Board Converting News, September 15, 2025

September 15, 2025

VOL. 41, NO. 37

BoardConverting Serving the North American Corrugated and Folding Carton Industries for 40 years

Cumberland Invests In Speed, Service, Safety And Sales BY STEVE YOUNG Mark Jared and his management team at Cumberland Container have been on an eight-year investment and building spree: between No- vember, 2017, and July, 2025, the company has acquired, installed and ramped-up: a short-run, automatic set up boxmaker; a flatbed die cut- ter; two flexo-folder gluers; a rotary die cutter; a jumbo automatic parti- tion assembler; a litho laminator; two automatic pre-feeders; a specialty gluer and an automatic stitcher. And that’s just the heavy metal.

Veritiv Acquires S. Walter Packaging Corp. Atlanta, Georgia based Veritiv Operating Company, a leader in specialty packaging dis- tribution, facility solutions and print products and solutions, announced that it has acquired the packaging distribution business of S. Wal- ter Packaging Corp., a provider of custom packaging solutions serving retail, hospitality, food & beverage, and fashion markets. “This acquisition supports Veritiv’s strate- gy to grow our core specialty packaging busi- ness, particularly in high-value segments such as retail packaging,” said Sal Abbate, Chief Executive Officer of Veritiv. “S. Walter brings a long-standing customer base and together, we will continue to grow in our ability to serve premium brands with speed, customization, and innovation.” The addition of S. Walter complements Veritiv’s packaging distribution business, enhances our direct-to-store services and strengthens our multi-brand kitting and pre- mium packaging capabilities. These com- bined strengths reinforce Veritiv as a leader in the packaging industry by delivering end-to- end solutions that meet the needs of today’s brands and retailers.

Jared has also upgraded the necessary ancillary hardware in the plant such as the conveyor lines and the bailer and cyclone systems. To supplement Cumberland Container’s electrical needs, he erected a solar panel array and installed a rubberized roof to improve insula- tion and moderate the summer and winter temperatures in the plant. In September 2022 Jared acquired an adjacent 12-acre parcel of land for future expansion, and to improve workflow efficiency, a 19,000 square- foot “bridge” addition was completed in November 2023 to connect the plant with the finished-product warehouse. “I actually blame Mitch Klingher [of Klinger-Nadler LLC],” Jared said when asked about the impetus for these investments. “I went to one of his presentations at an AICC meeting and he basically said that if CONTINUED ON PAGE 24 Cumberland Container ’ s management team, from left: Thomas Barker, Plant Manager; Andrew Miller, Operations Manager; Scott Watson, Design & Es- timating Manager; Mark Jared, Director; Randy Swallows, Sales Manager; and Tim Dunn, Chief Financial Officer

CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

WHAT’S INSIDE 8 FBA Announces New Appointments, Transitions 10 Engico America Appoints Richard Goldberg President A.G. Stacker And Valco Melton Partner On QA Improvements 20 TAPPI Announces Keynote Speaker for Women's Summit 6 x x 8 x x 12 x x 26 x x

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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 42# Kraft liner 26# Semi-Chem. Medium $ 900.00-925. 00 $ 825. 00 -$850.00 U.S. Average 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. 42# Kraft Liner 26# Semi-Chem Medium East $970.00 $960.00 West $1,015.00 $995.00 REGION

Share the story of your company’s success with an ARTICLE in Board Converting News. The corrugated and folding carton industries are waiting! Brand Owners, Converters & Decision-Makers READ BCN Don’t keep it a secret! Articles generate leads for converters and suppliers! Industry Stories (AKA Articles) May be hiding plain view. If spotted in your organization, approach with extreme excitement and report to BCN immediately!

Veritiv Acquires (CONT’D FROM PAGE 1)

“Becoming part of the Veritiv team marks an exciting new chapter for S. Walter, expanding our reach with Veritiv’s strengths in packaging distribution, automation, design, and fulfillment services,” said Rob Cunningham, SVP and Chief Operating Officer of S. Walter. “The road ahead is full of opportunity, and I’m confident that our combined strengths will deliver even greater value to our custom- ers,” adds Gordon Summerfield, SVP of Sales and Market- ing for S. Walter. Founded in 1904, S. Walter has built a strong reputa- tion in custom packaging and promotional products. They have 110 employees with two plants in Pennsylvania.

Len Prazych at 518-366-9017 lprazych@nvpublications.com

www.boardconvertingnews.com

September 15, 2025

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September 15, 2025

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FBA Announces 2026 Annual Meeting In La Jolla, California

The 2026 FBA Annual Meeting will be held at the Lodge at Torrey Pines in La Jolla, CA, from April 15 through 17, 2026. Please save the dates on your calendar. Hotel res- ervations, along with announcements on speakers and the agenda, are forthcoming.

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The meeting will begin the afternoon of Wednesday, April 15, and conclude the afternoon of Friday, April 17. At- tendees will be able to make hotel reservations to arrive and stay a couple of days before and after the meeting to take advantage of all that the location offers. For more information on this meeting, please contact Cory Martin, FBA Executive Vice President, at cmartin@fi- brebox.org or 847-346-9245.

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FBA Announces New Appointment, Technical Committee Transitions The Fibre Box Association (FBA) announced two key up- dates last week, naming Ashley Durkin-Rixey as its new Director of Communications and confirming leadership transitions within its Technical Committee. Ashley joins FBA with an extensive background in strategic communications and stakeholder engagement,

Additionally, FBA’s Technical Committee convened last week for a productive meeting and a tour of Wal-Mart’s distribution facility in Lancaster, Texas. During the session, Chase Kammerer, FBA Manager of Technical Services, an- nounced a leadership transition within the committee.

bringing deep experience in the trade association sector. Prior to joining FBA, she served as Senior Director at Glen Echo Group, where she led high-im- pact public affairs campaigns for glob- al technology companies, non-profit

organizations, and industry associations. Previously, she led communications at ACT | The App Association, the voice of the small business app development industry. In her new role, Ashley will lead FBA’s internal and ex- ternal communications strategy, working to elevate the association’s voice, strengthen member engagement, and amplify the influence of the corrugated packaging industry. “We are excited to have Ashley on board,” said Bob McIlvaine, FBA’s President and CEO. “Her expertise and strategic vision will be invaluable as we continue to grow and evolve.”

After a decade of dedicated service as Chair, Ben Frank of PCA will be stepping down from his leadership role. He will, however, continue to contribute as a valued member of the committee. FBA extends its sincere gratitude to Ben for his outstanding leadership and long-standing commitment. Steve Johnson of Smurfit Westrock has accepted the role of Committee Chair, and James Moody of Commence- ment Bay Corrugated will serve as Vice Chair. FBA congrat- ulates both Steve and James on their new appointments and looks forward to their leadership in advancing the com- mittee’s mission.

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September 15, 2025

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Engico America Appoints Richard Goldberg President

year veteran of the packaging industry, Goldberg returns from a brief retirement to lead the Italian machinery mak- er’s North American business from its headquarters in Merrillville. Most recently, Goldberg served as Vice President of Operations at Middletown, New York based President Container Group (PCG). During the COVID pandemic, he oversaw the installation of Engico’s Jumbo Flexo Folder Gluer at PCG, an extraordinary achievement under challenging cir- cumstances. That project introduced him to the Engico team in Italy, estab- lishing a foundation of trust and collaboration that now comes full circle with his appointment. “Working with Engico during that installation built a re- lationship that made this return to the industry a natural

Lissone, Italy based Engico was founded on the aware- ness of the importance of service. With installations in North America increasing in recent years, Engico Ameri- ca was created to continue to provide excellent service. It is composed of a team of dedicated, young, and trained technicians and staff, headed by Richard Goldberg, a prominent figure in the industry, who serves as President. Engico America, based in Merrillville, Indiana, provides services including supplying spare parts; on-call support for remote diagnostics and technical support in addition to on-site service; and programmed support and mainte- nance services, auditing, and operator training. Goldberg’s appointment was effective August 1. A 45-

fit,” said Goldberg. “Even after retiring, I found it hard to step away from an industry that has been such a big part of my life. I’m excited to join Engico and rejoin the cor- rugated community and contribute to its continued growth.”

“Richard brings invaluable industry ex- perience and insights born from a lifetime in corrugated,” said Rinaldo Benzoni, Man- aging Director of Engico s.r.l. “His leader- ship will help us take us to the next level as we continue to expand our presence and serve our North American customers with our innovative machinery.” Goldberg can be reached at (973) 570- 8661 or rgoldberg@engico.com. Visit engico.com for more information.

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September 15, 2025

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A.G. Stacker And Valco Melton Partner On QA Improvements

Attleboro, Massachusetts based Abbott-Action Packaging has announced significant improvements to print quality, operational efficiency, and waste reduction following the integration of A.G. Stacker’s Sample Quality Rejection Sys- tem with Valco Melton’s PrintChek technology. This cut- ting-edge solution has transformed quality assurance and production processes, setting a new industry standard.

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Abbott-Action ’ s Apstar Rotary Die Cutter

Before this integration, Abbott-Action’s operators man- ually monitored print quality, relying on spot inspections that posed risks at high production speeds. With machines running at 15,000 boxes per hour, achieving 100% defect detection and elimination without stopping production was nearly impossible. The manual process also led to customer returns, credits, and rework costs, impacting effi- ciency and trust. While these challenges were minor, their goal was, and has always been, zero defects.

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“This new machine technology represents a major leap forward in our commitment to innovation and efficiency,” says J. Samuel Abbott, CEO of Abbott-Action Packaging. “By integrating cutting-edge automation and smart analyt- ics, we're not only improving performance and reducing downtime—we're also setting a new standard for what our industry can achieve.” Since integrating A.G. Stacker’s Sample Quality Rejec- tion System and Valco Melton’s PrintChek, Abbott-Action has seen a significant reduction in misprints and waste, while ensuring defective products never make it to final packaging. A.G. Stacker ’ s Sample Quality Rejection System (SQR)

info@pamarco.com 404-691-1700 Pamarco.com

CONTINUED ON PAGE 14

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September 15, 2025

A.G. Stacker (CONT’D FROM PAGE 12)

to meet and surpass the demands of our customers. The result is a product that not only meets customer expec- tations but also raises the bar for excellence across the market.” This integration has positioned Abbott-Action at the forefront of the corrugated packaging industry, deliver- ing the highest print quality at high-speed production. As an early adopter of this technology, Abbott-Action is setting new benchmarks for quality assurance. While the data is still being collected, early results indicate a significant drop in quality issues and returns. Abbott-Action is confident that this technology will con- tinue to drive efficiency, customer retention, and new business. CUIR Corrugated Machinery To Exhibit At CorrExpo 2025 CUIR Corrugated Machinery, a French manufacturer of precision flexo-die cutters has announced that it will be exhibiting at Booth #839 at CorrExpo 2025.

• Automated Quality Control: Defects are instantly de- tected and rejected, eliminating manual intervention. • Increased Efficiency: Operators can now focus on run- ning machines at peak speeds rather than manually in- specting print quality. • Improved Waste Reduction: Fewer rejected products mean lower material and labor costs. • Enhanced Customer Satisfaction: The company is bet- ter positioned to deliver flawless products, strengthen- ing client relationships.

“At Valco we embrace challenges as opportunities,” says Jeff Pollack, National Sales Manager at Valco Melton. “We continue to thoughtfully develop our inspection systems Valco Melton's PrintChek screen displays detected errors.

Follow Board Converting News on LinkedIn and Facebook to get the most current news and information for the corrugated and folding carton industries.

CUIR will be celebrating the 10-year anniversary of the company’s rebirth and the opening of their new US- based entity – CUIR US Corporation. Boxmakers are in- vited to stop by to meet CUIR leadership and learn more about the history and future of CUIR precision box-mak- ing machinery. The company will also be showcasing their new report editing software, now available on CUIR’s MRV inside/outside flexo-die cutter and the MC 2-color flexo-die cutter. “Ten years since our rebirth—what a journey!” said Fabien Val-Duprez, CEO of CUIR. “At CorrExpo, we can’t wait to celebrate this achievement with boxmakers, part- ners and peers. Much has changed over the last ten years, but what will always remain is our commitment to quality, service and savoir-faire.” With more than 85 years of experience, the CUIR team is comprised of 30 permanent employees who design, manufacture, install and maintain die cutters, flexographic printing lines or in-line printing-die cutting machines. CUIR also offers preventative and corrective mechanical and electronic maintenance on all existing machines. For more information about CUIR, visit www.cuir.com .

Len Prazych at 518-366-9017 lprazych@nvpublications.com

www.boardconvertingnews.com

September 15, 2025

Digital Packaging Summit Announces 2025 Keynote Sponsors PRINTING United Alliance, the most comprehensive mem- ber-based printing and graphic arts association in North America, has announced that industry-leading companies Domino, Durst North America, and HP have returned as keynote sponsors of the popular Digital Packaging Sum- mit. The 11th annual Digital Packaging Summit is being held at the Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort & Spa in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, from November 10-12, 2025. In addition to networking opportunities abound, the unique event format of the Digital Packaging Summit fea- tures keynote presentations from thought leaders in the industry, and panel discussions featuring brand owners and businesses that have successfully adopted digital printing or converting solutions; interactive smaller group case studies highlighting innovative applications and im- plementations in the field; and in-depth one-to-one meet- ings with leading technology solution providers and advi- sory board members. “For the past eight years, Domino has proudly served as a Keynote Sponsor of the Digital Packaging Summit, and we’re excited to have the opportunity again this year,” said Bill Myers, Marketing Manager for Domino Digital Printing North America. “The event’s unique format—fea- turing boardroom case study presentations, one-on-one meetings, and valuable networking with industry profes- sionals—has consistently made the Digital Packaging Summit highly anticipated and very productive.” “We’re pleased to once again support the Digital Pack- aging Summit as the Keynote Sponsor,” said Steve Lynn, Executive Director at Durst North America. “The summit continues to be a catalyst for meaningful conversations that move the industry forward. As digital technology plays an increasingly critical role across labels, corrugated, and flexible packaging, events like DPS provide an essential forum for sharing real-world insights, challenges, and progress.” “We’re excited to once again sponsor the Digital Pack- aging Summit,” says Glen Adams, Product Manager at HP. “This event is truly unique as it gathers senior deci- sion-makers from across the industry. It’s unique format, with its mix of keynotes, user and brand panels, case studies, and 1:1 meetings, creates the perfect environment for meaningful conversations and strategic insights. It’s a privilege to be part of this experience, where we not only showcase HP Indigo’s latest innovations but also share real-world success stories from our customers to help at- tendees explore how digital solutions can transform their businesses. This summit fosters the kind of collaboration and learning that drives real growth and we’re proud to support that.” For information on sponsoring or attending the Digital Packaging Summit, visit: digitalpackagingsummit.com , or contact Event Director David Pesko: dpsinfo@napco.com.

Quality Leads = New Customers

Read the articles in Board Converting News every week to learn about the people, places and machinery that will open the doors to new or repeat business.

Len Prazych at 518-366-9017 lprazych@nvpublications.com

www.boardconvertingnews.com

September 15, 2025

Domtar Featured In UN SDG Leaders Documentary Series

products,” said Sabrina de Branco, Domtar’s Chief Sustain- ability Officer. “We are committed to delivering high-quality and cost-effective options, like responsibly sourced paper and lumber, to meet and exceed customer needs globally.”

Fort Mill, South Carolina based Domtar has been selected to participate in the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Leaders project, a documentary series profiling compa- nies that support the United Nations’ 17 SDGs, which aim to end poverty, fight inequality and injustice, and protect the planet. The short film, A Forest Products Manufacturer Rooted in Sustainability: Domtar’s 2030 Vision , offers a behind- the-scenes look at how Domtar transforms responsibly sourced wood fiber into essential products that support hygiene, education, commerce, home construction, and more. Domtar was recognized for its sustainability initiatives during the integration of its legacy companies, including the launch of its global sustainability policy, its 2030 Sus- tainability Strategy, and its forthcoming 2024 sustainability report highlighting recent progress. As part of the project, Domtar participated in a doc- umentary film showcasing its work as a forest products manufacturer and industry leader. Owned by investor Jackson Wijaya, the company produces paper, packaging, tissue, hygiene products, and lumber. “We are focused on safeguarding forests and turning responsibly sourced wood fiber into everyday essential

Domtar’s 2030 Sustainability Strategy, introduced af- ter two years of engagement with employees, customers, suppliers, Indigenous Peoples, and community stakehold- ers, centers on three pillars: Environmental Stewardship, People and Communities, and Responsible Business. The company says future updates will continue to align with the SDGs as part of its role in advancing responsible and innovative forest products manufacturing. To learn more about Domtar and to view the documen- tary, visit domtar.com .

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September 15, 2025

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TAPPI Announces Keynote Speaker For 2025 Women’s Summit TAPPI, the leading association for the worldwide pulp, pa- per, tissue, packaging and converting industries, has an- nounced that April Whitson, Global Division Vice President of Human Resources at ABB, will deliver the keynote ad- dress at the 2025 TAPPI Women’s Summit, co-located with CorrExpo on October 20, 2025, in Savannah, Georgia. In her keynote, From Pulp to Purpose: Accelerating Ac- tion with Intention and Impact , Whitson weaves the story of papermaking into a powerful metaphor for careers and culture—showing how raw potential can be transformed into lasting purpose. She invites women at every level to see themselves as the makers of their careers by creat- ing moments where intention meets impact. From pulp to purpose, attendees will be inspired and equipped to lead, grow, and thrive in today’s workplace. Whitson will be joined by fellow presenters Sarah Dale, Plant General Manager at International Paper’s Spotswood, NJ facility and Lu Athnos, Regional Sales Manager, ABB for a full day of discussion, development and networking op- portunities based on this year’s theme, #AccelerateAction. They will deliver real-world strategies that attendees can apply immediately to their careers and personal growth. Organized by TAPPI’s Women in Industry (WIN) Divi- sion, Women’s Summit is built on the premise of empow-

ering industry voices to accelerate leadership, confidence and change. Whether you’re just starting out or stepping into your next leadership role, TAPPI’s Women’s Summit is your mo- ment to step forward, speak up, and spark change. With this year’s theme, #AccelerateAction, the Summit brings together women and allies from across the forest products industry for a high-impact day of day of learning, leadership, and connection. From insightful discussions to interactive sessions, attendees will gain practical strate- gies they can immediately apply to their careers and per- sonal growth. Author of The Stay Challenge: A Leader's Guide to Managing Unwanted Turnover & Regrettable Retention , Whitson is known for bringing positive workplace cul- ture and employee experiences to teams through enhanced leadership performance. She enables leaders to achieve their business targets by teaching them how to build better relationships with their employees through effective communication strategies. Summit attendees will have opportunities to win a copy of her book. Come for the Summit and stay for CorrExpo. Registra- tion for the Summit is managed through the CorrExpo site. Take advantage of CorrExpo’s Early-Bird registration rates by registering for both before September 27.

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September 15, 2025

We’ve got our customers cov ered... TM

...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. We are proud to be an official distributor of Policart and Rodicut anvil covers. Stafford is the industry’s go-to source for everything corrugated.

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PACK EXPO Las Vegas 2025 Expects Over 35K Attendees

at The Cove Bar & Arcade, offers up-and-coming lead- ers an opportunity to socialize with their peers in a fun and relaxed environment, perfect for making new con- nections in the industry. • The First-Time Attendee Lounge provides first-time at- tendees with assistance on how to navigate the show, access product locators, talk to experienced show staff, and an opportunity to relax and recharge to help maxi- mize their time at the show. • Vision 2030 offers four interactive sessions for indus- try professionals to gain valuable connections, insights, and new perspectives around common operational challenges – while helping to develop innovative solu- tions. In addition, dedicated resource centers, such as the Association Partner Pavilion and the Education and Workforce Development Pavilion, provide structured settings for meeting with industry organizations and talent development leaders. “PACK EXPO Las Vegas is where the industry shows up — not just to see machines run, but to meet the peo- ple driving the industry forward,” says Jim Pittas, president and CEO of show organizer PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies. “It’s where con- versations become partnerships and where ideas turn into real-world solutions.” Attending PACK EXPO Las Vegas means joining a pow- erful community of professionals shaping what’s next. Register today at packexpolasvegas.com .

Las Vegas, Nevada will host the year’s largest gathering of packaging and processing professionals when PACK EXPO Las Vegas takes place September 29–October 1 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. More than 35,000 at- tendees representing over 40 vertical markets and 2,300 exhibitors are expected, offering countless touchpoints to engage and connect with decision-makers, thought lead- ers, and peers who are driving innovation across the pack- aging and processing supply chain. Attendees will gain access to a dynamic mix of formal and informal networking and special events, including: • PACK gives BACK™ steps out on the town with an ex- clusive, private performance of Mystère by Cirque du Soleil® — a special event just for PACK EXPO Las Vegas participants the night before the show floor opens. • Packaging & Processing Women’s Leadership Network (PPWLN) Breakfast offers a unique opportunity to con- nect with like-minded professionals, share experiences, and gain valuable insights. This year’s featured speaker is Alison Fragale, an organizational psychologist, pro- fessor at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, leadership expert, and bestselling author of Likeable Badass: How Women Get the Success They Deserve. • The Young Professionals Networking Reception, held

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September 15, 2025

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was getting old and there was a lot of new equipment on the market.” Another factor played into the decision, Jared said. “In 2015, after almost 45 years of debt, we finally paid off the banks. And so, we had some money that we didn’t have to use to pay down debt.”

you’re going to be competitive, you have to buy fast set- up, fast running, and good registration machinery.” I Parachuted In…’ A relative newcomer to the corrugated box business, Jared bought Cumberland Container in 2010 from his fa- ther who founded the company in Monterey, Tennessee, in 1968. At the time, Jared recalled, he was living in Shang- hai, China, already 25 years into a successful overseas real estate development career. “I got a fax from my dad while still working in China for Dubai World, and he said, ‘You need to come home and buy the company.’ I bought the box plant, but I returned to China.” Jared explained that his father, an attorney, had original- ly acquired the company as an investment and had a sea- soned general manager running it. His hand-off approach, he reasoned, would also work for Mark. It didn’t. “Within about two years, we loaded up the family and moved to middle Tennessee. I parachuted into the box business, not knowing a thing about how to make a box.” Jared’s admitted lack of knowledge about the success- ful operation of a small independent sheet plant was the genesis of his success today. Arriving back in Tennessee in 2013, he relied on the company’s long-time general man- ager to run the day-to-day – until, in 2015, the GM abruptly left the company, taking with him $3 million in business. “That was a big shock,” Jared recalled in his 2024 AICC podcast, ‘Corrugated Candy Store.’ [now.aiccnow.org/cor- rugated-candy-store/] “That’s when we scrambled and, on my dad’s recommendation, we set up a management team.” A Winning Team The Cumberland Container management team is made up of Jared, plus five senior managers in the company: Plant Manager Thomas Barker; Sales Manager Randy Swal- lows; Operations Manager Andrew Miller; Chief Financial Officer Tim Dunn; and Design Manager Scott Watson. All told, this box-business brain trust brings a collective 100+ years’ experience to guide the company’s day-to-day op- erations, strategic direction and the capital investments to support them. Thomas Barker is a 34-year veteran on the industry, having spent the last seven years as President of Jackson Paper’s Sustainable Corrugated division. Randy Swallows has been with Cumberland Container for over 40 years, while Andrew Miller made his start at the compa- ny 21 years ago on the plant floor. Tim Dunn is also a 20+ year veteran, and Scott Watson, 30 years and counting, began as a machine operator before being promoted to design and estimating. Cumberland Container’s successive investments of the past eight years came about as much by mechanical need as they did financial happenstance. “At the time [2015] we had all used equipment except for a couple pieces,” Jared recalled. “The only new equipment my father had bought was the [Bobst] mini-Martin flexo folder gluer in 2005 and a Bobst Expert Fold specialty gluer in 2011. Everything else

Capital Investment Begins The company’s location in Monterey places it in the Upper Cumberland geographic region. According to the Cumberland Plateau Planning District Commission, the top manufacturing sectors in the Upper Cumberland include automotive, vulcanized materials, wood products, plastics, furniture, heavy machinery and automotive. This makes Cumberland Container primarily an industrial, brown- box company in a very competitive area, and Jared and his team thus focused first on augmenting their existing equipment to meet customers’ growing needs in these in- dustries. Two successive acquisitions in 2017 and 2018 – a BCS AutoBox and Baysek C170 HD flatbed die cutter -- met that goal. “We had to figure out how to run our old machinery more efficiently and to cut out some of the short runs,” Jared said. That’s why we targeted the BCS AutoBox It al- lowed us to spend more time on the other machines that took 20 to 30 minutes to set up so that we could run them more efficiently,” Jared said. The Baysek C170 55-inch by 67-inch flatbed die-cutter, for its part, was the 2018 installation. “In 2016 I went to my first SuperCorrExpo and that’s where we saw the Baysek,” Jared said. “We didn’t have any kind of flatbed die cutter and we felt like there would be some application in our mix,” adding that, as with most machines, it took some time to realize its potential. “The first year we just ran it two or three days a week,” he said, “but it wasn’t long before we were running it five days a week and then five days, two shifts.” The Baysek had the effect of jump-stating the compa- ny’s partition business, so much so that in a few years later – in January 2021 – Cumberland Container installed a Pre- mier Converting Machinery Model 221C Jumbo Auto-Feed Cumberland ’ s Bobst Expert Fold specialty gluer was an earlier upgrade to the company's equipment roster, arriving in 2011. From left are crew members Jacob Hargis, operator; Dustin Hernandez; and Elijah Phillips with Mark Jared.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 26

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Cumberland Invests (CONT’D FROM PAGE 24)

China to see the Dong Fang facility and we purchased the Apstar,” he said. Cumberland Container’s Apstar HG2 50- inch by110-inch flexo folder gluer arrived in the spring of 2019 and is equipped with a full die-cut section, one-pass, one color inside/ three color outside print and will run up to 13,800 blanks per hour. And fast on the heels of that in- stallation came the Apstar HG2 Rotary Die Cutter, insalled in November 2020. “We went back [to Dong Fang] and we purchased the rotary die cutter,” Jared recalled, add-

Partition Assembler. Jared recalled the reasoning: “We were doing lots of partitions, and we calculated we were using four people, 145 days, just to do nothing but put to- gether partitions. By having the Baysek and being able to cut very clean slots for those partitions, the Premier jumbo machine was the one that fit our business best.” The AutoBox, the Baysek and -- though it arrived later -- the Premier partition assembler, met the immediate objec- tives of the Cumberland management team: they relieved pressure off the company’s older equipment to allow more efficient operation, and they bolstered Cumberland Con- tainer’s industrial niche, especially the partitions and die cuts widely used middle Tennessee’s growing automotive supply market. Move Toward Graphics With the next acquisitions, in May and October, 2021, and September, 2022, Jared and his team doubled down on their vision for faster set-ups, production speeds and greater market reach. Already secured in its industrial cus- tomer base, the company looked to grow elsewhere, spe- cifically to beefing up its graphic capabilities to broaden its customer base. To this end, Jared relied on the corrugated industry’s bedrock graphic applications: direct print and litho laminating. “We started off looking to replace our old S&S 50-inch flexo folder gluer, and that’s when we decided to go to

ing that these additions to the company’s equipment mix enabled them to retire older equipment. “Each time,” he said, “we were able to sell our old ma- chinery and we just getting faster and better with each im- Mark Jared pauses at the company ’ s "arrival board," tracing the path of its major capital investments in the past six years.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 28

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Cumberland Invests (CONT’D FROM PAGE 26)

capacity with these machines, and so we only had about two weeks’ lead time when other people were at four, five and six weeks.” With their inside/outside print capabilities, Cumber- land’s Apstars were gateways into new graphics territory. Looking to further diversify their graphics options, Jared and his team in May of 2021 acquired an Automatan A+ litho laminator. “In 2021 we found the Automatan A+ litho laminator because we wanted to try to move our capabil- ity in graphics in that direction as well,” Jared said. “While we’re still predominantly a brown box business, there is a growing market for that.” Randy Swallows, Cumberland’s sales manager, says the Automatan gives them greater control of the process, saying, “being able to label sheets or cartons in-house rather than having to send them out makes us more competitive and gives the customer faster turnaround times.” “Why not digital?” we asked. Jared’s contrarian nature and studied frugality made him shy away from the digital print crowd. “The Apstars were in the forefront of inside/ outside, single-pass printing,” Jared said. “That was some- thing we identified as being up and coming with e-com- merce. Plus,” he added, “our competitor had just put in a new single-pass high-speed digital printer and they were going in that direction of high graphics. We didn’t think it would be good to go head-to-head with them and try to make that investment. So we thought for a much less cost CONTINUED ON PAGE 30

provement.” Like the Apstar HG2 Flexo Folder Gluer, Cum- berland’s Apstar HG2 66x126 Rotary Die Cutter has one color inside/three color outside print capability, running up to 12,000 sheets per hour. Jared and his team matched this horsepower with the AG Stacker G3 Die Cutter Stack- er with Intelligent safety system and laser-aligned set-up to ensure maximum productivity.

The timing of these installations was propitious: they prepared Cumberland for the COVID demand spike that dogged industrial supply chains for months. “The fortu- nate thing,” Jared said, “was we were doing most of these things right before COVID. We had a lot of capabilities and Cumberland paired the AG Stacker G3 stacker with the Apstar Rotary Die Cutter.

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Cumberland Invests (CONT’D FROM PAGE 28)

Board Converting NEWS INTERNET DIRECTORY

we could go after inside outside printing and that would be a differentiator for us. We’re one of the few companies in the Southeast that has two machines that can do inside outside, one-pass print.” Redundancy Ensures Continuity Not content to rest, Cumberland’s management team tackled their next project: creating redundancy across their principal machine centers to provide back-up in case of a prime-time breakdown. Two other pieces of equip- ment have joined the lineup at Cumberland to ensure production continuity: A J&L specialty gluer and a Gazella TW7200 stitcher. For its part, the J&L was purchased from a company in Canada, and serves not only as a relief valve on the company’s older Bobst Expert Fold, but it is also essential to handle the growing graphics and e-commerce work envisioned by Jared and his team. The Gazella, meanwhile, enhances Cumberland’s heavy-duty capabilities which are handled by its Revco 86-inch by 204-inch and Emba 66-inch by 190-inch flexo printers. “The Gazella is a great complement to our two big machines,” Jared said. “We took a contrarian view that most people don’t want to do that business, but we al- ready were doing stitching on an older machine, so this made us a lot more efficient.” Feeders, Bundlers and Conveyors With this arsenal of high-speed, high-throughput equip- ment, Cumberland faced the challenge of the push-pull of sheets and finished product through the plant, including feeding, scrap removal, bundling, strapping and convey- ing. In October 2021, Jared installed the Alliance pre-feed- ers on the Apstar flexo folder gluer and rotary die cutter, increasing production speeds to 14,000 blanks per hour. “We were getting really big sheets so having the pre-feeder was really essential,” he said. But the high- speed output also strained the bundling and conveying of finished boxes, so the management team chose the EAM Mosca® TRC6-SQ4 SoniXs® fully automatic squaring bun- dler, combining high-speed and flexibility to strap the wide variety of box sizes coming off the machine. “The addition- al machines put more stress on our main conveyor line,” Jared said. “We needed a better, faster, newer bundler, so we got the new Mosca bundler.” The last pieces in the material handling puzzle were scrap removal, and American Baler Company was chosen to supply the new system. In addition to the baler, Cumber- land upgraded its cyclone system, adding a custom-built secondary unit to increase its capacity. “We actually out- grew our old baler,” said Andew Miller, operations manag- er. “It wasn’t able to keep up with the number of bales per hour or per day. American Baler has been a great addition to our existing cyclone because when all machines were running, we were actually at overcapacity.” Jared and his team see the ROI on these investments in new market opportunities and expanded geographic CONTINUED ON PAGE 32

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