Porter Reflects (CONT’D FROM PAGE 36)
Board Converting NEWS INTERNET DIRECTORY
napolis, Porter said there were five macrotrends influenc- ing the corrugated industry: the transfer of tree ownership, lightweighting, e-commerce, China and changes in con- sumer habits. While these are all still relevant today, some to a lesser degree like the transfer of tree ownership to TIMOs and REITs, he added three more: digital, sustain- ability and talent. Digital follows the trends in e-commerce with consum- ers ordering and having products delivered within days or even hours. “Amazon, for example, has full end-to-end connectivity, knowing exactly when that order is placed and when it is going to arrive. It’s complete transparency along the way. We need to make the packaging industry the same,” he says. “Harnessing the power of digital solu- tions, which is fast and costs less, will be transformational.” With sustainability, he says consumers are no longer okay with packaging that gets touched only once and then discarded. “Consumer products companies, our custom- ers, are begging us for solutions to remove plastic, foils and the materials that make the package and the product non-sustainable, so the amount of innovation and change that’s on our doorstep is a huge opportunity.” Regarding talent, Porter says that is the “key to every- thing. It’s not just talent, it’s diverse talent. We’ve got to build companies and societies of diverse populations of smart people that are invested in our solutions. The com- panies that are able to do that best are going to be those that win. We must create a more diverse, inclusive sense of belonging and equity in how we work and live.” The subject of people is clearly an important one for Porter. “This is a people business that starts with the re- lationships and the trust and respect that we build with those relationships. We can get caught up in the science of digital and innovation and automation; we need those but can’t lose sight that this is a people business. As an industry we love machines, and we need great machines to create great products and efficient execution. But the people make these machines come to life and the innova- tions is what helps customers compete and win. “Customers buy on price and expect innovation and innovative solutions, but they also buy based upon trust, integrity and relationships, people they can count on,” he continues. “That’s one of the biggest keys to any success I have had. The center stone of how I did business was de- veloping those deep, trusting relationships that stick with you forever.” For the younger generation just starting out in the in- dustry, he offers this advice: “The key is starting with your own personal integrity. Who are you? When you look in the mirror do you like yourself? Are you trustworthy? Are you worthy of being respected? Do you respect and value others, or are you just trying to win? Secondly, learn from others. Listen and seek to understand. Our ears are bigger than our eyes, so let’s use them.
ADVANTZWARE www.advantzware.com
Advantzware provides a flexible and comprehensive sys- tem to address the business management needs of the in- dependent box business, as well as the ERP requirements of full scale packaging plants and integrated companies. With modules for estimating, scheduling, production, inven- tory and accounting, this scalable system supports packag- ing plants that produce corrugated boxes, folding cartons, point of purchase displays, assembled partitions, paper- board products, foam fabrication, as well as distribution of packaging supplies. Advantzware has been in operation for over 30 years and continually enhances our system to ad- dress the needs of the industry. AIR CONVEYING CORPORATION www.accfi lter.com Air Conveying Corporation is a recognized leader in the in- dustry of Pneumatic Conveying Systems and has been in business since 1968. As an equipment manufacturer rather than simply a sales organization, we have complete control over the quality of material and products which make up your proposed system. Our equipment is found in Printing, Folding Carton and Corrugated plants throughout the coun- try and the world. Let us build you the best Trim Removal System you ever had. Contact us today. Amtech offers the industry’s most innovative and compre- hensive corrugated and packaging ERP, integrated sched- uling software, and engineered automation technology. For over 30 years, Amtech has remained at the backbone of successful businesses from the independent box makers to the largest integrateds. We keep our customers competitive in an ever-changing economy with options such as custom- er digital storefronts and workflows, business intelligence, automated scheduling for corrugators, converting and ship- ping, proactive roll stock and inventory management, and so much more in an integrated, single vendor environment. APEX INTERNATIONAL www.apex-groupofcompanies.com AMTECH SOFTWARE www.amtechsoftware.com World’s largest Anilox and Glue & Metering roll manufac- turer, providing the widest selection of corrugated engrav- ings and complementary services. Anilox engraving options available from our North American manufacturing facility include elongated 75°, 60°, 45°, plus Apex’s patented GTT technology. Glue rolls are produced with Hardened Stain- less Steel and a max TIR of 10 µ for Single, Double Facers.
ALBANY INTERNATIONAL www.albint.com
Albany International has a corrugator belt for every appli- cation. Our reputation for durable performance is the trade- mark of the most dependable belts in service today.
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July 12, 2021
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