Inside PPC’s Folding Carton Boot Camp: Two Days Of Immersive Learning And Expertise BY THE PAPERBOARD PACKAGING COUNCIL On May 20-21, PPC welcomed professionals from across North America to our Spring 2025 Folding Carton Boot Camp — a two-day, hands-on training event designed to unbox the entire folding carton process, from fiber sourcing to final packaging. Held at PPC’s Springfield, MA headquarters, the program brought to- gether new hires, rising leaders, and non-plant personnel eager to build fluency in paperboard packaging. Over the course of two packed days, attendees engaged with subject matter experts, observed real-world demonstrations, and took a deep dive into every major step of the folding carton production lifecycle. “Boot Camp is more than training — it’s a launching pad,” said Ben Markens, President of PPC. “In just two days, attendees gain a compre- hensive perspective of our industry’s ecosystem, equipping them to com- municate more effectively with clients, collaborate across departments, and return to their roles with renewed confidence about where they fit into the bigger picture.”
• Only standard hand tools are required for all maintenance • Direct drive with no chains or sprockets • No tools for media change required » just zip it up » media change out in minutes • Filter is accessible for visual inspection during operation, Significant Advantages Over Conventional Dust Filtration Technology
» no shutdown required • Filter media advantages - high dust collection efficiency
- low pressure loss due to constant deep cleaning of the filter media in minutes - long service life
A Step-By-Step Look At The Folding Carton Journey The experience kicked off with a state-of-the-industry overview from Ben Markens, followed by Steve Rote of Metsä Board Americas Corpo- ration, who unpacked the environmental leadership of virgin fiber. Quinn Garber of Integrity Fiber gave attendees a practical understanding of recovered fiber and the complexities of the North American recycling system. Rich Machovina and Jen Lechlitner of Graphic Packaging Internation- al expanded on this foundation with a detailed look at recycled board and substrate characteristics. Markens then returned to walk through converting formats and sheeting operations, highlighting distinctions be- tween web and sheet-fed workflows. After a networking lunch, Susie Stitzel of Esko laid the groundwork for effective prepress with a comprehensive session on structural design, workflow optimization, and color theory. Joe Lyons of Wikoff Color Corporation followed with insights on inks and coatings, while Eric Frank of diamond sponsor Koenig & Bauer (US/ CA) Inc. wrapped up day one with a compelling overview of printing pro- cesses, cold foil, and rotary die cutting. From Digital Printing To Rigid Box Construction Day two began with Harold Leete of Bobst North America, Inc., guid- CONTINUED ON PAGE 14
• No pressure fluctuations within the system • No compressed air required to clean the filter media
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June 2, 2025
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