PPC Meeting Preview (CONT’D FROM PAGE 26)
Board Converting NEWS INTERNET DIRECTORY
about ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, Claude, Google Gemini, and other AI tools that will be changing the way we work, both in the short and longer term. As a business leader
you want to leverage this technolo- gy to increase both productivity and profits. So what should you know now? Gene’s session will examine how AI can optimize internal workflows, support predictive maintenance, enhance logistics planning, and im-
THE HAIRE GROUP www.hairegroup.com
Haire Group is the premier provider of new machinery for the corrugated industry. From the Apstar line of flexo folder gluers and rotary die cutters, the Encore line of flexo folder gluers and rotary die cutters, and the Engico flexo folder glu- er, Haire is able to pair clients with the best machinery solu- tions for the best value to meet their needs. Haire Group’s service department helps its customers maximize uptime and profitability through superior 24/7 service and support, a pre-install training center, and over a million dollars’ worth of spare parts at their offices just outside of Chicago. Haire Group has been the industry’s #1 pre-owned machinery bro- ker and plant equipment appraiser since 1976. HarperLove is the leading provider of specialty adhesives, performance additives, and wet-strength resins to corru- gated packaging manufacturers. With the largest and most experienced field service and technical support team posi- tioned throughout the U.S. and Latin America, HarperLove has a long-standing reputation for providing outstanding service and delivering demonstrable performance improve- ments. HarperLove’s renowned services include not only innovative product development and custom product for- mulation, but also machine and process assessments, ad- hesive formula adjustments, machine tuning, detailed ser- vice reporting, and more. HARPERLOVE www.HarperLove.com Kernic Systems has been a leading global provider of re- cycling equipment solutions since 1978. For over 40 years, Kernic Systems has provided balers, air conveying and dust collection systems, shredders, industrial vacuums, and re- cycling equipment to a wide range of markets. Today, Ker- nic Systems serves customers with an expanded offering of standard products and custom-engineered systems through three primary business divisions: Recycling Solu- tions, Dust Collection and Air Pollution Control, and Material Handling. Kiwiplan provides state-of-the-art software solutions to cor- rugated, folding carton, plastics and flexible packaging fa- cilities around the globe. Kiwiplan’s Total Solution delivers comprehensive, seamless real-time flow of information from sales order management to dynamic total plant scheduling and inventory control through shipping. With deep manu- facturing and distribution expertise, Kiwiplan knows the specific problems customers face and provides the spe- cialized software they need to adapt, compete, and win in today's rapidly changing world. KERNIC SYSTEMS www.kernicsystems.com KIWIPLAN www.kiwiplan.com
Gene Marks
prove quality control. For folding carton manufacturers balancing cost pressures, workforce challenges, and ris- ing customer expectations, the conversation will focus on purposeful tools rather than hype. Gene Marks is a longtime Forbes technology columnist who has focused primarily on artificial intelligence since 2022, Gene writes extensively about AI’s real-world im- pact on businesses and contributes to outlets including The Guardian, Entrepreneur, and Accounting Today. He is the author of several business management books, in- cluding The AI Business Playbook, and speaks nationally to industry associations and corporate audiences about how AI and emerging technologies affect productivity, profitability, and strategic investment decisions. Gene also hosts the Paychex Thrive Podcast and frequently appears on major media outlets such as Fox Business and CNBC. Visit: www.genemarks.com. Awards And Honors During the conference, PPC will present its highest honor, the Robert T. Gair Award for Lifetime Achieve- ment, to outgoing PPC President Ben Markens. Markens’
decades of service and leadership strengthened PPC’s benchmarking programs, advocacy presence, and collaborative culture, helping re-es- tablish the association as the trusted authority for paperboard packag- ing converters and suppliers across North America.
Ben Markens
In addition, PPC will recognize industry leaders in op- erational excellence through its expanded Chair’s Safe- ty Awards Program. For more than a decade, the Chair’s Safety Award has recognized the PPC member facility that achieved the highest number of hours worked without an OSHA-recordable incident. This year, PPC has broadened the program to include multiple plant sizes, ensuring mem- ber companies of all sizes are recognized for extraordi- nary safety performance. “As our industry continues to evolve, clarity and col- laboration are competitive advantages,” Leonczyk added. “Spring Meeting ensures our members leave not only in- formed, but aligned with better insight, stronger connec- tions, and a clearer path forward.” Visit paperbox.org for more details about the event.
28 March 2, 2026
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