Kenneth Wagner, Wagner Industries’ Founder & CEO, Passes Away At 80
Ken Wagner, 80, founder & CEO of Wagner Industries, Inc., Frackville, Pennsylvania, passed away in January 2024 surrounded by his loved ones. Ken started the business in 1968 as a young man with ambition and enthusiasm. He left an indelible mark on the corrugated Box industry with his inventiveness and depth of character. He visited box plants on a regular basis and met with maintenance to discuss areas of machines He said, “There is always something broken in a box plant, and if there is any way we can manufac- ture something to make their lives easier, let’s do it!” The power of Wagner’s innovation dates back to the 1970s when Ken invented the coreless No Crush roller. This allows a bearing to be inserted directly into the wheel, eliminating the need for hub assembly. This product saves time, money and is the standard today for most no crush applications. that were problematic. Ken realized how many ap- plications he could improve by reducing down time and extending product life. In the 1980s, Ken devised a split roller called the “Quickroll.” The Quickroll allowed converters to easily recover their feedrolls without re- moving the shaft from the machine. This unique product consists of a replaceable feed element that made downtime for recovering an entire feed roll under one hour. This product eliminates the need to have crated spares to ship out & return. Fast forwarding to the 1990s Ken was restless to design a new part for the industry. He pioneered a split design for Lead Edge Feed tables. This innovation revolutionized the replacement of feed wheels & eliminated the need to pull shafts and grates. Ken’s innovation allows the wheels to be changed right on the machine even during production set ups. In addition to the split feed wheels, Ken was granted a design patent for the lock system he called Key Lok used for the stitch lap or glue tab anvils. One of Ken’s greatest inventions of the new millennium was the seg- mented corrugator hold down brush. Corrugator brushes originally made with carbon fiber fingers were a frequently replaced item. He saw the need for a more durable product and set out to make a brush with a flexible urethane spine and spring steel fingers. This product allowed the brush to flex and return to its original position millions of times without damage. The corrugated box industry has been the lifework of Ken Wagner and the company he founded so many years ago. He taught his family and employees to work hard, be humble and treat people with respect and dignity. As we bid farewell to Ken, let us honor his memory by embodying the qualities that he exemplified. Let us strive to be compassionate, dedicat- ed, and to find joy in our work and our relationships. His spirit will forever be a part of this team, and his legacy will continue to inspire and guide us. To Ken, thank you for the laughter, the wisdom, and the countless memories. You were more than a colleague; you were a father, grandfa- ther, uncle, boss, treasured friend, and a guiding light in our lives. Your memory will forever be cherished in our hearts. Rest in peace, Ken. You have left an indelible mark on our lives, and you will be deeply missed. Ken Wagner
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www.boardconvertingnews.com
March 25, 2024
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