BoardConverting Serving the North American Corrugated and Folding Carton Industries for 37 years September 13, 2021 VOL. 37, NO. 37
Inaugural Box Making Olympics Awards Creativity, Excellence For the first time in their history, TAPPI and AICC combined their pack- aging competitions at SuperCorrExpo 2021. TAPPI’s CorrPak Competi- tion and AICC’s Package Design Competition joined forces to become the 2021 Box Manufacturing Olympics. The competition was open to all TAPPI and AICC members from around the globe who produce corru- gated, rigid box and folding cartons, as well as their suppliers. Packag- ing schools and universities were also invited to participate.
Opus Packaging Acquires Mall City Containers In MI Grand Rapids, Michigan based Opus Packag- ing Group has announced that it has acquired Kalamazoo, Michigan based Mall City Con- tainers, effective September 1, 2021. Mall City Containers was founded in 1974 by a team of investors that bought Mead Pa- per Company’s sheet plant in Kalamazoo. Over its history, the company has enjoyed steady, solid growth that excelled in meeting and exceeding customers’ expectations. Mall City employs more than 60 people while op- erating out of one manufacturing facility and an offsite warehouse. The addition of Mall City is the sixth manu- facturing facility for Opus, which is comprised of Opus Packaging – New Bremen (New Bremen, OH; Loudon, TN), Opus Packag- ing – Grand Rapids (Grand Rapids, MI), Opus Packaging – Jackson (Jackson, MI), Opus Packaging – Indianapolis (Indianapolis, IN), Opus Packaging – Wabash (Mt Carmel, IL) and now Opus Packaging – Kalamazoo, LLC d/b/a Mall City Containers (Kalamazoo, MI). “The acquisition of Mall City strengthens our product portfolio and our ability to service our customers in the Midwest United States,”
With an unprecedented 173 entries, the approximately 3,000 at- tendees at SuperCorrExpo were treated to a display of the “Best of the Best” in the industry. TAPPI and AICC are also proud to announce the winners of the Attendees Choice Award and the Best of Industry Awards. Here is the complete list of winners: CORRUGATED CATEGORIES Category 1 – Innovative Structural Design Category S-1A: Innovative Structural Design Industrial Focus • 1st Place: Peachtree Packaging & Display – Mobis Parts America Bumper Box • 2nd Place: BoxMaster – Profile 3 Spoke • 3rd Place: Inter-Continental Corp. – Top Fairing Kit CONTINUED ON PAGE 24 McLean Packaging Corp. won Best of the Industry – Corrugated Printing for its John Macy Cheese Crisp Club Tray entry.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 4
WHAT’S INSIDE
6 x x 8 x x 12 x x 26 x x Volk Packaging Named One Of Maine’s Best Places To Work 10 Truvant Continues Expansion With New Facility In Texas GP Hummingbird Builds Pre-Press Workflow Solution 40 Data Security In The IIoT Age
Machinery and Handling for the Corrugated Board Industry
AVERAGE CONTAINERBOARD PRICES The average prices reported are tabulated from prices PAID by various sources throughout the United States the week previous to issue. Prices in some areas of the country may be higher or lower than the tabulated average. The prices tabulated here are intended only for purposes of reference. They do not connote any commitment to sell any material at the indicated average. Transactions may be completed at any time at a price agreed upon by seller and purchaser.
REGION E. Coast Midwest Southeast Southwest
42# Kraft liner
26# Semi-Chem. Medium
$1005.00-1010.00 $1020.00-1030.00 $1020.00-1030.00 $1020.00-1030.00 $1050.00-1060.00 $1023.00-1032.00
Short Ton Del. Short Ton Del. Short Ton Del. Short Ton Del. Short Ton Del. Short Ton Del.
$940.00-990.00 $955.00-975.00 $955.00-975.00 $955.00-975.00 $975.00-995.00 $958.00-978.00
West Coast U.S. Average
SHEET PRICES BY REGION (AVERAGE) Per 1MSF, local delivery included, 50MSF single item order, truckload delivery. Sheets
E. Coast Midwest South-SW S. CA N.CA/WA-OR US Aver.
200# 275#
$62.26
$72.05
$62.69 $82.80
$85.35 119.54
$73.13 101.29
97.32
99.89
90.86
113.65
OYSTER UP-CHARGE 8.34
8.34
8.34
8.34
8.34
8.34
275# DBL-WALL 350# DBL-WALL
107.46 118.45
114.69 129.32
116.54 137.25 117.82 145.56
141.08 148.46
122.76 131.80
P E R F O R M A N C E D E L I V E R E D • HEAVY, DENSE BALES • RELIABLE AUTOMATIC TIER • LOW OPERATING COST PER TON AMERICAN BALER TAKES PERFORMANCE TO NEW HEIGHTS! 800.843.7512 AmericanBaler.com I N T E G R I T Y I Q U A L I T Y I R E L I A B I L I T Y I VA L U E
CANADIAN SHEET PRICES (AVERAGE) In Canadian Dollars, per 1MSF, local delivery included, under 50MSF single item order, truckload delivery. 200# 275# Oyster UC 275#DW 350#DW $78.56 $99.18 $9.00 $96.32 $105.83 CANADIAN LINERBOARD & MEDIUM The average prices reported are tabulated from prices PAID by various sources throughout Canada. Prices may be higher or lower in various areas of the country. The prices tabulated here are intended only for purposes of reference. They do not connote any commitment to sell any material at the indicated average. Transactions may be completed at any time at a price agreed upon by seller and purchaser. Prices are Canadian $ and per metric ton.
42# Kraft Liner 26#
Semi-Chem Medium
East West
$970.00
$960.00 $995.00
$1,015.00
3
September 13, 2021
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Opus Packaging Group (CONT’D FROM PAGE 1 )
Core Competency
said Opus Packaging Group’s owners, Butch Stoner and Kevin Manor. “Opus has been providing innovative pack- aging solutions to its customers since 1984. Our vision of becoming a world class provider in packaging solutions while leading in the markets we serve will be greatly en- hanced by the acquisition of Mall City. We are excited to welcome the Mall City associates to the Opus team.” Pamarco Launches New Website Roselle, New Jersey based Pamarco has confirmed it has launched its new website at www.pamarco.com . “We’ve taken our time to really take this project head on,” explains John Burgess, President. of Pamarco “Our website will continue to grow through three phases. What you will experience now is Phase One, a site that is easier to navigate with faster load times and beautifully branded. “Phase Two will implement some pieces that have needed an overhaul for quite some time, as well as some new features. For example, engraving calculators, geo- graphical contact forms with direct access to your sales reps and in-depth product pages, offering better insight on what Pamarco has to offer. In Phase Three, we will im- plement our online store, giving quick access to order the cleaning solutions and peripherals online.”
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© Blower Application Company, Inc., Germantown, WI 2020
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September 13, 2021
A Century of Innovation In Every Machine Celebrating 100 Years: 1920-2020
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IBIS 2-minute run-to-run times and total product flexibility @ 15K/HR
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Volk Packaging Corporation Named One Of Best Places To Work In Maine Biddeford, Maine based Volk Packaging Corporation was recently named as one of the 2021 Best Places to Work in Maine. The awards program was created in 2006 and is a project of the Society for Human Resource Management - Maine State Council (MESHRM) and Best Companies Group. Partners endorsing the program include: Mainebiz, the Maine State Chamber of Commerce, and Maine HR Convention. This statewide survey and awards program was de- signed to identify, recognize, and honor the best places of employment in Maine, benefiting the state’s economy, its workforce, and businesses. The 2021 Best Places to Work in Maine list is made up of 100 companies in three size categories: small (15-49 U.S. employees), medium (50-249
Derek and Amy Volk of Volk Packaging
U.S. employees) and large (250+ U.S. employees). Volk Packaging won in the medium-sized category and is one of the few manufacturers on the list. Volk was also named to the prestigious list in 2011 when they last applied.
To be considered for participation, com- panies had to fulfill the following eligibility requirements: • Have at least 15 employees working in Maine; • Be a for-profit or not-for-profit business or government entity; • Be a publicly or privately held business; • Have a facility in the state of Maine; and • Must be in business a minimum of one year. Companies from across the state en- tered the two-phase process to determine the Best Places to Work in Maine. The first phase consisted of evaluating each nominat- ed company’s workplace policies, practices, and demographics. This part of the process was worth approximately 25 percent of the total evaluation. The second phase consist- ed of an employee survey to measure the employee experience. This part of the pro- cess was worth approximately 75 percent of the total evaluation. The combined scores determined the top companies and the final rankings. Best Companies Group managed the overall registration and survey process in Maine and also analyzed the data and used their expertise to determine the final rank- ings. Volk Packaging Corporation will be recog- nized in the October 18th edition of Mainebiz where the rankings will be revealed for the first time, following a planned awards event. Visit www.VolkBoxes.com for more in- formation on Volk Packaging and its 54-year history in Maine, or contact Amy Volk at (207) 229-5091.
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September 13, 2021
40 ft of paper travel from preheater to hot plates 3 seconds of heat, glue and bonding 1 chance to get it right! the ZONE
Design & Production
Chicago Electric offers 10 technology solutions to control ‘the Zone’ CORRUGATOR Sectoral preheating plate
Our sectoral preheating plates provide direct heat by means of a double steam circuit, allowing for efficient heating in hard-to-access locations, as well as to act as a steam shower to open the paper’s fibre, making it receptive to absorbing the heat and the glue.
This translates into increased speed and improved quality of the cardboard sheet finish.
The system’s main advantages are as follows:
• The plate may only be used to heat, only to humidify, or both options at the same time. • The plate is sectored, which allows for applying humidity to the sections. • It provides temperature in previously inaccessible locations and near the location needed. • It compensates the loss of temperature dissipated due to distance, speed or limitations of the exiting preheaters. • Quick transferring of heat to the paper. • The combination of the hot plate and steam shower allows for providing heat even to the hardest papers to heat. • Does not dry out the paper. • Possibility of operating as a humidifier and pre-conditioner. • Maintains and improves the fibre’s elasticity. • Acts according to the operator’s needs. • Facilitates the paper’s hygroscopy to absorb the glue and improve rubberising.
CONTROLLABILITY
1. Wrap Arm - Position & Temperature 2. Preheater Direct Drive
DOUBLEBACKER IMPROVEMENT
3. Steam Plate 4. Contact Roll 5. Glue Machine Direct Drive Touch Productivity Issue—Glue Unit Many glue units run with a rider roll or a guiding bar system. The rider roll with paper gap allows a precise glue application, but requires frequent Contact Roll
PRODUCTIVITY
C/ Orfeó Català 13-15 · 08440 Cardedeu (Barcelona) telf: +34 93 846 01 06 · comercial@al-gar.com WWW.AL-GAR.COM
DOUBLEBACKER IMPROVEMENT
calibrations and settings. Bar systems avoid this, but compensate this with the risk of exces- sive glue application. The system contains many wearing parts. Solution The contact roll combines the ad antage of both systems and ensures minimum contact between board and applicator roll. The system uses small pneumatic cylinders in order to achieve a “soft touch.”
6. Gap Control 7. Curved Plate 8. Roller Shoe Press When it comes to a short-term increas of web tension, spring loaded systems with shoes or airpressure activated system have problems in compensating these. The system is lifted for a short time. This may result in de-lamination and in the ‘double kiss’ effect. Solution For a defined and exact bonding point of the web fiv weight rollers will be installed usually over the first flat hotplate of the heating section. The rolls are mounted into a frame, which is actuated by means of two pneumatic cylinders. P oductivity Issu —Double Kiss Bonding
PRODUCTIVITY
PRODUCTIVITY
DOUBLEBACKER IMPROVEMENT
Roller Shoe
DOUBLEBACKER IMPROVEMENT
9. Thin Wall Hot Plates 10. Pressure System Benefits —Exact glue application due to defined contact of applicator roll to web. Web is in contact to less flute tips compared to bar systems. • High precision glue application • Less moisture applied to web —No wear of shoes and springs —No adjustment of shoes or paper gap —Uniform glue application over entire w orking width for all flutes by use of pneumatic cylinders instead of springs — Less contamination by paper dust and glue remains —No jam of board because of web breaks caused by splice joints going through 630-784-0800 Benefits —Rollers secure exact defined first point of contact of liner and single-faced board - No double kiss —Frame design avoids unintended lifting of roller shoe (compared to spring or air loaded systems) - No double kiss —Pressure can be increased or released for special grades or products 490 Tower Blvd., Carol Stream, IL Contact Chicago Electric to GET IT RIGHT 630-784-0800 info@chicagoelectric.com chicagoelectric.com Solution The ProPress system ensures an optimum heat transfer to the board. It offers a wide range of set- tings. The loadi g pressure can be varied, the number of shoes can be lifted in accordance t the line speed. The outer shoes can be lifted in accordance to the paper width. The shoe bars will be delivered pre-assembled for a short installation time. —Liftable for easy paper infeed and for cleaning of the machine —Position adjustable in paper direction to avoid grooves in hotplate Press Productivity Issue—Poor Heat Transfer Rollers are usually limiting the heat transfer, since they often have contact mainly on the edges of the plates due to wear or bent plates. They also cause often loss of caliper and bearing need to be replaced frequently. Airpressure actuated systems can only supply a limited pressure and have com- pared to shoe systems a closed surface. Pressure Shoe
Plate vity Issue—Poor Heat Control l hotplates are slow to react to pressure due to high steam volume and massive y also have high heat radiation and heat profile. Worn plates can damage crease edge crush.
Thin-Wall Hot Plates
t by peripheral drilled hot plates. anufactured out of special wear and nt steel, through which a continuous is drilled, with one inlet and one outlet. ecured by a massive steel frame.
CORR24usa.com
ance from steam to paper surface results in fast heat flow n higher plate surface temperature
Benefits
ISM: Manufacturing, Economy Grows For 15th Straight Month In August Economic activity in the manufacturing sector grew in Au- gust, with the overall economy notching a 15th consecu- tive month of growth, say the nation’s supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM Report On Business. The report was issued last week by Timothy R. Fiore, CPSM, C.P.M., Chair of the Institute for Supply Manage- ment (ISM) Manufacturing Business Survey Committee: “The August Manufacturing PMI registered 59.9 per- cent, an increase of 0.4 percentage point from the July reading of 59.5 percent. This figure indicates expansion in the overall economy for the 15th month in a row after con- traction in April 2020. The New Orders Index registered 66.7 percent, increasing 1.8 percentage points from the July reading of 64.9 percent. The Production Index reg- istered 60 percent, an increase of 1.6 percentage points compared to the July reading of 58.4 percent. “The Prices Index registered 79.4 percent, down 6.3 percentage points compared to the July figure of 85.7 per- cent; this is its first reading below 80 percent since De- cember 2020 (77.6 percent). The Backlog of Orders Index registered 68.2 percent, 3.2 percentage points higher than the July reading of 65 percent. The Employment Index in- dicated contraction at 49 percent, 3.9 percentage points CONTINUED ON PAGE 46
Box Shipments ( U.S. Corrugated Product Shipments) Industry Shipments In Billions of Square Feet Month June 2021
Year
Actual
Percent Change Avg Week Percent Change
2021 2020
35.963 34.395
4.6
8.173 7.817
4.6
Industry Total
Year-to Date
June 2021
Year
Actual
Percent Change Avg Week Percent Change
2021 2020
208.632 196.828
6.0
8.279 7.749
6.8
Industry Total
Containerboard Consumption (Thousands of Tons)
Year
Month
Percent Change Year-to-Date Percent Change
2021 2020
2.9450 2.8182
4.5
14.1095 13.3029
6.1
Container Board Inventory - Corrugator Plants (Thousands of Tons)
Corrugator Plants Only
Date
Percent Change Weeks of Supply
Percent Change
Jun. May
2.1046 1.9962
5.4
3.1 2.9
6.9
Shipping Days
Year
Month
Year-to-Date
2021 2020
22 22
126 127
SOURCE: Fibre Box Association
Puhl custom designs systems to meet your needs. • Moving to a new facility? Puhl has experience moving entire plant systems all while minimizing down time in BOTH plants during the transition. • Below roof AND above roof systems custom designed to meet your needs. • New and Remanufactured Equipment (balers, blowers, separators, filters and more). Our Remanufactured equipment includes a warranty and offers significant savings. • NFPA and OSHA compliant systems designed by our NFPA trained engineering team. • Dust Briquetters, Certified Explosion Isolation Valves, Flame Front Diverters and more to control dust and meet NFPA requirements. • PLC Touch Screen Controls with Real Time Pressure Balancing and Real Time Remote Monitoring available on your smart phone or computer.
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September 13, 2021
Truvant Continues Expansion With New Facility In Texas
sustainability as a zero-landfill operation. Our solutions en- able our customers to have the right item in the right place at the right time, and this facility will allow us to continue to help our customers deliver on that promise to consumers.” The new facility brings over 150 jobs to the area with plans to expand to over 500 workers in the next 36 months. Truvant offers employees competitive pay, work- place flexibility, and management growth potential in an environment that respects and embraces innovation and diversity. “Like we have done with the recent opening of our new facility in Indianapolis, we are excited to provide an oppor- tunity for the Dallas/Fort Worth community to work with a dynamic and rapidly growing company,” continued Lamb. “Every employee is encouraged to participate in continu- ally improving our operations, developing our culture and taking pride in the community.” Founded in 1994, Truvant provides premier packaging and display solutions to the world’s greatest brands — all on a global scale. The company is committed to high qual- ity, flexible and sustainable solutions that reduce costs, im- prove speed and helps customers solve their most compli- cated business and supply chain challenges. Truvant is a leading global contract manufacturing and contract pack- aging provider to many of the world’s top food, consumer, household, and industrial brands. The company has op- erations across North America and Europe and employs over 6,200 individuals world wide. Visit truvant.com .
Truvant, a global provider of quality packaging services solutions, recently signed a lease and has begun interior construction of a world-class 355,517-square-foot building in Hazlet, Texas, within the Dallas/Fort Worth metro area. The latest expansion supports Truvant’s continued growth and will increase its global network of packaging services facilities, allowing it to better serve its customers in North America. The facility is expected to open in early 2022. Truvant is a portfolio company of The Halifax Group, a Washington, D.C. based private equity investment firm. The attractive demographic trends in the area will allow Truvant to best serve its global customers through access to the high-quality workforce and superior logistical ad- vantages present in the Dallas market. Once complete, the state-of-the-art complex will contain best-in-class, highly automated packaging operations with capabilities for bag- ging, kitting, bundeling, shrink wrapping, pouching, blister packaging, display assembly, e-commerce fulfillment and more. “This latest investment in our operations is a testament to how Truvant works closely with our customers to help get their products to market in the most efficient and effec- tive way possible,” said Scott Lamb, CEO of Truvant. “This facility is purpose-built to deliver flexibility, scaleability, and
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September 13, 2021
THE NEW RD115/135S
The NEW KOLBUS Hycorr RD115/135S Flexo Rotary Die Cutter represents years of investment by the KOLBUS engineering team in Rahden, Germany and the Hycorr technical team in Kalamazoo, Michigan. This cooperation, combined with the input from our customers, has resulted in the ultimate blend of quality, performance, and value. Designed with all corrugated markets in mind, the RD115/135S is well equipped for high throughput, quick make-ready, and high graphics print production. With a complement of new features and benefits to accompany.
KOLBUS America Inc. | 216-931-5100 | sales@kolbus.com
GP Hummingbird Builds Pre-Press Workflow Solution BY MIKE AGNESS
Digital presses have revolutionized packaging, delivering high-impact col- or and creating a new paradigm for versioning and customization. Despite its innovations, however, digitally printed packaging has not always offered solutions across the full spectrum of sizes and quantities. Georgia-Pacific (GP) Hummingbird digital packaging solutions has overcome that barrier by producing digitally pre-printed rolls for a full range of customer needs, from specialty versions to everyday large runs.
Packaging ERP Algorithmic Scheduling Web-Based Access Online Customer Portals
Paperless Workflows Mobile Sales Systems Digital Signage Production Monitoring Mobile Logistics Management Analytics & Reporting Cloud Hosting IT Management Services Cyber Security Management
600 + Plants 60,000 Users North America Latin America
“GP Hummingbird really incubated at Georgia-Pacific’s Color-Box, one of the largest corrugated litho providers in North America,” recalls Rob- ert Seay, Vice President, Digital Print Solutions, Georgia-Pacific. “They did something innovative. They took the work into pre-print, which included laminators and flatbed die-cutters – and the corrugated market.” Along came the HP PageWide T400, complementing the other equip- ment. The company already had laminators where rolls or sheets could be made into combined board and its box plants were converting offset pre-print from a roll press. Now it could take the rolls right off the T400, and already had the tools to make that work, immediately. “The wide web digital press let us attack high graphics print completely differently. Then, it morphed and became its own business,” Seay adds. GP Hummingbird was proof of concept that digital could work as an off- set alternative. When the HP T1100 was announced, Hummingbird was the first packaging supplier in North America to provide 110-inch wide web ca- pability for digital pre-print at lengths. Recently, Georgia-Pacific announced the purchase of an HP PageWide T1190 Press, the world’s highest-volume digital corrugated packaging solution, providing an east-west footprint. It will assure redundancy, provide scale, and let GP Hummingbird improve turnaround time while reducing shipping and logistics costs. “Much of our value proposition is supply chain efficiency. We can help different corrugated converters, turning around high volumes quickly. It’s easier to ship rolls of pre-print than boxes,” notes Seay. “Anybody can or- der our rolls, but we focus on those who know how to run pre-print. Onsite packaging engineers can help optimise layouts and packaging structures.” Varied Customer Base Serving many converters, GP Hummingbird has to consider how its workflow will be used everywhere. Customers will deliver a piece of art- CONTINUED ON PAGE 14
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GP Hummingbird (CONT’D FROM PAGE 12)
and the corrugating and die-cutting tolerances. What does that layout look like and how do they get the customer to approve it? GP Hummingbird wanted an automated solu- tion. The entire process of creating the art and structure re- quires that they are approved together. “Sometimes we complete the artwork, but the structure changes because it’s going to a different corrugated converter – or a differ- ent piece wants the flap slightly different. That puts the artwork out of synch with the structure,” says Seay. At first, the process was manual and intensive, with many cross- checks to assure something didn’t change along the way, requiring adjustments. GP Hummingbird’s business model is special. “Our original workflow couldn’t be customised, which became limiting, pretty quick,” discloses Seay. “Because we had HP digital presses, we’d already bought the SmartStream front end. We needed tools that could be adapted for our needs. We invested in HYBRID Software’s PACKZ and CLOUDFLOW and discovered a flexible workflow.” The workflow is used to clean up files and ensure that processes are standardised. That becomes fairly import- ant given all the work running through the shop. “The more touch points, the more potential for mistakes. The first thing we did was deploy our workflow, along with our HP and graphic management software,” Seay adds. “The challenge is to know what you want to do and manage CONTINUED ON PAGE 16
work, perhaps from a flexo job, but will want to print dig- itally. The artwork could be a square or a rectangle, but finishing and the requirements of the box must also be determined. Once a one-up is approved, a step-and-repeat layout must be prepared. The sheets must be imposed for the
converter’s cutter. For example, a converter might general- ly use rotary die-cutters. A file built for a flatbed die-cutter needs an edge trim and a sidebar to grab before it goes on a rotary. You have to rethink the artwork at three levels – the one-up for the customer, the ‘n-up’ sheet for print
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GP Hummingbird (CONT’D FROM PAGE 14)
the installation as a software project. It was helpful that we could customise everything at our centralized hub in Cincinnati.” A Comprehensive Process GP Hummingbird breaks the workflow down into three buckets: programming and integration, editing tools and then step and repeat, building a solution that offers ev- erything to create a press ready PDF. The workflow is tied into the order processing system when product designs are created. They can refer to an existing design that will be changed, an existing structure, or anything in between. Human intervention could result in a lack of consisten- cy. “We have a structured process so we can trust what’s going through our system,” says Dave Fox, Hummingbird Graphics Manager. Hummingbird creates PDFs that are automatically processed, eliminating judgment calls when
setting the job for the press. An example is automated marks: Where are the slit lines and cut marks for the corrugated converter? What should the die-cutter expect? The workflow conducts all of the traditional pre-press tasks like preflighting and trapping – as well as a few that are more sophisticated. For example, GP Hummingbird can recognize a barcode and replace it, adjusting for any print method. The company will also distort files to take into consideration what’s going to happen on the press or with the corrugat- ed converter. It also conducts colour mapping, adjusts transparencies and clipping paths, and more. By standardising and automating these functions in one application, it makes creation of a press ready PDF file much easier. “We get different files from many different places. They arrive with a variety of issues. There are many things we can fix automatically,” continues Fox. The company prefers to call its proofing system a graphics portal – not a customer or vendor portal – because it’s about managing the entire graphics process. It can offer quick layout suggestions that way. For example, solid fills can cost more using digital ink. GP Hummingbird will offer cost-ef- fective alternatives that are graphically better and can show examples of what they might look like. Customers view their proofs online. If somebody wants to make a change, it’s not communicated via email. They can mark it up online and approve it, streamlining the entire process. Step and repeat files and adjustments can be made without affecting the approved art. With the templates, imposing repeat items on existing layouts is faster and has increased
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CONTINUED ON PAGE 18
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September 13, 2021
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GP Hummingbird (CONT’D FROM PAGE 16)
consistency from layout to layout, because all marks are already placed, and approved. Key to the process is being able to link the press up- load server to the workflow, so files can be sent automati- cally to the press with a time stamp. There is one location to submit all project notes, reducing email traffic and offer-
ing a central place for team members to scan print sam- ple info. Team members can track to see which jobs have
been posted to press. A Complete Workflow
During the COVID-19 pandemic, GP Hummingbird’s graphic designers were able to work from home and still be effective, working from the HYBRID server. “We really
CONTINUED ON PAGE 20
The Leader in Corrugated and Converting machine foundations
Jason Craddock General Manager 864-940-7356 www.zefco.net
Committed to: Professionalism, Accuracy, and Unmatched installation timelines 20+ year experience in constructing corrugated/converting foundations Ability to travel throughout North America
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GP Hummingbird (CONT’D FROM PAGE 18)
stantly changes. We need to pivot on the fly. A lot of the complex decisions surround finishing. How much toler- ance do you have on the die-cut or how is it laid out? For example, one high volume customer uses us for work that dynamically changes. When the art is ready, we need to print the jobs quickly, and to very specific specs,” he con- tinues. “One job may require 70-inch rolls, while another might require 80 inches. If I didn’t have the workflow, it would be harder to manage. “One of the key values of our workflow was flexibility. Digital is going to morph and evolve. We want to morph and evolve our software suite as well. We also want to of- fer a better experience for our customers. It really comes down to, ‘Can I control their artwork? Can I control the workflow in between? Can I give customers assurances that it’s going to get done in a structured manner?’ Be- cause our workflow is incredibly flexible, adaptive and de- livers high quality work, it is now extremely valuable for our business and our customers,” concludes Seay.
didn’t miss a beat. That’s a big deal,” exclaims Seay. Delivering samples and proofs can delay a deadline, but some customers still want to visit and do crosschecks – although there have been fewer during COVID-19. Online proofing simplified the process and has made the work- flow easy for many customers The software has eliminated a number of potential mis- takes. That matters because customers want supply chain efficiency. “Our workflow conducts so many deep edits that our pre-production people can normalize our produc- tion files in a third of the time, with fewer workarounds due to file components. We cleared up a lot of initial graphics work making Hummingbird’s pre-press so streamlined that one person easily handles the work of two or three people using more traditional imposition tools,” says Seay. “The corrugated converter or the supply chain con-
Mike Agness is HYBRID Software Executive Vice President, Americas. He can be reached at mikea@hybridsoftware.com. Contiweb Appoints French U.S. Sales Manager Contiweb, a specialist in state-of-the-art tech- nologies for advanced drying, web-handling and web-processing, has announced the ap- pointment of Gene French as a Sales Manag- er for the United States, effective July 2021. French’s responsibilities will include fulfilling Contiweb’s sales operations in the region with a particular focus on digital printing, while re- porting to Contiweb’s newly promoted Sales Director, Rob Bosman. French brings a wealth of experience to his new role, with extensive knowledge of digi- tal and commercial printing technologies and equipment, having worked in the graphic arts industry for almost 40 years. With considerable awareness of the industry in the U.S., he has managed multiple national and international corporate accounts. Based in Illinois, French’s appointment, with his prominent background, demonstrates Con- tiweb’s commitment to print providers in the region to deliver solutions that increase perfor- mance and reduce costs. This addition to the Contiweb LLC sales force in the U.S. enables Contiweb to better reach existing customers and advise them on enhancements and after- market services, as well as assisting potential customers in the digital inkjet segment.
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A.G. Stacker Equipment Prepares For Complete Digital Transformation Weyers Cave, Virginia based A.G. Stacker, a manufactur- er of innovative stacking equipment, recently unveiled expanded equipment lines and digital technology at Su- perCorrExpo 2021. The new equipment and technology include the fully electric eSERIES equipment line, AR, VR, and digital twin technologies, and last but not least the new A.G. mobile APP. The star of the A.G. booth was the new, fully elec- tric, fully integrated eSERIES equipment line. These new solutions are engineered without pits, pneumatics, or hy- draulics, preparing the way for a complete digital transfor- mation of A.G. systems. Using digital twin technology, Su- perCorrExpo attendees interacted with the new eSERIES equipment: the eBREAK Bundle Breaker, eZF Load Former, eTAMP ServoTamp, and eXT Front End. These solutions are patented and/or patent pending, high speed systems engineered to increase safety, productivity, and connectiv- ity for converters nationwide. The DSS Divert & Separate system was another digital twin station attendees discovered at SuperCorrExpo. With the swipe of a finger and the push of a button, the DSS, along with the eTAMP ServoTamp, allow stacker adjust- ments at full production speeds, fast set ups and an order recipe recall system. Using the new A.G. mobile APP combined with AR technology, booth attendees explored these new systems using their mobile phones. The A.G. mobile APP empow- ers A.G. customers with important equipment information, maintenance, and training in the palm of their hand. In ad- dition, the A.G. team gave demonstrations of their AR-as- sisted service options, using the new augmented reality headset for remote support. Joe Wunder, President of A.G. Stacker, said “A.G. is committed to a digital transformation where engineering, design, service, production, training, and operations all are connected and available anywhere, at any time. We are confident our expanded equipment, technology and ser- vice options will help converters nationwide stay competi- tive and move forward in their own digital transformations. This is the technology of the future, and the future is now.” To learn more about A.G. Stacker’s new equipment and technology, contact Tim Connell, Director of Sales at (540) 234-6012 or tconnell@agstacker.com. A.G. Stacker has been a leader and innovator in the custom manufacturing industry since 1996. Their primary focus is the design of full-line solutions and custom man- ufacturing of industrial machinery for corrugated material stacking and handling operations. A.G. manufactures its equipment in the USA in its entirety, from engineering to assembly. The company’s commitment to innovation has led to over 20 patents along with numerous patents pend- ing and innovative designs. For more information about A.G. Stacker, visit www.agstacker.com .
The Perfect Combo Get Peak Performance From Your Equipment with Matched Component Sets
Nothing’s more rewarding
than a couple made for each other. That’s why the engineers at ARC International have focused their skills and talents on crafting perfect
matches between the components that must work in tandem on your exo folder gluers and die-cutters: • Anilox Rollers and Ink Chambers • Anilox andWiper Rollers • Feed and Pull Rollers • Glue andMeter Rollers You can achieve the press speeds and print quality you need to ll your most demanding orders by pairing your team with The ARChitects of Flexo. Contact ARC today to learn how these engineered matches of exo folder gluer and die-cutter components (new or
reconditioned) can help you achieve a more perfect union of production and pro ts.
The ARChitects of exo
ARCInternational.com 800-526-4569
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ARC.5pBCN_AnlxChmbr.indd 1
3/31/21 6:09 PM
Money making machine
Domino X630i digital aqueous inkjet corrugated press
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Why DOMINO? • 40+ years of inkjet technology experience • Financially strong and stable • Heavily invested in digital technology • 1,000 industrial inkjet installations • Service & Support,Trusted Business Partner • Small footprint (10’H x 38’W x 21’D) • Change SKUs & print jobs on the fly • NO PLATES to make, mount, or inventory • Less downtime, MORE UPTIME • Print SPEED up to 246 fpm • AQ95 aqueous ink, POLYMER-based • Prints on COATED & UNCOATED stocks • Swiss Ordinance & Nestle COMPLIANT • Environmentally FRIENDLY • LOWER Total Cost of Ownership Why X630i?
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Box Making Olympics (CONT’D FROM PAGE 1 )
Category 3 – Floor Displays & Standees Category S-3A : STRUCTURE – Floor Displays & Standees – No Product • 1st Place: C&B Display Packaging, Division of Royal Containers Ltd. – Sing It With Oreo Floor Display • 2nd Place: C&B Display Packaging, Division of Royal Containers Ltd. – Canadian Olympics Floor Display Category P-3A : PRINTING – Floor Displays & Standees – No Product • 1st Place: Bay Cities – Avengers Infinity War Trend Pod Header • 2nd Place: C&B Display Packaging, Division of Royal Containers Ltd. – Canadian Olympics Floor Display • 3rd Place: C&B Display Packaging, Division of Royal Containers Ltd. – Sing It With Oreo Floor Display Category S-3B: STRUCTURE – Floor Displays – Product • 1st Place: Bay Cities – Scout Comics Vending Machine • 2nd Place: Corrugados y Especialidades SA de CV – Floor Display Honey • 3rd Place: Peachtree Packaging & Display – Bota Wine Camper Display Category P-3B : PRINTING – Floor Displays – Product • 1st Place: Corrugados y Especialidades SA de CV – Floor Display Honey CONTINUED ON PAGE 26
Category S-1B : Innovative Structural Design Consumer Focus • 1st Place: Vanguard Companies – Remington iLight IP- L3500CDN • 2nd Place: BoxMaster – Bowl Insert • 3rd Place: BoxMaster – 2019 Beer Advent Calendar Category 2 – Counter, Shelf, Power Wing & PDQ Displays Category S-2B: STRUCTURE – Counter, Shelf, Power Wing & PDQ Displays – Product • 1st Place: Great Little Box Co. / Ideon Packaging – Strait & Narrow 6 Pack Dispenser Display • 2nd Place: C&B Display Packaging, Division of Royal Containers Ltd. – Purina Pro Plan FortiFlora PDQ • 3rd Place: C&B Display Packaging, Division of Royal Containers Ltd. – Dentyne Ice Counter Display Category P-2B : PRINTING – Counter, Shelf, Power Wing & PDQ Displays – Product • 1st Place: Great Little Box Co. / Ideon Packaging – Per- formatrin Ultra Limited Display • 2nd Place: Smurfit Kappa North America – Shelf Dis- play Super Glue • 3rd Place: Great Little Box Co. / Ideon Packaging – Strait and Narrow 6 Pack Dispenser Display •
Let’s Tell Our Recycling Story
Investment, Jobs Created, Tons Produced
Rick Van Horne, Director of Creative Marketing srvan614@me.com Corrugated Supplies Corp. LLC
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Box Making Olympics (CONT’D FROM PAGE 24)
Category 5 – Flexo Print on Combined Board Category P-5A : Flexo on Combined Board - Line Work • 1st Place: Unicorr Packaging Group – Aim Controllers • 2nd Place: DS Smith (Lebanon, IN) – Reese’s 7ct Tray • 3rd Place: BoxMaster – Fall 2021 Jilly Box Category P-5B : Flexo Print on Combined Board - Line/ Screen Combination • 1st Place: Tavens Packaging & Display – Cat Scratcher • 2nd Place: Master Packaging Inc. – Spindrift Brewing Generic 4x6 – 455mm Cans • 3rd Place: Buckeye Corrugated – Country Crush Category P-5C : Flexo Print on Combined Board - Built Col- or Images: Process or Modified Process Color • 1st Place: McLean Packaging Corp. – Cocoa Pebbles & Fruity Pebbles Retail Ready Packaging • 2nd Place: Royal Containers Ltd. – Wilson WipeOut • 3rd Place: Royal Containers Ltd. – Wilson WeedOut Category P-5E : Flexo Print on Combined Board - Process Color: Photos or Original Art Continuous Tone Images • 1st Place: McLean Packaging Corp. – John Macy Cheese Crisp Club Tray • 2nd Place: Sumter Packaging Corp. – Graphic Box • 3rd Place: McLean Packaging Corp. – Fruity Pebbles & Cocoa Pebbles Retail Ready Packaging
• 2nd Place: Buckeye Corrugated (Knoxville) – Chip & Dip Display • 3rd Place: Complete Design & Packaging – Promo 51 TIP FP Display Category 4 – Direct Printing on Combined Brown Board Category P-4A : Direct Printing on Combined Brown Board – Line Work • 1st Place: DS Smith (Roanoke) – Parts Box – Black on Kraft • 2nd Place: BoxMaster – Laid Back Snacks • 3rd Place: BoxMaster – Cutting Board Category P-4B : Direct Printing on Combined Brown Board – Line/Screen Combination • 1st Place: Peachtree Packaging & Display – GEVEKO Markings Box • 2nd Place: Buckeye Corrugated (New York Region) – United Apples Tote Cover • 3rd Place: Smurfit Kappa Columbia – 2 Inks Multicolor Dog House Category P-4C : Direct Printing on Combined Brown Board - Built Color Printed on Brown Paper or on a Layer of White Ink • 1st Place: Royal Containers Ltd. – Fresh Citrus
CONTINUED ON PAGE 28
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Box Making Olympics (CONT’D FROM PAGE 26)
Category 9 – E-Commerce & Subscription Packaging Category S-9 EXP : STRUCTURE – E-Commerce and Sub- scription Packaging • 1st Place: Corrugados y Especialidades SA de CV – Caja Sorpresa (Surprise Box) • 2nd Place: Wasatch Container – Paint Mixer • 3rd Place: CompanyBox – Pura Vida Category P-9 EXP : PRINTING – E-Commerce and Sub- scription Packaging • 1st Place: Bay Cities – Outriders VIP Kit • 2nd Place: Corrugados y Especialidades SA de CV – Promotional Vinyl Box • 3rd Place: Green Bay Packaging Inc. – Barf World’s New Design Category 10 – Form & Function Category 10 : Form and Function: Using Corrugated Out- side of Packaging and Displays • 1st Place: Sumter Packaging Corp. – LG Litter Box • 2nd Place: BoxMaster – 2021 Recovery Box • 3rd Place: BoxMaster – Medium Bin Category 11 – Best Use of Corrugated Replacing other Substrate • 1st Place: Danbury Square Box Co. – Rom Tech • 2nd Place: Sumter Packaging Corp. – LG Litter Box CONTINUED ON PAGE 30
Category 6 – Best Application of Spot or Full Label • 1st Place: Vanguard Companies – Remington iLight IP- L3500CDN • 2nd Place: Utah PaperBox – UPB Holiday Gift Wrap • 3rd Place: DS Smith (Roanoke) – Open Touch Pillow Category 7 – Preprinted Linerboard Category P-7B : Preprinted Linerboard - Built Color Imag- es: Process or Modified Process Color - Cartoon Art • 1st Place: DS Smith (Lebanon, IN) – DoubleWall PrePrint Dog Food Box Category P-7C : Preprinted Linerboard - Process Color or Modified Process • 1st Place: Buckeye Corrugated (New York) – Seagrams 12pk Preprint • 2nd Place: DS Smith (Lebanon, IN) – Dog Burger Box • 3rd Place: Master Packaging – Grandma’s Coffee Cake Category 8 – Digital Printing Containers and Displays - Ink Jet/Digital entries only • 1st Place: Complete Design & Packaging – BF Sponge- bob Vidalia Sweet Onion Dump Bin • 2nd Place: Vanguard Companies – Manna Pro Flock Party End Cap • 3rd Place: Complete Design & Packaging – G-Tower
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