BoardConverting Serving the North American Corrugated and Folding Carton Industries Since 1985 October 19, 2026 VOL. 42 NO. 43
Key Container Forms Advisory Board To Aid Future Growth BY GREG KISHBAUGH In March of this year, Altamont Capital Partners announced its invest- ment in Key Container Corporation, a corrugated box manufacturer in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. The move was made to support Key’s continued growth and ex- pansion. Altamont’s investment, combined with its knowledge across industrials and packaging, was predicated on helping Key Container’s management team build a scaled corrugated platform.
UFP Packaging Launches New Corrugated Brand Grand Rapids, Michigan based UFP Pack- aging, North America’s leading industrial packaging manufacturer, has announced the launch of All Boxed Up, a dedicated brand for its corrugated packaging business. The launch comes as UFP Packaging con- tinues to expand its corrugated business, in- cluding the addition of its Las Vegas manufac- turing facility in mid-2026. “As our corrugated business has grown, we have seen an opportunity to give it an identity that more clearly reflects the prod- ucts, capabilities and customer relationships behind it,” said Scott Worthington, president of UFP Packaging. “All Boxed Up presents our customers with a clearer picture of the full-service corrugated partner we’ve become while giving us a stronger foundation for con- tinued investment in the industry.” “All Boxed Up gives our teams a brand that better represents the work we do,” said Nick Hoffman, vice president of UFP Packaging. “For our customers, the name makes it easier to recognize our corrugated capabilities while knowing the people behind the operation re- main the same.”
Founded in 1959 by Jack Sundel and his son-in-law Richard Strauss, Key Container is now led by David Strauss, Richard’s son. It provides specialty and custom corrugated packaging products and services to customers across the Northeast. In addition, David’s son, Matthew, serves as Sales Manager and offers customers a fourth generation of family leadership. Backed by Altamont’s resources and sector expertise, David will continue to lead Key Container as President to expand its regional presence. Through- out its lengthy history, Key Container has been on the buying end of several valuable acquisitions, as well. Growing The Business In 1994, the company established Custom Corrugated in Lincoln, Rhode Island, to focus on its customers’ orders involving small quantity size and intensive hand labor. In 2002, Key acquired Mount Tom Box, located in West Springfield, CONTINUED ON PAGE 18 After founding and running a successful box plant for many years, Jack Sundel, right, partnered with his son-in-law, Richard Strauss, to create Key Container in 1959.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 3
WHAT’S INSIDE 4 Valco Melton Partners With Herr Packaging Solutions 6 Amtech Hosts Over 240 At 2026 User Conference 12 Eric Frank Of Koenig & Bauer Receives Award Of Excellence 16 Jamestown Container's Reger: Packaging Costs Beyond Boxes
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Valco Melton Confirms Partnership With Herr Packaging Solutions At the recent Paperboard Packaging Council (PPC) Fall Meeting in Orlando, Florida, Cincinnati, Ohio based Valco Melton confirmed a new partnership with Doug Herr and Herr Packaging Solutions, LLC, a consulting and capital equipment representation company based in Guilford, Connecticut. The partnership is focused on introducing technology solutions to the folding carton industry.
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Under the agreement, Valco Melton and Herr Packag- ing Solutions will work together to promote technology for folding carton production, drawing on Valco Melton’s expertise in adhesive application and quality assurance systems. The collaboration is intended to support folding car- ton manufacturers with access to equipment and technol- ogy designed for packaging production. Further details regarding the scope of the partnership and the specific technologies involved have not yet been disclosed.
Len Prazych at 518-366-9017 lprazych@nvpublications.com
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Amtech Hosts Over 240 At 2026 User Conference
size, with its product and technology organization growing more than 143 percent. The company also welcomed Cla- rico Systems, a leader in AI-powered quoting and estimat- ing for packaging manufacturers, and added senior lead- ers across technology, infrastructure and security, and AI and data.
Fort Washington, Pennsylvania based Amtech Software, the AI-powered ERP and MES provider built for packaging manufacturers, welcomed more than 240 attendees from across North America and beyond to the Amtech User Conference 2026 in Nashville last week. Under the theme “Compete Smarter. Operate Stronger,” the three-day event featured more than 80 breakout sessions and deep dives, along with a clear message about where Amtech is invest- ing next: AI, MES and the cloud. A lot has changed since customers last gathered in 2024. Vista Equity Partners, which invests only in enter- prise software, acquired Amtech from Peak Rock Capital in mid-2025. Since then, Amtech has nearly doubled in
“Two years ago, our customers told us what they needed: more ef- ficiency, more ways to win business, and a partner investing ahead of them, not behind them,” said Chuck Schneider, CEO of Amtech Software.
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“With Vista backing us, we’ve grown our team, upleveled our support, and shipped AI into packaging workflows. Ev- erything we build now has one goal: help our customers win more work and keep their plant’s data locked down.” Amtech Intelligence embeds AI into the Amtech ERP
and MES screens teams already use, rath- er than bolting it on. It is already at work in Amtech Quick Quote, where an AI agent reads and prepares incoming quote re- quests for review, cutting the manual work between a customer’s email and a finished quote. Through a new partnership with Ama- zon Web Services (AWS), Amtech is pro- viding packaging plants world-class secu- rity, monitoring, backup and maintenance handled by Amtech’s dedicated cloud and security team. Amtech also announced Team Perfor- mance, a platform that connects everyone on the plant floor, from operators and ma- terial handlers to supervisors and man- agers, around the same priorities, across shifts and across languages. Together with new AI-driven scheduling intelligence be- ing developed alongside customers, Team Performance is designed to deliver step change improvements to throughput, on- time delivery and workforce engagement. “We’re not building a faster horse,” said Danna Nelson, Senior Vice President, Product at Amtech Software. “Our custom- ers don’t need AI for its own sake. They need automation and decisioning embed- ded inside quoting, scheduling and the plant floor, where it saves real time and a person stays in control. That’s exactly what we’re building, and it’s being shaped by our Customer AI Council and our custom- ers attending the conference.” Visit am- techsoftware.com to learn more. More details about the conference and Amtech’s vision for the future will be fea- tured in a future issue of Board Converting News .
6 October 19, 2026
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Turn Trim Waste into Revenue One Size Never Fits All G.F. Puhl Designs Scrap Systems to Meet YOUR Needs
Our customers have various needs for scrap and dust collection systems based on several factors including building layout, available space for the equipment, distance conveyed, local codes for noise and height as well as air permitting and available operating and maintenance staff. Change the game with a custom-designed system by G.F. Puhl. It can make all the difference. When it comes to trim collection systems, there’s virtually no problem we haven’t solved.
Problem: No room for a scrap system inside the building. Solution: If your building footprint won’t support additional trim waste equipment, go outdoors. Exterior systems like an above-roof or ground-level concentrator will boost your capacity. Problem: No way to monitor the system unless you’re on site. Solution: G.F. Puhl leads the pack with proprietary technology that makes it possible to monitor the system from wherever you are. Request PLC touch screen controls with real-time pressure balancing and real-time remote via your smart phone or computer. G.F. Puhl’s expert engineering team has more than 50 years of combined experience designing, fabricating installing, and commissioning trim and dust collection systems of every kind, including outdoor systems with dual compactors, above roof systems with single or multiple cyclones and balers and below roof screen separator systems. If you’re looking for a vendor that can help you solve the scrap collection puzzle once and for all, contact G.F. Puhl today. 615.230.9500 or sales@gfpuhl.com
Problem: No space for a baler room. No budget for baler room staff. Solution: Try outdoor auger compactors requiring minimal operator interaction. Auger compactors achieve higher compaction than conventional ram compactors with less maintenance and no hydraulic fluid. Dual compactor systems allow continuous running while the waste hauler is changing out the container. Problem: No budget for a new system. Solution: Request a custom system with remanufactured equipment. G.F. Puhl sells remanufactured balers, blowers, separators, filters, and more. The savings can be significant and the warranty adds peace of mind. Problem: Your existing system doesn’t meet codes and the inspector has notified you of a problem with the existing system. Solution: G.F. Puhl’s NFPA trained engineering team designs NFPA and OSHA compliant systems that are as safe as they are durable. Problem: Dust is out of control. Solution: G.F. Puhl systems are designed to minimize the hazards created by ambient dust. Dust briquetters, certified explosion isolation valves, flame front diverters, and other safety features maximize safety.
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AICC Mexico To Host 25th Annual Meeting, Trade Show In León AICC Mexico will mark its 25th Annual Meeting and Trade Show in León, Mexico, with several days of industry educa- tion, networking, and more at the HS Hotsson León Hotel.
González, MBA, of E&Y. Dr. Victoria Holtz will also take the stage for Future Ready Leadership , focusing on leader- ship in a changing business environment. Attendees will have a chance to get outside the meet- ing room as well, with a Friday plant tour to Titán-Bio Pap- pel for a firsthand look at its operations. The meeting will also feature the fifth annual AICC
The 2026 program will bring together AICC members from across North America for a one-day seminar, plena- ry sessions featuring speakers in industry, economics and global politics, and a two-day trade show. Emerging Lead- ers will also have an opportunity to connect during a ded- icated networking event. Among the featured presentations is Cash Flow as a Competitive Advantage: AI and Cash for Growth in the New Mexico-United States Reality , presented by Gerardo
Mexico Golf Tournament. Designed by Steve Newgent, the El Bosque Country Club course is a professional 18- hole course stretching 8,131 yards and is considered the longest in Latin America, and among the 10 longest golf courses in the world. For attendees interested in seeing more of the region, a tour of Tierra de Luz Vineyard will also be offered as an optional add-on to the week’s activities. Registration is now open at aiccmexico.org .
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BCN/AICC Announce 2026 Innovator Of The Year Winners, Finalists Board Converting News /AICC have announced the win- ners and finalists of the 2026 Innovator of the Year Com- petition, recognizing organizations whose contributions have advanced innovation within the paper-based pack- aging industry. • First Place – Two10 Technologies: A Photo-based AI Quoting Application • Second Place – EFI: A Cloud-based Print Data Collec- tion System • Third Place - Arden Software North America: Mobile Es- timating System for Fast, Accurate Quotes Mike D’Angelo, President of AICC shared: “Congratu- lations to the 2026 Innovator of the Year winner and fi-
nalists. AICC and BCN are proud to recognize the com- panies leading innovation for AICC members and the paper-based packaging industry. We appreciate the work of all the entrants.” Terri-Lynn Levesque of Royal Containers, left, and Len Prazych of BCN, center, present the 2026 Innovator of the Year Award to Jason Hooston, CEO of Two10 Technologies.
The AICC & Board Converting News Innovator of the Year Competition was established more than twenty years ago to recognize innovative solutions devel- oped by both AICC box plant and supplier members. The competition was designed to highlight advancements that enhance efficiency, productivity, product quality, and bottom-line profitability for the in- dependent box maker. Over the course of two decades, the contest has evolved into a highly competitive arena, showcas- ing technological innovations across pro- duction, material handling, manufacturing, training, and administration. Finalist entries for the non-machinery category were determined by the AICC Plant Innovations Committee following a call for submissions from AICC members. Winners were subsequently selected through a vote conducted among the at- tendees of the AICC/TAPPI 2026 Corru- gated Week in Fort Worth, Texas. Additional finalists include: •Aurum Intelligence Inc. - Leveraging AI to Streamline Order and Data Input •Quadrant5 - A Mobile Space Saving Workstation •Amtech Software - Efficient and Fast AI-driven Quoting for Box and Carton Mak- ers •Forest PKG - An AI Assisted Packaging In- telligence Platform The competition continues to rotate its focus annually across four categories, re- flecting AICC and Board Converting News’ ongoing commitment to recognizing inno- vation across the full scope of the convert- ing industry.
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Eric Frank Of Koenig & Bauer Receives PPC Award Of Excellence At its fall meeting in Orlando, FL, the Paperboard Packag- ing Council (PPC) had the privilege of honoring Eric Frank, senior vice president of marketing at Koenig & Bauer (US/ CA) with the 2026 Volunteer Leader Award of Excellence, recognizing decades of service to PPC and the folding car- ton community. “Eric’s volunteer leadership legacy is woven through- out PPC and our industry,” says Emily Leonczyk, president of PPC. “He has taught, mentored, shared his perspective, represented PPC’s supplier community, and helped guide the association through important moments of change. In many ways, Eric embodies what PPC is here to do. His impact may be best measured in the people he has wel- comed, encouraged, and befriended along the way. We congratulate Eric and thank him for the leadership, gener- osity, and care he has given to PPC and to the people who make our industry stronger!” “On behalf of the entire Koenig & Bauer family, we con- gratulate Eric on receiving the 2026 PPC Volunteer Lead- er Award of Excellence,” says Gerrit Zwergel, president and CEO of Koenig & Bauer (US/CA). “Your dedication to education, mentorship, and leadership within the folding carton industry truly embodies our core values. Thank you for your decades of steadfast service and enthusiasm, and
for representing Koenig & Bauer so exceptionally, always easily explaining our innovative products and greeting customers with a welcoming smile.”
Frank’s burgeoning career began with a high school printing class that resulted in a printing degree from Roch- ester Institute of Technology and has culminated in senior leadership positions that helped to advance and strength- en the entire printing and packaging industry on numerous fronts. He has frequently led board meetings and leader- ship initiatives, while teaching association boot camps, and other educational presentations as a print enthusiast. His incredible legacy includes all areas of the industry, CONTINUED ON PAGE 14 PPC President Emily Leonczyk, left, and PPC Board Chair Hil- da Murray, right, present Eric Frank with the 2026 Volunteer Leader Award of Excellence, recognizing decades of service to PPC and the folding carton community.
Serving the North American Corrugated and Folding Carton Industries Since 1985
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12 October 19, 2026
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Eric Frank (CONT’D FROM PAGE 12)
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from sheetfed to web, digital to postpress, flexographic to corrugated. He has crisscrossed the globe attending important meetings and trade shows, always bringing a natural flair to marketing new products through press re- leases, advertising, trade show articles, and other unique promotions. Looking back over his distinguished 52-year career in the printing industry, Frank is deeply honored to receive this award from the PPC. “It not only represents my com- mitment to the printing and packaging industry, but Koenig & Bauer’s as well,” says Frank. “I could not have accom- plished what I did without the incredibly talented Koenig & Bauer team, executive leadership, fellow employees, and customers. During my entire career representing and watching the printing industry grow and flourish, I’ve al- ways been honored to represent new technology and op- portunities in the graphic arts industry.” AF&PA Issues Statement On Litigation Challenging California EPR American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) Vice Pres- ident of Government Affairs Julie Landry has issued the following statement on the latest development in the liti- gation which seeks to add challenges related to Califor- nia’s EPR bill, SB 54: “California’s SB 54 gets paper wrong. It treats widely recycled paper and paper-based packaging like materials that face fundamentally different recycling challenges, im- posing new costs without improving paper recycling. “The paper industry has invested for decades in design- ing recyclable products, expanding mill infrastructure that uses recovered fiber and supporting recycling systems across the country. Effective policy should build on that progress and recognize the important differences among materials. Instead, SB 54 risks increasing costs, disrupting established recycling markets and creating uncertainty for manufacturers and consumers. “The law also establishes requirements that do not reflect the practical realities of recycling paper and pa- per-based packaging. A one-size-fits-all approach will not produce better environmental outcomes. “This litigation is an important opportunity to scrutinize the law and its consequences. California should pause im- plementation, address the law’s significant flaws and pur- sue recycling policies that are practical, fair and focused on results.”
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Jamestown Container’s Reger: Packaging Costs Beyond The Box In a recent interview with HelloNation, Kyle Reger, Region- al Sales Manager at Rochester, New York-based James- town Container Companies, offered a broader way to think
trailers. Right-sizing packaging can improve pallet utiliza- tion and allow more product to move in fewer shipments, connecting the design of the package directly to freight efficiency. The impact continues inside the plant. Reger noted that seemingly small changes to a box or packing method can make a difference in how quickly employees assem- ble and pack an order. Saving only a few seconds on an individual package may not seem significant, but across thousands of shipments, those seconds can translate into significant labor savings. Packaging can have a similar effect on warehouse op- erations. Designs that ship flat or nest efficiently require less inventory space, while better organization and acces- sibility can reduce unnecessary handling for employees working with those materials each day. Taken together, those considerations make the cost of packaging less about a single line item and more about how the package performs throughout the supply chain. Reger encouraged procurement teams to consider dam- age rates, freight expenses, labor efficiency, storage re- quirements and existing workflows alongside the initial purchase price when evaluating packaging options. Jamestown Container Companies is a family-owned packaging manufacturer headquartered in Falconer, New York, with operations across New York and Ohio. Found- ed in 1956, it provides custom corrugated packaging, dis- plays, packaging, and contract packaging services.
about the cost of packaging: look beyond the price of the box itself. For procurement teams, pur- chase price may be the most obvi- ous place to start, but Reger pointed to the many ways a packaging de- cision continues to affect costs after an order is placed. How well a pack-
Kyle Reger
age protects the product, how efficiently it moves through production and transportation, and even how much room it takes up in a warehouse can all factor into its true cost over time. Product protection is a big piece of that equation. A box that costs less upfront may offer little savings if a poor fit contributes to damaged products, returns, replacement shipments or production delays. Conversely, packaging that is properly sized for the product can help limit damage while also reducing the amount of filler material needed. That same attention to size can carry through to trans- portation. Oversized boxes can increase dimensional freight charges and take up valuable space on pallets and
16 October 19, 2026
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Key Container (CONT’D FROM PAGE 1)
said David Strauss, President of Key Container. “Altamont’s proven growth playbooks and experts within their network will strengthen existing operations, enable new customer relationships and future expansion, and support our goal of providing our customers with the whole package.” “Over the past six decades, Key Container has estab- lished itself as a regional manufacturing leader,” said Bil- ly Medof, Operating Partner at Altamont. “Ever-changing customer needs require that packaging suppliers stay nimble, capable, reliable, and customer-first. We believe Key Container, with its top-notch facilities, operations, and customer service, is well-positioned in today’s evolving market, and we’re excited to work in lockstep with David and the team to support the company’s transformation and growth.” “As a family-run company with stellar fundamentals op- erating in an industry with stable and attractive long-term growth, Key Container is precisely the kind of opportuni- ty that we see as having terrific potential to scale,” said Chase Beeler, Managing Director at Altamont. “We’re con- fident that our industry experience and Altamont Ascend, our system for strategic platform building, will build on Key Container’s strengths to unlock the company’s full poten- tial.” Giving Back The beating heart of altruism pumps throughout Key Container and everything it does. It’s built around a strong
Massachusetts, to more effectively service its clients locat- ed in the Western region of the state. In 2019, Custom, which merged with the Miller Box in 2008, moved to its current 300,000-square-foot facility in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. This larger facility enabled Key to store additional stock and automate various job func- tions through modern technologies.
Just last year, Custom acquired Grimes Box, which ex- panded its packaging supply options and improved its Just-In-Time Warehouse and Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) programs. The company named was subsequently renamed to Custom & Grimes Box. “We are excited to partner with Altamont as we contin- ue to support our customers with their packaging needs,”
CONTINUED ON PAGE 20
18 October 19, 2026
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Key Container (CONT’D FROM PAGE 18)
foundation that the good measure of success is how much a company gives back to its community. The company is proud to support a variety of local char- ities and businesses, including the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket, which serves more than 40,000 hot meals to schools each year. Many of these youths may not have a hot meal otherwise. Key Container also supports Homers for Kids, a summer-long program that unites local busi- nesses in support of the Club’s Educational and Recre- ational Programs. The company also supports the American Heart Asso- ciation, several local food banks and participates in holi- day toy drives. Advisory Board Formed In response to the recent acquisition, Key Container Corporation has formed an advisory board that brings to- gether four packaging industry experts to provide strategic guidance that will help the company better meet evolving customer needs while supporting its next phase of growth Through its partnership with Altamont, Key Container looks to accelerate its growth strategy, working alongside the firm’s operational and investment professionals to build a scaled corrugated packaging platform focused on serving customers through strategic expansion and oper- ational excellence. The board includes: Dave Boles, former President and Vice Chairman of At- lantic Packaging Products, where he managed the compa- ny’s successful expansion into the U.S. market and drove sustained, meaningful growth. His experience spans com- mercial strategy, operations and business transformation within the global packaging industry including serving as former North America COO of Quebecor World and Presi- dent and CEO of Arriscraft International. Matt Kaplan, former President and CEO of KapStone Paper & Packaging, which he co-founded with Roger Stone. Under his leadership, KapStone grew into a leading North American producer of containerboard, corrugated products and specialty papers, evolving into a large pub- licly traded packaging platform before its approximately $4.9 billion acquisition by WestRock. He brings extensive experience in packaging industry consolidation and stra- tegic acquisitions. Jose Maria Rodriguez Meis, President and COO of GPA Global. Previously, he held multiple senior leadership roles at International Paper, overseeing packaging businesses ranging from approximately $5 million to $2.7 billion in revenue, including serving as General Manager of Latin America Packaging and Area Vice President & General Manager of the U.S. Packaging Platform. Mark Wilde, one of the packaging and paper industry’s longest tenured Wall Street analysts, with more than 30 years covering paper, packaging and forest products. He is currently Senior Advisor at McKinsey & Company and CONTINUED ON PAGE 22
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Len Prazych at 518-366-9017 lprazych@nvpublications.com
20 October 19, 2026
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Key Container (CONT’D FROM PAGE 20)
integration of the organization into Lewisburg Patterson Company (LPC), serving as Chief Operating Officer of the combined organization as a member of its Executive Lead- ership Team. Kowa-Morelli has been an active AICC mem- ber throughout her career, serving as a member, speaker, and advocate for the next generation of industry leader- ship.
previously served on the Board of Directors of Sylvamo as well as Managing Director at BMO and Deutsche Bank. “As Key Container continues to grow, we’re committed to building a business that delivers exceptional value for our customers and partners,” said Billy Medof, Executive Chairman of Key Container. “The collective experience of our four advisory board members will be invaluable as we continue expanding our platform, identifying new oppor- tunities and strengthening our position in the corrugated packaging market.” Members of the Advisory Board will work alongside the Key Container Board of Directors, which includes industry veterans Mark Burgess and Tonya Kowa-Morelli. Burgess is CEO of Mauser Packaging solutions and a global packaging executive with a proven track record of scaling and exiting leading packaging platforms. Kowa-Morelli was previously President and COO of Huston Patterson/Lewisburg Printing and is an experi- enced family-owned packaging operator with expertise in integration, operations and organizational development. She has very recently been named Vice President of AICC, The Independent Packaging Association. Kowa-Morelli has spent most of her career with Huston Patterson, where she served as a third-generation owner and ultimately as President. Following the company’s sale to Private Equity in 2022, she helped lead the growth and
The Advisory Board will work closely with Key Con- tainer’s leadership team and Altamont to provide strate- gic guidance as the company continues building its cor- rugated packaging platform. Members will support value creation by facilitating introductions to new business op- portunities, customers, suppliers and industry talent, while sharing competitive and operational insights to inform key business decisions.
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22 October 19, 2026
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with HIGH-SPEED BREAKING up to 92” maximum operating width MAXIMIZE DIE CUTTER UTILIZATION
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TAPPI-PIMA To Host 2027 Student Summit In Raleigh
The annual TAPPI-PIMA Student Summit will bring more than 200 students and 20-plus employers to Raleigh, North Carolina, January 16-18, 2027 for three days of net- working, career development and a closer look at oppor- tunities across the pulp, paper, tissue and packaging in- dustries.
MC COMPACT 2-COLOR FLEXO DIE-CUTTER
More than 450 interviews are expected to be conduct- ed for internships, co-ops and full-time positions. Students can upload their resumes through TAPPI to begin the inter- view scheduling process ahead of the Summit. Participating employers include Domtar, Hood Contain- er, Cascades, International Paper and Georgia-Pacific, and many others. Beyond the interviews, the Summit gives students a chance to build connections with peers from across the country, as well as industry experts, employers and men- tors. Programming will also introduce attendees to the ways pulp, paper, tissue and packaging companies are developing more sustainable products and practices and the career paths available within those efforts.
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Students can also learn about scholarship opportuni- ties available through TAPPI. Each year, the association awards nearly $60,000 in scholarships to undergraduate and graduate students pursuing careers in pulp, paper, packaging and related industries. For students preparing to enter the workforce, the Summit offers an opportunity to explore the industry, make connections and potentially leave Raleigh with their next internship, co-op or full-time position already taking shape.
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24 October 19, 2026
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ResourceWise Launches U.S. Corrugated Box Cost Index
ment mechanisms rely on narrower inputs or fixed cost weights. “Both buyers and suppliers need a reliable cost-based reference they can use to adjust long-term contracts,” said Matt Elhardt, CRO at ResourceWise. “We’ve spent decades building deep industry intelligence and produc- tion cost models across the pulp, paper, and packaging value chain. The ResourceWise Box Cost Index brings that expertise and proprietary data, including fiber price data, together in a common, data-driven reference for contract adjustments.” The ResourceWise Box Cost Index combines propri- etary industry intelligence, engineering-based cost mod- els, and market pricing data to estimate changes in the industry-average cost of manufacturing and delivering un- bleached corrugated boxes in the United States. ResourceWise has developed asset intelligence and modeled production costs across the pulp, paper, and packaging value chain for decades. The Box Cost Index extends that foundation across the corrugated production chain, using detailed facility intelligence and a broad set of input prices to model industry-average costs dynamically each quarter. The quarterly recalibration of cost-component weights ensures the Index remains aligned with changes in the modeled industry cost structure as individual inputs move over time and prevents the volatility that can arise from fixed-weight methodologies.
Independent benchmark gives corrugated buyers and suppliers a cost-based reference for price adjustment mechanisms in long-term contracts, with a Nowcast and 18-month Forecast for planning and budgeting. Charlotte, North Carolina based ResourceWise has an- nounced the launch of the ResourceWise U.S. Unbleached Corrugated Box Cost Index™, an independent benchmark designed to provide corrugated packaging buyers and suppliers with a cost-based reference for adjusting long- term, volume-committed contracts as underlying industry costs change. Many corrugated agreements use a published index as the basis for a price adjustment mechanism, which fa- cilitates efficient price adjustment once initial prices are set through negotiation. The ResourceWise Box Cost In- dex provides a cost-based alternative built to reflect all the costs of manufacturing and delivering a finished corrugat- ed box, including fiber, labor, energy, chemicals, mainte- nance, capital, overhead, and freight. Each quarter, the model recalibrates the relative weight of each cost category based on changes in underlying costs. This enables the Index to reflect how the industry’s cost structure evolves over time and is designed to ad- dress distortions and volatility that can arise when adjust-
Serving the North American Corrugated and Folding Carton Industries Since 1985 DRIVE your message to the GREEN... with the credibility of Board Converting News behind it! Sponsor a weekly Monday morning issue blast or we can ‘Tee It Up’ any time you like to our full online circulation of 7,500+. You provide the copy, images and link to a video or website and we’ll do the rest!
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26 October 19, 2026
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Adduco’s Georgescu: ‘What Got Us Here Won’t Get Us There’ At the Women in Packaging Breakfast at Corrugated Week 2026, Simona Georgescu, founder and president of Ad- duco Communications, delivered a presentation about the power of reinvention.
a certain expectation that when your family has struggled and fought to give you a better life, you’ve got to carry on and be better than they were.” From Simona’s perspective, the story was one of resil- ience. That it was important to be strong, to keep going and persevere through everything. Looking back now, she realized it was also about rein- vention. “My mother was 30, my father was 42, and they were picking up their life and starting over,” Simona shared. “And they weren’t doing it necessarily out of fear, because the truth is, in 1982 Romania, the revolution wasn’t coming for another seven years. “They saw it coming, though. They didn’t wait for it to happen. They saw that things were changing and took action. My mother said, I don’t think I want my kid to be raised here. We’re going to pick up and reinvent our lives at the ages that we’re at. “And that became more of a story when I started my own business and began going through challenges. I re- alized that regardless of age or where you’re at in your career, sometimes you’ve got to look around and say, it’s time to start over and that’s okay. For Simona, that meant letting go of a lot of false beliefs she had about herself and the business. She had to rec- ognize where the holes were and then start documenting some processes to make things simpler and more stream- lined. CONTINUED ON PAGE 30
For context, Simona shared a bit about her own origin story, to show the ‘meaning behind her madness,’ as she put it. She displayed an actual picture of the magazine clip- ping showing her parents and herself as a baby, a family of Armenian refugees who landed in the U.S. 44 years ago. “I heard the story of the escape. I knew what it took for my mother, pregnant with me, to get out of Romania, to make it to Austria, where we got political asylum, to sit in a camp. Being the child of an immigrant family, there’s Simona Georgescu
Let’s Build What’s Next adducomm.com
28 October 19, 2026
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Thank You for Being Part of Our Journey! 70 Years of Innovation: For seven decades, EMBA Machinery has been at the forefront of innovation in the corrugated board converting industry. Founded in 1954 in Örebro, Sweden, our legacy of excellence is built on dedication to knowledge and development.
Building Relationships As we celebrate 70 years of success, we extend our sincere gra- titude to our customers. Your trust and collaboration drive our innovation, and together, we build lasting relationships, meeting the evolving market demands with focus and dedication.
A Legacy of Innovation Since the introduction of our first flexo folder gluer, the FFG 240, in 1968, we have continued to launch cutting-edge technology, such as our patented Ultima platform, including the revolutionary Non-Crush-Converting Concept. Today we continue to evolve, ensuring we stay ahead with innovative solutions for the future.
Our 70 Years of Excellence Continues! Discover how EMBA can elevate your business. Find all contact details and information about our products at emba.com.
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