BoardConverting Serving the North American Corrugated and Folding Carton Industries Since 1985 November 2, 2026 VOL. 42 NO. 45
Amtech’s Chuck Schneider: ‘Compete Smarter, Operate Stonger’ BY ASHLEY PRAZYCH Washington, Pennsylvania based Amtech Software, a leading global provider of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Manufacturing Execu- tion Systems (MES) and Customer Resource Management (CRM) solu- tions for the packaging and labels industry, hosted the 2026 Amtech User Conference in Nashville, Tennessee in October.
Buckeye Corrugated Expands Houston Facility According to multiple sources, Fairlawn, Ohio based Buckeye Corrugated, Inc. (BCI) has ex- panded its Houston operations with a new, dedicated Contract Packaging & Fulfillment facility designed to support growing customer demand for integrated packaging, assembly and fulfillment solutions. Offering more than 60,000 square feet of dedicated operating space, the facility builds on services previously provided within BCI’s existing Houston Division while significantly increasing the company’s capacity, flexibility and ability to manage complex, high-volume programs. “This expansion gives our Houston team the dedicated space and resources to pro- vide customers with a more comprehen- sive and scalable solution,” said Jess Stitzel, General Manager, BCI Houston. “By bringing packaging, assembly and fulfillment capabili- ties together, we can help customers simpli- fy their operations, improve consistency and move products to market more efficiently.” The new facility offers a comprehensive range of Contract Packaging & Fulfillment ser- vices, including product assembly and kitting,
With over 240 customers in attendance, the conference was rife with discussion, hands-on workshops and demonstrations, and key- note addresses from Amtech executives, CEO Chuck Schneider and Senior VP of Product, Danna Nelson. Schneider set the tone for the conference in his opening keynote, where he introduced this year’s theme: Compete Smarter, Operate Stronger . Over the course of his presentation, Schneider shared a roadmap of Amtech’s strategy to help box plants win more work (Com- pete Smarter) and drive better performance on the plant floor (Operate Stronger). The Difference A Year Makes Since its last user conference in 2024, Amtech Software has grown its global team and restructured the support teams to be prod- uct-aligned. In addition to bolstering its knowledge library, these moves have helped Amtech achieve significant results: • The size of the company has doubled, jumping from 111 employees last year to 202 this year CONTINUED ON PAGE 18 Amtech Software CEO, Chuck Schneider, delivered the opening keynote ad- dress at the 2026 Amtech User Conference.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 3
WHAT’S INSIDE 4 Outlook Group Acquires ABX Facility In Wisconsin 6 MSU Breaks Ground On Packaging School Expansion 12 Signode Advances End-of-Line, Warehouse Automation 30 Twin Valley Builds New Model For Corrugated Automation
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labeling and coding, repacking and shrink wrapping, prod- uct insertion, retail display assembly, palletization, quali- ty-control services, and fulfillment preparation. These capabilities support a wide range of customer needs, from individual packaging projects and new prod- uct launches to seasonal promotions, retail programs and ongoing production requirements. By combining Contract Packaging & Fulfillment services with BCI’s corrugated packaging manufacturing, structur- al design and production expertise, the Houston opera- tion provides customers with a coordinated, end-to-end solution. This integrated approach can reduce production handoffs, improve quality and consistency, and streamline the process from packaging development through final distribution. The facility’s Houston location also offers important lo- gistical advantages. Its proximity to the Port of Houston, major distribution centers, warehouses and extensive transportation infrastructure positions BCI to support re- gional, national and international supply chains. Customers can coordinate the receipt of products and components, packaging and assembly operations, and preparation of finished goods for distribution through a strategically located operation. For businesses managing complex supply chains, this can help reduce handling, sim- plify logistics and improve speed to market.
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Outlook Group Acquires ABX Facility In Wisconsin
“The equipment mattered, but it wasn’t the reason we did this deal,” said Clay Davis, CEO of Outlook Group. All production, quality and customer service employ- ees at the Pewaukee operation have remained with the business following the transaction. Existing customers of both companies will continue working with their estab- lished contacts while gaining access to a wider range of packaging and specialty printing services. Alongside the acquisition, Outlook Group has intro- duced a refreshed corporate brand identity, including a new logo, updated visual presentation and revised mes- saging. The company’s name, headquarters and existing leadership remain unchanged. The updated branding is intended to emphasize Out- look Group’s consultative service model, which focuses on identifying production challenges early, coordinating technical expertise and supporting customers throughout the packaging development and manufacturing process. The new identity has been implemented across the company’s website, social media channels and customer communications. “Customers don’t choose us for a press. They choose us for the people standing behind it,” Davis said. With the Pewaukee facility fully integrated, Outlook Group is positioned to pursue additional growth across its packaging and specialty printing businesses while main- taining continuity for the acquired operation’s employees and customers.
Outlook Group, a Wisconsin-based provider of printed packaging solutions and a portfolio company of Aterian Investment Partners, has completed the acquisition and integration of ABX – Innovative Packaging Solutions ’ man- ufacturing facility in Pewaukee, Wisconsin, expanding its production capabilities in specialty labels, flexible packag- ing and conductive film printing. The acquisition includes the Pewaukee facility, manu- facturing equipment, customer relationships and existing production workforce. With the integration complete, Out- look Group now operates three manufacturing locations in Wisconsin, including its two facilities in Neenah. The transaction adds conductive film printing capabil- ities, including in-house ink formulation for medical and electronic applications. It also increases the company’s ca- pacity for specialty label manufacturing and flexible pack- aging production. These capabilities complement Outlook Group’s exist- ing operations in pressure-sensitive labels, flexible pack- aging, folding cartons and integrated contract packaging. By incorporating the Pewaukee operation, Outlook Group gains an established production team with experi- ence in this specialized segment of the printing and con- verting industry.
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MSU Breaks Ground On Packaging School Expansion On October 9, Michigan State University broke ground on Packaging 2.0. The act marked the next chapter for the university’s School of Packaging, which has been estab- lished for nearly 75 years. The expansion will nearly double the size of the exist- ing Packaging Building and provide new teaching envi- ronments, collaborative laboratories and research spaces designed to bring students, faculty, researchers and indus- try partners together. The project builds on the School of Packaging’s long history of preparing talent and advanc- ing ideas that shape how products are protected, trans- ported and delivered around the world, the school says. “For years, the packaging industry has looked to Michi-
gan State for talent, for ideas and for innovation,” said Kev- in Guskiewicz, president of MSU, in a statement. “Today, we break ground on a building, but we are really building is opportunity for our students, our faculty and for an in- dustry and, ultimately, for a more sustainable world.”
Michigan State created the academic discipline of packaging, it adds. Since its beginnings in 1952, the School of Pack- aging at MSU has conferred more than 10,000 degrees and is home to the na- tion’s only doctoral program in packaging, it notes. MSU produces approximately 40 percent of the packaging engineers enter- ing the workforce today. “This is deeply personal for me today,” said Matt Daum, a three-time alumnus of the School of Packaging, as well as asso- ciate provost and dean of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, in a statement. “This school is a transformative place, and now it’s getting a transformation of its own.” Packaging 2.0 is designed to support the work happening inside the school as the packaging industry continues to evolve. MSU graduates help determine how food reaches families safely, how medicine is protected and how products move around the world. Students and re- searchers are also working on one of the field’s defining challenges: creating pack- aging that meets people’s needs while re- ducing environmental impact. “I have already seen how much a change in space can change the student experience, and I cannot wait to see what this new chapter will make possible,” said Dangkamol Wongthanaroj, a doctoral can- didate in the School of Packaging. The ceremonial groundbreaking includ- ed remarks from university leaders, a grad- uate student and project supporters. The event highlighted Packaging 2.0 as part of MSU’s Uncommon Will, Far Better World campaign.
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ICPF Celebrates UW-Stout Polytechnic Scholarship Recipients The International Corrugated Packaging Foundation (ICPF) is reinforcing its commitment to developing the next generation of packaging professionals through scholar- ship investments at colleges and universities nationwide. As part of this effort, ICPF is proud to recognize Univer- sity of Wisconsin-Stout Polytechnic packaging students Ava Franco and Elliott Hoppa, who recently received ICPF scholarships in support of their packaging education and career aspirations. Through its scholarship initiative, ICPF has pledged to provide up to $5,000 annually to participating colleges and universities to support students pursuing packaging and related degrees. As a result of ICPF’s partnerships
with university faculty, these scholarships recognize stu- dents who demonstrate academic achievement, leader- ship potential, and an interest in careers in the corrugated packaging industry. “Investing in students is one of the most meaningful ways we can strengthen the future of the corrugated pack- aging industry,” said Caitlin Salaverria, President of ICPF. “Through scholarships and partnerships with universities like UW-Stout Polytechnic, we're helping talented students continue their education while encouraging them to ex- plore the many rewarding career opportunities available in our industry. We're proud to recognize Ava and Elliott and support them as they work toward their goals.” Ava Franco, a packaging major at UW-Stout Polytech- nic, is passionate about developing innovative and sus- tainable packaging solutions. She is committed to build- ing a career in packaging and gaining the knowledge and skills needed to make a meaningful impact in the field.
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In her scholarship acknowledgment, Franco expressed how the financial sup- port will help ease the burden of educa- tional and living expenses, allowing her to focus more fully on her studies and profes- sional development. “This scholarship will have a significant impact on my college journey,” shared Franco. “Your support enables me to con- tinue working toward my goals with less financial stress, and I am truly thankful.” Elliott Hoppa, also a packaging major at UW-Stout Polytechnic, is pursuing a career in packaging with aspirations of working in packaging design. Throughout his college experience, Hoppa has demonstrated a strong work ethic while balancing his ac- ademic responsibilities with employment and community involvement. In his scholarship acknowledgment, Hoppa expressed his gratitude for the recognition and his hope that receiving the award will inspire other packaging students to persevere through challenges and continue pursuing their goals. “The Polytechnic Advantage comes to life through partnerships like this. ICPF’s investment helps empower students to engage in applied learning and research experiences, build meaningful industry connections and develop the knowledge and skills needed to lead the future of the packaging industry. We are grateful for ICPF, our students and their success,” said Nic Katona, Vice Chancellor for University Advancement & Alumni Relations / Execu- tive Director, UW-Stout Polytechnic Foun- dation & Alumni Association.
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AICC Announces Event, Meeting, Webinar Schedule Through 2029 Mark your calendars, because AICC has announced its up- coming schedule of webinars, industry meetings, and net- working events for paper-based packaging professionals. November 2026 • November 2: Forest Products North America and In- ternational Containerboard Conference (AICC Partner Event); Chicago, Illinois • November 10–13: AICC Mexico Annual Reunion and Trade Fair; León, Guanajuato, Mexico • November 16–18: Digital Packaging Summit (AICC Part- ner Event); Bonita Springs, Florida • November 23: AICC Membership Benefits Overview (Webinar); 3:00 p.m. ET December 2026 • December 8: Practical AI for Leadership & Business Productivity (Webinar); 2:00 p.m. ET • December 11–13: ICPF Annual Holiday Weekend (AICC Partner Event); Washington, D.C. • December 16: AICC Membership Benefits Overview (Webinar) 3:00 p.m. ET January 2027 • January 13: Legal Ramifications of Using AI in Packag- ing Manufacturing (Webinar); 2:00 p.m. ET February 2027 • February 18–20: AICC Ski Meeting; The Peaks Resort & Spa, Telluride, Colorado • February 23–24: AICC Canada & AICC Corrugated Col- lective; Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada April 2027 • April 5–7: AICC 2027 Spring Meeting; Trump National Doral Resort, Doral, Florida (Registration is expected to open in mid-December 2026) September 2027 • September 13–15: AICC 2027 Fall Meeting; The Westin Copley Place Hotel, Boston, Massachusetts (Registra- tion is expected to open in July 2027) Looking Ahead • April 3–5, 2028: AICC 2028 Spring Meeting; The Omni PGA Resort, Frisco, Texas • October 8–12, 2028: AICC/TAPPI SuperCorrExpo® • April 30-May 2, 2029: AICC 2029 Spring Meeting; Omni La Costa Resort, Carlsbad, CA • September 24-26, 2029: AICC 2029 Annual Meeting; Cosmopolitan Hotel, Las Vegas, NV (co-locating with PackExpo West) Explore AICC Education and Membership Resources In addition to its in-person meetings and industry events, AICC offers online educational resources de- signed to help members strengthen their teams, explore emerging technologies, and make the most of their mem- bership from home. For more details on each event and to register, visit www.aiccbox.org.
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Signode Advances End-Of-Line, Warehouse Automation With AMRs Tampa, Florida based Signode, a global provider of transit packaging equipment, automation, materials, and after- market support solutions, today announced an expanded portfolio of autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) designed to extend automation beyond the packaging line. The expanded offering supports the movement of palletized loads throughout manufacturing and warehouse opera- tions. With configurations that include lifting robots, pallet trucks, counter-balanced forklifts, reach trucks, and stack- er forklifts, the portfolio supports a range of pallet-han- dling requirements.
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The AMR expansion also builds on Signode’s broader automation portfolio, connecting end-of-line packaging, palletizing, material handling, and warehouse technolo- gies across the operation. “End-of-line automation doesn’t stop once a product has been packaged and palletized,” said Shawn Semer, Vice President, Global Automation, Signode. “That pallet still has to move through the facility and ultimately into storage or distribution. Expanding our AMR portfolio gives customers more ways to automate those movements and connect processes across their operation.” Designed for pallet-transfer and lifting applications, the AMR portfolio gives manufacturers options for moving and lifting palletized loads across a range of weight and handling requirements. Robots can navigate without fixed lines or magnetic strips and reroute around obstructions as they move through the facility. The portfolio can also be scaled as operational needs evolve, giving manufacturers the flexibility to expand au- tonomous pallet movement over time. Because AMRs are often deployed as fleets rather than as individual ma- chines, manufacturers can add capacity and capabilities as material-handling requirements change. For organiza- tions operating multiple facilities, the portfolio can also support a more consistent approach to automation across locations. CONTINUED ON PAGE 14
Who Reads BCN? Decision Makers! Board Converting News articles reach the people who influence purchases throughout the corrugated and folding carton industries. Owners Plant Mgrs Maintenance Purchasing Generating quality leads since 1985.
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Signode (CONT’D FROM PAGE 12)
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The expanded AMR offering complements Signode’s existing StorFast® automated storage and retrieval system (ASRS) and broader warehouse automation portfolio, with more than 800 vehicles deployed across over 80 loca- tions globally. StorFast ASRS uses powered carts to au- tomatically move pallets into and out of storage positions and can be combined with material handling and logistics management technologies to support operations. Within that environment, AMRs can help automate pal- let setup and delivery to StorFast ASRS, supporting the movement of completed loads from end-of-line packag- ing and production areas into automated storage. The ex- panded lifting capabilities also give manufacturers addi- tional options for moving palletized loads from floor-level transport to storage and handling applications. Together with Signode’s robotic palletizing and depal- letizing, conveying, packaging, and warehouse automa- tion technologies, the expanded AMR portfolio gives man- ufacturers additional ways to connect how products are packaged, palletized, moved, and stored. “One customer has integrated more than 17 robots within a single warehouse,” Semer said. “That type of de- ployment shows how an operation can grow from targeted automation into a larger fleet as requirements change.” For more information about Signode automation and warehouse solutions, visit: www.signode.com .
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Kruger Earns EcoVadis Gold Medal For 2026
Converters Expo South Heads To Charlotte For One-Day Event On February 25, 2027, the annual Converters Expo South will take place in Charlotte, North Carolina. This one-day event serves as a critical hub for the converting industry, bringing together specialists to share insights, explore pro- duction solutions, and discover new market opportunities. Attendees can expect a dynamic exhibition floor fea- turing over 80 industry-leading suppliers, alongside an an- ticipated crowd of more than 500 manufacturing experts, buyers, and engineering specialists. The single-day format is intentionally designed for effi- ciency, packing a comprehensive array of offerings into a streamlined schedule. Visitors will find the latest advance- ments in automation, testing equipment, flexo printing, re- winding machinery, and sustainable packaging materials. Beyond the product showcases, the event offers ex- tensive vendor education sessions and networking oppor- tunities, allowing attendees to connect directly with man- ufacturing partners, view live equipment prototypes, and discuss custom engineering solutions. Whether you are looking to source high-quality mate- rials, optimize your production line, or make new connec- tions, Converters Expo South delivers essential solutions for the entire supply chain. Register for the expo at packagingstrategies.com .
Quebec, Canada based Kruger has again earned an Eco- Vadis Gold Medal for its sustainability initiatives, with an overall score of 86 out of 100, up five points from 2025. With this score for 2026, Kruger ranks in the 98th per- centile of the 175,000-plus companies, across more than
180 countries, to be assessed by EcoVadis based on its sus- tainability data standard. This places the pulp and paper company among the global top 2 percent for the past year. “Earning a place among the world’s top-performing or- ganizations is an accomplish-
ment we are proud to share,” says Éric Ashby, Kruger’s executive vice-president (EVP) and chief operating officer (COO). “Every day, our teams find better ways to operate, manage resources and work together. Those efforts help us build a stronger business while contributing to sustain- able prosperity.” The five-point increase reflects Kruger’s progress across several priorities, including reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, improving energy efficiency, and in- creasing use of recycled materials.
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Amtech (CONT’D FROM PAGE 1)
bus and in the right seats. In my first 90 days with Amtech, my top priority was to get a feel for how our employees view the company. I had 30-minute meetings with each employee at Amtech and I asked the same two questions: One, tell me about the culture at Amtech – how do you view the company? And two, if you could wave a magic wand and change three things about the company and make it better, what would they be? “I tracked all the answers, which helped me figure out who's in the right seat, who's in the wrong seat, and where
• Response time has seen a 78 percent improvement; now 3.6 hours, down from 16.6 hours in 2024 • Non-defect resolution has become more efficient. These cases now close in 7.1 days, down from 14.5 in 2024, a 51 percent improvement • New knowledge articles are continually being added to the Amtech database, resulting in 1:7 issues resolving without a user needing to open a case
Over 240 Amtech Software users filled the Platinum Ballroom at the Sheraton Grand in downtown Nashville.
In July of 2025, Amtech was acquired by Vista Equi- ty Partners, a large private equity firm focused solely on investing in enterprise software. With over 90 companies in its portfolio and about $100 billion in assets, Vista oper- ates through smart investment and capabilities that were a good fit for Amtech’s ambitious growth goals – to be a global “household” name in packaging software. “Vista believes that when you want to scale a company globally, you should have multiple development centers so you can support customers in other regions,” said Sc- neider. “They helped us choose Bangalore, India for our second development center. Within the next two to three years, the company aims to evolve the India team into a strategic global center. This will include increasing own- ership of global initiatives across its flagship platforms En- Core, Label Traxx, and Axiom.” Amtech has entered a partnership with Amazon Web Services (AWS) earlier this year as well, which will be in- strumental in bringing packaging technologies to the cloud, as described later in this article. Partner representa- tives were onsite at the user conference to provide demos and answer questions. Building The Team To deliver on his ambitious vision for Amtech, Schnei- der knew he needed an expert team in place. When asked about his approach to constructing his “dream team,” he said, “I'm a big believer of getting the right people on the
we have issues. Then, I started to search for somebody to run the product division, and somebody to run our own customer operations group.” Enter Danna Nelson, whose work style aligned perfect- ly with what Amtech was looking for to grow the product division. She shared, “Transformational work is my favorite kind of work. If a com- pany is just looking for someone to manage it and keep things status quo, I’m probably not the best per- son for that role. I was inspired by Amtech’s vision for the future of the company, and I was eager to hit the ground running.” Then, Schneider recalled, “I needed a senior marketing person. We were doing so much cool stuff, but I didn't feel Danna Nelson
like we were getting the message out as well as we could. Our goal is to become a household name, so we brought Courtney Pierce on in January 2026 as our Senior VP of Marketing, and she’s been doing amazing work.” Pierce shared, “I've spent over 20
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CONTINUED ON PAGE 20
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Amtech (CONT’D FROM PAGE 18)
when a user goes to open a case, they will first be pre- sented with knowledge base articles that could potentially solve the problem. This adjustment to the system has re- sulted in about one in seven cases being resolved without ever needing to create a case.” This quarter, Amtech is also launching a new tool called Ask Amtech , a powerful AI-based tool that lives inside of our support portal to help our customers enter cases. It can solve cases end to end and can provide real time sta- tus of open cases. And if it can't figure out how to solve a case, it will escalate to a person. Follow the Sun coverage will also launch in 2027. Un- der this offering, open cases unresolved by the end of the day in the U.S. will transition case to our Bangalore sup- port office. That team works on it overnight and transitions it back the next day. “Having that continuity and focus on those cases will allow us to solve cases much quicker,” Schneider said. Investing In Product Development “I think everything we've been doing has been our col- lective vision and our vision is to be the global leader in AI-powered software solutions for the packaging industry,” said Nelson. “For that to happen, we need to continually invest in our software. This year, we spent about 29 per- cent of our revenue on research and development. For context, a typical software company does about half of that. We're 100 percent focused on packaging, and this
With my background in the CPG space, I was excited and intrigued by the industry and the technology Amtech was developing. Once I met Chuck and Danna and the rest of the team, it was a done deal.” Additional updates to the executive team include Vinod Kumar, Chief People and Culture Officer; Kostas Vassilakis, Senior VP of Technology; Cory King, Senior VP of Custom- er Operations; Darren Artillio, Senior VP of Sales; and Joe Buckley, who acts as Schneider’s chief of staff and product manager. Growing Support And Services Amtech has invested in its support services by adding additional team members and restructuring the service teams into products-specific pods for more effective and knowledgeable support. Schneider expressed that there are several KPIs Am- tech is focused on to improve the user support experience. The first is response time. The length of time it’s taken for Amtech to respond to an issue has gone from two days two years ago, to under four hours today. That's a rough- ly 78 percent reduction. Second is non-defect cases - the ones where you just need to know how something works. “We've driven that down 51 percent, going from about two weeks to close a case to about a week,” said Schnei- der. “When a case gets closed, if it's a case that may af- fect other users, a knowledge base article is created. Now,
CONTINUED ON PAGE 22
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Amtech (CONT’D FROM PAGE 20)
month. And this is truly a SaaS offering, where we take care of everything from the get go. You never have to wor- ry about us coming back and saying, hey, you have to find more hardware.” Schneider went on to share Amtech’s three big bets that will help deliver on the company mission to be global leader in AI-powered software solutions for the packaging industry. Big Bet Number One: Going All In On AI When we start getting into true AI capabilities, the first thing we think about is machine learning, which is when the software uses historical data to learn, get smarter, and make better decisions going forward. Machine learning has been around for a while. In fact, as Schneider shared in his keynote, he graduated with a Master of Computer Science in 1990, and he completed his thesis on AI, and it was all about machine learning. Now, Amtech implements this type of AI via the Advanced Planning Board, which learns from past orders to produce a better production plan for the ones ahead. Generative AI is software that can understand a ques- tion and generate a useful answer, in plain language, on demand. An example of that in the Amtech world is En- Core Cora , which provides assistance within the context of what you’re working on in EnCore . From a value standpoint, agentic AI is at the top of the food chain. An agentic AI tool doesn't only answer ques-
has played out as Vista searches for companies that would be a good fit for Amtech from an M&A perspective. Unless those other companies have a packaging focus as well, they won’t work for us. It’s this deep focus that will contin- ue to differentiate us.” In May of 2026, Amtech acquired Clarico Systems, the pioneering provider of AI-powered estimating and quoting software for the packaging industry. Clarico’s capabilities complement and extend Amtech Intelligence : AI embed- ded into the workflows that corrugated, folding carton, la- bel, and flexible packaging companies rely on to profitably serve their customers. Amtech Intelligence activates exist- ing business data into decisions, actions, and better out- comes to transform how packaging manufacturers plan, quote, produce, and optimize their operations. Amtech Intelligence is the strategy for how Amtech products become more intelligent. The first product that falls into this category is Amtech Quick Quote , an AI tool that streamlines estimating and costing, and is completely integrated into EnCore. “We also have a SaaS offering for EnCore now, which is different than what we’ve offered before with managed services hosting,” said Schneider. “The Encore SaaS offer- ing is hosted at AWS. We've spent a lot of time working with them on that. Our first customers are actually in the configuration stage right now, and they should go live next
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Amtech (CONT’D FROM PAGE 22)
grate their products to cloud than any other private eq- uity firm,” said Schneider. “They've got 90 companies do- ing enterprise software that all come together and share best practices. So, when there’s a problem we’re trying to solve, we can go back to the Vista team and find out how other companies are solving similar problems.” Several customers have shared that on-premise deploy- ment is limiting their growth. How? Schneider explained, “As your company grows, typically you’ll eventually need to add new hardware, more memory, and you’d hire more IT people. When your servers are on-premise, they inher- ently become attached to your growth. The cloud simpli- fies this process by eliminating these extra steps, so all you’d need to do as your company grows is to add a user to the cloud.” The second thing to consider is security. Ransomware is now the number one operational threat facing pack- aging manufacturers. On-premise servers running aging operating systems are no longer just an IT concern, they are a business continuity risk. Manufacturing ransomware incidents have increased 56–61 percent, and the average ransom demand has exceeded $1.2 million. Being in the cloud can mitigate that risk. This is where AWS comes in. The investments they make in security en- able Amtech to provide a much more secure data environ- ment than any individual plant could do on its own.
tions for you, but it can take independent action based on what it learns. Amtech Quick Quote uses agentic AI to automate manual, everyday plant work. Amtech has re- mained firm on its view on agentic AI, which is that there should always be a human in the loop to make judgment. Big Bet Number Two: MES Solution The next big bet centers around Amtech’s Manufac- turing Execution System (MES) solution. Schneider intro- duced an automotive analogy to support this idea: “MESla – a combination of MES and Tesla – is Amtech’s internal name for the strategy around how we’re going to take its MES solution to the next level (Note: MESla is not the prod- uct name).
It was a sales meeting with a potential customer that inspired the MESla strategy. Schneider explained, “Your MES is a Ford and my MES is a Chevy. Both get me where I need to go, they both look good, and they're both reliable. Maybe your Ford's a little bit faster, but if you really want me to make a switch, don't give me another Ford. Give me a Tesla. “Today, MES, whether it's ours or competitors, is about optimizing equipment. We're going to expand equipment performance to plant performance. We’ll combine data from your equipment, your plant-specific processes, and your operators into one platform called Team Perfor- mance , an AI-powered platform that takes real-time MES and ERP intelligence and translates it into frontline actions to operators on the floor.” An example of this tool in action: You've done a quote and won the job, and that quote was predicated on the machine running at a certain speed. As long as that ma- chine runs at that speed, everything is good. But if you start running below that speed, there’s a risk of that order being late, which will cost more money. Team Performance comes in to recognize that the machine is running too slow and give everyone on the team a notification of the problem so it can be resolved quickly, rather than realizing at the end of that job that there was an issue. “We really believe that focusing not just on equipment, but the plant optimization is what really is going to be that step change in our MES.” Schneider said. Big Bet Number Three: Enabling Growth With The Cloud The third big bet Amtech Software is making is on the cloud. “Vista will claim they've helped more companies mi-
Schneider shared about the approach, “We're building up a team to do this. Theo Peterson, our VP of Infrastruc- ture and Security, has a team of over a dozen people al- ready that are supporting our cloud migration.” The team is comprised of three groups – the system designers who work with AWS, engineers who monitor and maintain the systems to provide Follow the Sun sup- port, and the security team, who is looking out for security incidents 24/7. Amtech is investing a lot in its journey to the cloud. Making The Roadmap A Reality By the time the next Amtech user conference comes around in two years, much of what Schneider laid out in Nashville will have moved from roadmap to reality. It’s an ambitious vision, from AI and cloud technology to ex- panded global capabilities and a new approach to plant performance, but through all of that growth, Amtech re- mains clear about who it is building for. And as Schneider affirmed throughout the week, “We're still 100 percent fo- cused on packaging.”
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Carlson Print Group Invests In New Koenig & Bauer Rapida Press At its 74,000 sq ft specialty printing and packaging facil- ity in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, Carlson Print Group (CPG) is producing some of the most innovative, award-winning work for its well-known cadre of brands. Here in one of the most advanced modern pressrooms in North America, using the latest substrates, inks, coat- ings, and finishes, printed pieces are transformed into powerful marketing communications and collectible trad- ing cards. Central to this extraordinary production are the firm’s modern Koenig & Bauer Rapida presses. Due to its strong growth and dedication to the needs of its custom- ers, CPG has invested in a new Koenig & Bauer Rapida 106 eight-color plus coater press, which will be delivered by the end of this year. “We heavily rely on high-end Koenig & Bauer Rapida printing presses as the core machinery for our premium packaging and specialty print operations,” says Darren Carlson, chief executive officer of Carlson Print Group. “We continue to invest to upgrade our production floor by adding advanced Rapida models to handle our com- plex, multi-treatment print jobs in a single pass. The new Rapida 106 press, which will replace our primary work- horse Koenig & Bauer Rapida 105 PRO six-color press, will complement our latest custom-configured Koenig & Bauer
Rapida 106 eight-color press with double coater and full LED-UV drying technology. Both will be key to the contin- ued expansion of our unique capabilities.”
To address CPG’s need for color consistency, high speeds, and fast changeovers, the newest Rapida 106 will be equipped with the latest Koenig & Bauer automated technology. QualiTronic PrintCheck, an autonomous inline sheet inspection system by Koenig & Bauer, expands on its QualiTronic ColorControl setup to monitor production quality in real time. It requires zero operator intervention or complex setting adjustments during makeready and it integrates directly with QualiTronic ColorControl using a CONTINUED ON PAGE 28 The team at Carlson Print Group, from left: Darren Carlson, CEO/Owner; Robert Kwakenat, pressroom manager; Doug Mo- hagen, general manager; Earl Guinter, business development/ sales manager; Jeanne Brewer, controller; and Dan Dallum, president.
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