positioning to be the first and most important activity. They have learned to be comfortable with discomfort, because good positioning feels limiting. Good positioning is uncomfortably narrow. It’s a single, narrowly defined target buyer. Your vid- eos—live and recorded—will improve once you know who you are producing them for and what their motivations are. 2. Differentiation. What makes you different is what gets people’s attention. Not different for different sake, but a viable, propositional difference which appeals to your ideal buyer. It’s a chaotic market. You want to be a brand, which means you can charge a premium. If there is nothing to distinguish yourself from the competition, then you’re a commodity and you can only compete on price. Your differentiation needs to be relevant and clearly expressed on all your video channels, especially video meetings. The first step is to shift responsibility for video meetings from operations to marketing. The next step, especially with a hybrid workforce, is to make sure that everyone who shows up on video is well trained and that their presence represents the value of the brand. 3. Distribution: Where to post your videos is determined by positioning and differentiation, not trend or fashion. A fishing guide once said, “You’re not fishing unless you have fish under your boat.” Or as Maverick said to Goose in the first Top Gun, “Target rich environment.”
they learn more about you and begin to fall in love with you. Distribution isn’t a benign decision. It says a lot about who you are and the people you’re trying to reach. 4. Story: Stories draw prospects in and customers closer. A well-told story engages the right people into a
CONTINUED ON PAGE 20
Do you need printed sheets? We have your answer.. Introducing Heartland’s ColorCorr. This is “flexo-printing in the round”. On our corrugator we can print up to 109” wide. The advantage is that we can print the equivalent of ½ roll at a time and not be required to keep several rolls of very expensive preprinted paper on the floor. Much less waste and risk. In continual print mode, we use either laser-engraved rubber rolls or solid rubber rolls to print a “flood coat” or a repeating pattern. If we are printing a repeating pattern, we can run a two-color design on the paper. Customers have found that running sheets we print can allow them to run a lighter-grade due to reduced caliper loss, and in some cases eliminate one or more machine passes.
For more information contact: Charlie Freeman | 816-500-8889 | cfreeman@heartlandsheets.com Tim Kramer | 816-841-8317 | color@heartlandsheets.com
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The best of
two worlds
Two companies team up for your success!
Koenig & Bauer Celmacch’s expertise with converters have enabled us to develop machines for you with the highest technological standards in the industry. This supports maximum reliability, quality and flexibility. Our range of products meet different investment strategies and productivity requirements, ranging from entry-level models to machines that are equipped with the highest levels of automation, sophistication and the highest throughput.
Contact us for information on how you can become the next success story.
tom.fitzgerald@koenig-bauer.com
Video Content Marketing (CONT’D FROM PAGE 18)
We all spend enough time in front of a camera. When you show up on camera with a better-than-expected pres- ence, you surprise people. Surprise is one ingredient in being unforgettable. When you are not present, people check out. When you are present, people respond. Pres- ence is what you say before you say a word. Your pres- ence should communicate confidence, power, and credi- bility. This will surprise some people. When combined with confidence, you’ll be more persuasive. Conclusion : Video content is a critical component to your digital content marketing strategy. All video—whether meetings, podcasts, e-learning, or social media—deserve careful review and attention. Video is a powerful and com- pelling medium. These five rules provide the framework you need to begin to evaluate what you’ve already pro- duced and what you plan to produce. Say to yourself, “Vid- eo is how we do business now.” Go and do it!
deeper, more meaningful conversation. The right story you want to tell elevates the customer as hero. It captures your positioning and differentiation. How you will tell your sto- ry—written, audible, or visual—will be determined by the platform you choose and the audience you want to reach. Tiktok is both a genre of video and a distribution plat- form. The audience consumes video through a sponta- neous scroll. How you tell your story on TikTok may not work on LinkedIn. Additionally, your video meetings, podcasts, and lives- tream productions express the story of your brand. The way you show up on video tells a story. But is it the right story? Your video meetings and podcast presence need to set the tone and timbre of future engagements. 5. Surprise: Better video is an act of kindness. Do ev- erything you can to be more present across the lens.
Patrick McGowan, MBA, consults, trains, and coaches business executives and teams to have more power, presence, and credi- bility on-camera in a video-first market. He
DESIGNS THAT INCREASE PRODUCTION
Patrick McGowan
pulls together three-decades in marketing, innovation, and leadership. McGowan started Punchn to address the challenges and inse- curities we all face when on camera. He is the author of “Across the Lens: How Your Zoom Presence Will Make or Break Your Success.” Visit www.punchn.io. Bay Cities Joins P+PB ‘Box To Nature’ Campaign Pico Rivera, California based Bay Cities has announced its new “Box to Nature” mark on corrugate, in conjunction with The Paper and Packaging Board, to be offered as an optional add-on and printed in-house. Developed by P+PB in collaboration with participating paper and corrugated manufac- turing companies and industry partners, Box to Nature is an initiative where box manufac- turers work with e-commerce brands to print a graphic on their boxes that encourages con- sumers to recycle. Bay Cities will be covering the cost of get- ting this mark printed on shippers, further en- couraging clients to take another step in their sustainability goals by educating consumers about how to properly recycle corrugate. “Only 40 percent of the corrugated boxes
ASDI offers: • 40 years of experience with separators, cyclones, conveyors and more • Sequential, Zero-Defect and various types of Scrap Systems • Each system is guaranteed to meet customer specifications • T urnkey Systems-handling all grades of paper and paperboard • In ground and overhead return conveyor systems direct to balers • Replace your undersized or aging cyclone over a two or three-day weekend • Representing a complete line of shredders, wet scrubbers and filters • NF PA compliant systems, ISN Network
Air Systems Design Inc .
50 East Court Mandeville, La 70471
Ph: 985-875-7777 Fx: 985-875-7778
\
email: sales@airsystemsdesign.com • www.airsystemsdesign.com
CONTINUED ON PAGE 22
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- Litho Labelers - Roller Conveyor - Bundle Conveyor - Stable Stack Conveyor - Active Ball Transfer - Robotics
We are proud to offer the products, services and partnerships needed to grow our customers’ business. Inspire Automation specializes in providing the highest quality material handling, converting and aftermarket products to corrugated converters.
- Load Formers - Load Inverters
- Unitizer Controls - Pallet Handling - Special Applications - Jogger/Aerators
- Maintenance Plans - Replacement Parts - Safety and Device Audits
Bay Cities Joins (CONT’D FROM PAGE 20)
First issued in 1992 and most recently revised in 2012, the Green Guides, outline general principles applicable to all environmental marketing claims and provide specific guidance regarding many common environmental benefit claims. For each claim covered, the Green Guides explain how reasonable consumers likely interpret it, describe the basic elements necessary to substantiate it, and present illustrative examples on how to qualify claims to avoid de- ception. The FTC decennial review comes at a time when con- sumers have a better understanding of terms and at the same time are becoming more skeptical about environ- mental claims. The Fibre Box Association believes that the timing of this important research and the FTC’s review means the corrugated industry needs to be thoughtful about how we use these words to ensure box users and consumers alike understand our sustainability story, including proof points that demonstrate renewability in our raw materials, recyclability of corrugated products, and the reuse of box fibers as recycled content in a circular manufacturing pro- cess. The American Forest & Paper Association plans to sub- mit comments on behalf of the paper and packaging in- dustry to the FTC’s request. Individual companies can also submit comments. The deadline to submit comments is April 24, 2023. For more information, visit ftc.gov .
shipped to our homes are getting recycled,” says Bay Cit- ies CEO Greg Tucker. “This is essentially hampering our ability to produce new boxes from old boxes because we are not prioritizing breaking down these boxes and putting them in a recycling bin to further our sustainability desires.” The implementation of the Box to Nature mark is part of a larger overall sustainability strategy to continue the circular economy and increase the number of corru- gate boxes being recycled. The goal is to increase the estimated 40 percent residential box recycling rate and recapture more fiber to make new paper-based prod- ucts. Brands also get a positive lift in perception among consumers due to the association with their choice to use sustainable, recyclable paper-based packaging. FBA: FTC ‘Green Guides’ Need Input From Corrugated Industry When it comes to sustainability, it seems everyone may not have the same understanding of important terms that impact the corrugated industry. According to the Fibre Box Association (FBA), the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently extended the public comment period for revi- sions to its Guides for the Use of Environmental Marketing Claims, more commonly known as “Green Guides.”
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Once recycled, corrugated box fibers are used 7-10 times to make new boxes and other paper products. And, more corrugated packaging is recovered for recycling than any other packaging material. Corrugated attracts eco-conscious customers who prefer to choose sustainably packaged products. Environmentally Responsible. Recyclable. Compostable. Extraordinary.
Learn more at boxesareextraordinary.com
SUPPLIER REPORTS 2023 (PART 4)
BALDWIN St. Louis, Missouri: Lee Simmonds, reports, “Baldwin re- cently introduced three new technologies to the corru-
ules without shutting down the full system. Another benefit is that LED window temperatures are vastly cooler than both IR and arc UV, reducing fire when corrugated falls onto lamp heads. “Baldwin also introduced its new Ultra Wide FlexoClea- nerBrush. The fully automated flexo plate-cleaning system can be up to 126 inches (3.2 meters) wide. There has been great interest in the company’s flagship solution to opti- mize print quality and improve worker safety in corrugated printing. It automatically removes dust and contamination from the plate in seconds — no need to stop the presses — without stopping the press. It performs full end-of-job plate cleaning and drying in four minutes or less, increasing up- time, improving sustainability, and reducing consumables spending by thousands of dollars per year. “Fully automatic and spanning the entire plate cylinder width, FlexoCleanerBrush improves safety by eliminating routine operator contact and reduces the risk of wash agents and cylinder nip injuries. Its core is made of carbon fiber, which ensures a stable, uniform, and consistent flexo plate cleaning throughout the whole width of the plate and keeps this wide system to a minimal weight. “The third Baldwin offering is its FlexoDry Infrared (IR)
gated industry that dramatically im- proves curing, drying, and cleaning, all of which are gaining traction in North America. “First is the XP Max LED System, which is engineered for curing wide substrates on printing presses, cor- rugated rotary die cutters, and con-
Lee Simmonds
veyor belts. Instead of a legacy one long LED array, XP Max employs numerous 20-inch (508mm) modules. Placed at an angle to allow for overlap of the LED emitting areas, the modules form a continuous UV curing array spanning any needed press or conveyer width. “The LED-UV modules within the XP Max system can significantly reduce energy and downtime while improv- ing worker safety. LED-UV technology is able to cure ink instantly — with no drying time — using much less energy than either IR or arc UV. Additionally, the modules can be turned off and on, covering only part of the conveyor to save energy when curing smaller stock widths. This also enables individual maintenance by removing single mod-
CONTINUED ON PAGE 26
Serving the North American Corrugated and Folding Carton Industries Since 1985
Give your digital marketing campaign a boost! Leverage your message to your potential customers with the credibility of Board Converting News behind it. Sponsor a weekly Monday issue or we’ll send out an eblast any day of the week to our full online circulation. You provide the copy, images and link to a video or website and we’ll do the rest! Contact Len Prazych 518-366-9017 lprazych@nvpublications.com
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Truck. Loads. More.
Corrugated printing has gone from basic to beautiful in 10 years. With the explosion of packaging demands and shorter print runs, speed has become the #1 capacity driver.
One of our customers tells us automated complete plate cleaning in < 4 minutes adds 25% capacity in a working week with FlexoCleanerBrush™
He calls it ‘Truckloads More Capacity’. You can do your own math.
Supplier Reports, Part 4 (CONT’D FROM PAGE 24)
and their customers. The Twin Box Slitter demonstrates our dedication to improvement, customer success, and the industry-leading service that our customers count on us to provide. “Additionally, we have an expanded and comprehen- sive suite of Customer Success Services (CSS) to optimize corrugator and converting processes as well as preven- tative maintenance. This program focuses on increasing available uptime and minimizing unplanned downtime. The CSS team has programs to troubleshoot and teach troubleshooting to your operators and maintenance teams for a systematic approach that prevents or minimiz- es equipment failures. Our customer training focuses on safety, best practices, preventative maintenance, machine capabilities, and troubleshooting, to keep both operators and machines running safely and efficiently. “From industry planning to support for the lifetime of our machines, BW Papersystems stands behind our prod- uct line and customers.” Visit www.bwpapersystems.com . DURST IMAGE TECHNOLOGY US, LLC Rochester, New York: Chuck Slingerland reports, “For over 80 years, Durst’s commitment to innovation has continu- corrugated manufacturers and converters. “Responding to and anticipating industry needs is what allows Durst to provide the highest quality products. With sustainability and automation being a requirement in to- day’s corrugated market, manufacturers and converters demand solutions that address these needs, without dis- rupting current business demands. To meet these emerg- ing requirements, Durst offers the widest range of printers, inks and software available for the corrugated market, with solutions for all sizes of converters. “The Durst P5 350 is a fully automated hybrid solution for multi-pass with UV ink board printing up to 3.5m and reaches, in the High-Speed version, a productivity up to 7 MSF per hour. “The Rho 2500 can achieve a maximum productivity of 13.450 MSF per hour and a production capacity of 8.6 MSF per hour in the HS version. Multiflex full automation is available with the Rho 2500, achieving a maximum load- ing and unloading capacity of 380 boards/hour. For cor- rugated printing, an automated dual track guide ensures that the corrugated boards remain flat, allowing change between board sizes very quickly. “Multi-pass, short run production with water-based ink: The P5 250 WT is the most productive and sustainable wa- ter-based solution with improved efficiency due to 30 per- CONTINUED ON PAGE 28 ously transformed the digital imag- ing industry, making us the industry leaders we are today. For several years, this dedication has provided advanced technology to the corru- gated printing segment, which has allowed us to expand our offerings to meet present and future needs of Chuck Slingerland
drying system. Designed to maximize press throughput, boost production speeds, and reduce energy consump- tion, the system employs Diamond-IR lamps to focus pow- erful IR radiation. Using a unique ceramic reflector, the lamps direct all light to the substrate, saving 30 percent in energy compared with commodity IR lamps. “We’re proud to support the industry by continuing to expand our offerings. We are partnering with new custom- ers across North America to deliver higher productivity, improved quality, reduced downtime, and increased prof- itability. “Fueled by 100 years of innovation, Baldwin supplies new equipment to consumers, maintains and services ex- isting equipment with quality replacement parts and pro- vides highly engineered consumables and engineering services, including upgrades and retrofits in addition to regular maintenance.” Visit baldwintech.com . BW PAPERSYSTEMS Phillips, Wisconsin: Neal McConnellogue reports, “BW Papersystems is an industry-leading manufacturer of cor- er success led our success in 2022 and is pushing our innovation and commitment to excellence as we look to- wards the future in 2023. “Our business objective to accelerate product devel- opment efforts as we engineer products and services with the right technology and provide performance and reliabil- ity to our clients led to the surge in demand for BW Pa- persystems products last year. A highlight to the year is partnering with our clients to support them in their current and projected needs with the heavy-duty, ServoPro Rotary Die Cutter, which demonstrates the proven robustness of the MarquipWardUnited product line. “We continue to support our clients’ flexibility with the seamless combination of our mid-size G-Grafix Flexo Folder Gluer and Twin Box Slitter™. We now offer a wider Twin Box Slitter which still uses industry-proven, patent- ed, self-sharpening razor-slitting technology to create two boxes out of one fed sheet, doubling productivity. “In 2023, we will recognize and celebrate the 30-year history of the Twin Box Slitter, offered only by BW Paper- systems. It leads the industry with a fast, easy-to-use ma- chine that requires less time to set up, supports updated technology, and interfaces seamlessly with virtually any Flexo Folder Gluer. Today’s machines are wider, faster, re- quire less maintenance, and minimize unscheduled down- time to drive production and the bottom line for our clients rugated and converting equipment from ‘Starch to Finish’ for the corru- gating industry. We are driven by a commitment to build partnerships, continuously improve, and deliv- er the highest level of engineering, manufacturing, and services to our clients. This commitment to custom- Neal McConnellogue
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Your source for complete corrugators
Customized corrugators to meet your plant’s production goal
BW Papersystems Marquip Ward United
contact@bwpapersystems.com • bwpapersystems.com
Supplier Reports, Part 4 (CONT’D FROM PAGE 26)
than 120 objects, comparing machine health information with baseline and previous fingerprints, building the next generation of A.I. predictive maintenance and machine control. “2022 also saw the delivery and installation of the lat- est model in the Ultima machine family – EMBA 295 QS Ul- tima™. With the EMBA 295 QS Ultima, we now offer a com- plete machine range to fit any customer need. It comes loaded with all the benefits you’d expect and like all our Ultima machines it features our unique Non-Crush Con- verting™ and Quick-Set™ technologies. “The 295 QS Ultima™ offers true DualBox™ production through TwinFeed™ and XL slotter, as well as complex inter- nal box die-cutting and creasing with the bottom die cutter. Several available options, like for example HighBox™ and the award winning LiquidCreaser™, further enhance its true flexibility and top-class performance. “The Non-Crush Converting™ technology of the Ulti- ma™ platform preserves the strength the corrugated board throughout the production process. This means enhanced box performance, and the only machines truly capable of converting the next generation of super lightweight board grades now in the North American market. “Our unique Ultima™ design, has the advantage of full vacuum transfer throughout the entire machine, this de- sign provides accurate transfer, smooth 1:1 scoring and fully supported ultra clean slotting. There are no pinch points, crushing the board between roller surfaces. “Allowing you to maximize your ability to meet every customer’s individual needs for inline die-cut box produc- tion, EMBA now offers DualCut™ — cutting-edge from top to bottom utilizing just one machine. Available for the 175 QS Ultima, 215 QS Ultima and 245 QS Ultima, EMBA’s Du- alCut™ option offers flexibility and uncompromised produc- tivity for all die cut formats. The special DualCut™ integra- tion combined with the intelligent Ultima™ platform, unique Non-Crush Converting™ and Quick-Set™, makes EMBA QS Ultima™ a new standard in converting operations. “EMBA Total Maintenance Program continues to be ex- panded and enhanced, featuring our Helpdesk VPN sup- port and online service capabilities.” Visit www.embausa.com or call (440) 360-7940. GEO. MARTIN Emeryville, California: Dan D’Angelo reports, “It appears we are finally pulling out of the full pandemic era, or at
cent less energy consumption. This printer is our solution for short and mid-run digital production and is equipped with full automation and Durst Water Technology Inks. “Single pass with water-based ink: The Delta SPC 130 was developed for high speed short, medium and long run jobs. The SPC 130 prints with a maximum of six col- ors on small formats from 500x600 mm through to very large formats with maximum dimensions of 1,300 x 2,100 (optionally 1,300 x 2,800 mm), and a maximum thickness of 12 mm. Koenig & Bauer Durst has developed automation systems for the Delta SPC 130, which enables integration into existing production lines, allowing manufacturers and converters to achieve fully automated production and fully exploit the potential of digitization. “In conjunction with Durst hardware, our water-based ink is non-hazardous and allows premium quality, odor- less, abrasion-resistant, glossy and lightfast end products to be produced in a single process. Water Technology is part of the long-term strategy of offering digital printing systems a sustainable alternative to conventional printing systems. “Durst equipment comes with our award-winning, web- based Workflow Software and Analytics Software, eliminat- ing the need for a third-party provider. Durst Workflow is designed for efficient data management and is combined with leading color management and advanced rip technol- ogy to allow for full automation. Our Durst Analytics pro- vides easily interpretable print production data, which can call out key performance indicators, production timelines, and detailed job information, streamlining your processes and increasing your production efficiency.” Visit durstus.com . EMBA Westlake, Ohio: George Linn reports, “2022 was challeng- ing with ongoing supply chain issues, further exacerbated
by conflicts in Europe and its reper- cussions on energy, inflation, etc. Despite these challenges, EMBA successfully supplied and serviced our customer base while still push- ing forward with our continuous pro- gram of innovation. “For 2023 EMBA’s latest innova-
George Linn
tion EMBA CareControl™ condition monitoring system is available for new machine deliveries. CareControl puts you in control of your machine, in real time, any-time, any- where. Production data and statistics, real box cost calcu- lation, deeper remote support with full historic data always available, dynamic online manual offering direct access from alerts to detailed instructions, automatic countdown to next maintenance. CareControl includes Fingerprint, a regular health check system converging more than 650 signals, from 60 data collection points, monitoring more
least learning to cope with it. There is indeed a new normal, and business practices certainly have changed. While we are slowly returning to a more pre-pandemic environment, we are encouraged to see these changes continue to strengthen over time.
Dan D'Angelo
“Travel, despite the airlines’ best efforts to inconve- nience travelers, is returning to a more normal status. The
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