AICC Members On AI (CONT’D FROM PAGE 34)
Board Converting NEWS INTERNET DIRECTORY
mended focusing on areas where small improvements have significant impact. “In a box plant, the combination of lower hanging fruit and high value is found in operational activities like planning and scheduling, and the custom- er-facing side,” he said. “Even a 2–3 percent increase in efficiency in those areas is remarkable. It’s a very realiz- able goal and a great starting point.” Jeremy Stuckey of Saica Pack urged companies to commit to AI. “The longer you wait, the further behind you become,” he said. “AI isn’t going anywhere. Many com- panies are still in the infancy stages, but it’s important to commit and grow with it. It becomes, you’re starting with everybody or you’re starting behind everybody. At the same time, look for new ways to collect and streamline data across the business to support that growth.” Mark Landaal of Landaal Packaging stressed the need for discipline and clear direction. “You have to take a top- down approach,” he said. “Know why a KPI matters and how you’ll use it to drive change. It’s easy to get distracted by day-to-day transactions, but without a disciplined road- map, you’ll end up running in circles.” Panelists agreed that AI is a permanent fixture of the corrugated industry’s future. While implementation may be complex, the benefits—greater efficiency, better forecast- ing, stronger customer relationships—are tangible. For independent box plants, the message from the Great Lakes Summit was clear: AI adoption does not need to start with sweeping changes. Small, structured steps can deliver immediate value, while laying the groundwork for long-term competitiveness. Smurfit Westrock Serves Papa Johns A “Tremendous Triple Box” Solution Smurfit Westrock, one of the world’s largest integrated pa- per-based packaging manufacturer, and the Papa Johns pizza chain have strengthened their partnership with the launch of the “Tremendous Triple Box” – an innovative consumer packaging design that holds two pizzas and four sides in a single container and transforms into an in- teractive football or basketball game. Designed and produced by Smurfit Westrock Spain, this solution is a clear example of how packaging can tran- scend its traditional role to become a tool for customer loyalty and entertainment, enhancing the customer expe- rience from the very first interaction. The collaboration between Smurfit Westrock and Papa Johns began in 2016, coinciding with the opening of the brand’s first franchise in Spain, on Madrid’s Serrano Street. The design of Smurfit Westrock’s “Tremendous Triple Box” serves as a high-impact visual and interactive re- source to strengthen Papa Johns’ brand identity. These types of packaging solutions are fully customizable thanks
THE HAIRE GROUP www.hairegroup.com
Haire Group is the premier provider of new machinery for the corrugated industry. From the Apstar line of flexo folder gluers and rotary die cutters, the Encore line of flexo folder gluers and rotary die cutters, and the Engico flexo folder glu- er, Haire is able to pair clients with the best machinery solu- tions for the best value to meet their needs. Haire Group’s service department helps its customers maximize uptime and profitability through superior 24/7 service and support, a pre-install training center, and over a million dollars’ worth of spare parts at their offices just outside of Chicago. Haire Group has been the industry’s #1 pre-owned machinery bro- ker and plant equipment appraiser since 1976. HarperLove is the leading provider of specialty adhesives, performance additives, and wet-strength resins to corru- gated packaging manufacturers. With the largest and most experienced field service and technical support team posi- tioned throughout the U.S. and Latin America, HarperLove has a long-standing reputation for providing outstanding service and delivering demonstrable performance improve- ments. HarperLove’s renowned services include not only innovative product development and custom product for- mulation, but also machine and process assessments, ad- hesive formula adjustments, machine tuning, detailed ser- vice reporting, and more. HARPERLOVE www.HarperLove.com Kernic Systems has been a leading global provider of re- cycling equipment solutions since 1978. For over 40 years, Kernic Systems has provided balers, air conveying and dust collection systems, shredders, industrial vacuums, and re- cycling equipment to a wide range of markets. Today, Ker- nic Systems serves customers with an expanded offering of standard products and custom-engineered systems through three primary business divisions: Recycling Solu- tions, Dust Collection and Air Pollution Control, and Material Handling. Kiwiplan provides state-of-the-art software solutions to cor- rugated, folding carton, plastics and flexible packaging fa- cilities around the globe. Kiwiplan’s Total Solution delivers comprehensive, seamless real-time flow of information from sales order management to dynamic total plant scheduling and inventory control through shipping. With deep manu- facturing and distribution expertise, Kiwiplan knows the specific problems customers face and provides the spe- cialized software they need to adapt, compete, and win in today's rapidly changing world. KERNIC SYSTEMS www.kernicsystems.com KIWIPLAN www.kiwiplan.com
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August 25, 2025
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