Southern Carton Co. (CONT’D FROM PAGE 28)
Board Converting NEWS INTERNET DIRECTORY
Norman worked 21 of her 24 years at Southern Carton in shipping. “I was in shipping for 21 years, and the other plant manager retired,” she says. “So, they asked me to take the job. They trusted me. They had more trust in me than I had in myself to run it.” Norman credits her co-work- ers for much of her success, saying, “I keep smart people around me because I don’t know all the answers.” Looking Toward The Future Southern Carton has had its share of challenges as have many other independent manufacturers, particularly in finding people. “I believe the major challenge facing our industry is labor—competent labor,” David says. “We have not faced the shortages many of my colleagues have ex- perienced, but we have felt the pinch.” Yet, the Kennedy family has positioned the company to take advantage of expected growth in the coming years. A third generation is now smoothly in place with Connor, the market is growing, and the family is actively reinvesting. “My goal is to leave the plant in the best condition possible before I retire,” David says. “I didn’t want to leave Connor in a position where he’s having to replace equipment so I think he’s in good shape for the next eight to 10 years.” For his part, Connor credits his successful transition into the company to the family culture his father and grandfather established early on. “AICC has a lot of family businesses, and a lot of them have more family members involved than we have here. And you know, there’s some conflict in some of them,” he says. Pointing to David, he adds, “He and I talk every day, and yeah, we disagree on stuff all the time. But I thoroughly enjoy working with him and looking to grow what his life’s work has been—and his father’s life’s work. This is our livelihood, this is family, and now I look at all our employees that way, too.” David’s optimism in his own company’s prospects ex- tends to the corrugated industry. A member of AICC since 1985, Kennedy is now in his ninth year as part of a CEO Ad- visory Group, a group he calls his “corrugated brothers.” He sees a new era of opportunity for independent entre- preneurs in the box business. In his opinion, as companies further consolidate—even among independents—there will naturally be those customers whose mix just doesn’t fit into a bigger company’s higher-speed, higher-volume runs. He maintains a unique point of view that sees a re- naissance of sorts in independent sheet plant startups. “I think there’s going to be a few more mergers and acquisi- tions, and then we’ll see a 1970s-style resurgence of inde- pendents again,” he predicts. “The more the industry con- solidates, the more gaps there will be in the industry to fill, and independents will resurface always and fill that void. They will be box plant guys selling or producing for anoth- er, and they’ll want to start their own little sheet plant.” Just like Jim Kennedy did in 1977. Steve Young is AICC’s ambassador-at-large. He can be reached at (202) 297-0583 or syoung@AICCbox.org.
CORRUGATED REPLACEMENTS, INC. www.corrugatedparts.com
Corrugated Replacements, Inc. is a production powerhouse that manufactures high quality machine parts and replace- ment parts for the corrugated and paperboard converting industries. CRI can redesign, engineer, and manufacture any part while providing rapid turn-around, keeping ma- chines running at peak performance and limiting down time.
C.U.E., INC. www.AnvilCovers.com
Makers of single and dual-width Timesaver® Anvil Covers, the premier urethane anvil cover for corrugated die cutting. Timesaver® covers feature construction of solid steel back- ing and solid steel locking components to ensure a precise fit every time. C.U.E., Inc. also offers Dura-Latch and Cor- Lock anvil covers, and urethane Lead Edge Feed Wheels.
EMBA www.embausa.com
The EMBA group supports a complete line of corrugated converting machinery for the worldwide market. EMBA’s Quick Set technology enables the highest productivity across a broad range of converting equipment, from mini to super jumbo. EMBA also includes the McKinley jumbo line of flexo folder gluers and rotary die cutters as well as ser- vice, rebuilds and upgrades for both EMBA and McKinley.
EAGLEWOOD TECHNOLOGIES, LLC www.eaglewoodtech.com
Eaglewood Technologies offers trusted cleaning technolo- gies for the world’s best printers and converters. Solutions include the award winning Sitexco+ Anilox Laser System, the Nanovis Parts Washing System, the Sitexco L10 Label System, the innovative Sanilox™ System or Alphasonics solutions. We also offer Xpress™ mobile cleaning service at your facility or ours.
ESKO www.esko.com
ArtiosCAD and Kongsberg are the most trusted names in CAD/CAM solutions. Esko’s ArtiosCAD is the most widely used CAD software in the world. Esko’s Kongsberg series of tables brings you reliable, outstanding quality for sample- making and short run production.
DOMINO www.dominodigitalprinting.com
Domino is a leading manufacturer and distributor of digital printing and product identification solutions. Celebrating its 44th year, Domino is headquartered in the UK and North America headquarters are Illinois. Domino has 25 subsid- iaries, representation in over 120 countries, and over 2,900 employees worldwide .
30 April 3, 2023
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