BoardConverting Serving the North American Corrugated and Folding Carton Industries for 39 years October 30, 2023 VOL. 39, NO. 44
Oklahoma Interpak Plans For Expansion, Automation BY SUSAN RILEY
WHAT’S INSIDE 5 AICC Launches New Group: Women In Packaging 10 IP To Close Containerboard Mill In Orange, Texas 12 TAPPI Foundation Announces 2023-24 Scholarship Winners 18 Manufacturers Analyze Investment Decisions A presentation by Clearwater Paper Cor- poration CEO Arsen Kitch, who emphasized the important role independent suppliers and converters play in the future world of fiber and paperboard, was among the many sessions. Royal Paper Box Company President Dar- ryl Carlson spoke on crisis management with insights on business rebuilding and resilience. It was a particularly special event for top students in the Paperboard Packaging Com- petition and Student Design Challenge who were honored during an awards ceremony. Other key events included student and professional designer presentations, packag- ing megatrends, the Package of the Year De- signer Presentation and a member spotlight featuring Preferred Printing & Packaging. PPC Fall Meeting In San Diego Highlights Innovation San Diego, California was the setting last week for the Paperboard Packaging Coun- cil’s Fall Meeting and Leadership Confer- ence where industry professionals go to be inspired by new ideas and technologies in the production of folding cartons and innovative paper box designs. Look for upcoming issues of Board Con- verting News for more details about this pre- mier industry event.
Just one year into their marriage, Eric and Julie Elgin, who always want- ed to work together, got their wish when Julie’s father, John Schilt, pre- sented them with an opportunity that would allow them to not only work together but to eventually own their own business. It has often been said that working with your spouse works well or doesn’t work at all.
For the Elgins, it has worked amazingly well. In fact, their special brand of teamwork has everything to do with the thriving company that it is today. The History Schilt acquired Oklahoma Interpak, a partition company, in 1979 when he was looking for a location to operate his contract packaging company. “He really was just looking for a place for his contract packaging business to have a roof, so he bought Oklahoma Interpak,” she said. “So, we had a contract packaging business alongside Oklahoma Inter- pak housed in the same facility, but partitions were more successful, so we have focused on that for the last several years.” By 2001, Schilt was considering selling the business unless his CONTINUED ON PAGE 24 Oklahoma Interpak owners Eric and Julie Elgin at their headquarters in Muskogee, Oklahoma, where they manufacture partitions.
In Loving Memory
1965-2023 Craig Lowe
The SUN team is deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Craig Lowe.
Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and everyone at Georgia Pacific, where Craig was a valued member of the team. Craig’s presence and dedication at Georgia Pacific left a lasting impact on all of us, and he will be greatly missed by the entire SUN family.
2 October 30, 2023
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 $955.00-960.00 $970.00-980.00 $970.00-980.00 $ 970.00-980.00 $1000.00-1010.00 $973.00-983.00
26# Semi-Chem. Medium
Short Ton Del. Short Ton Del. Short Ton Del. Short Ton Del. Short Ton Del. Short Ton Del.
$ 890 .00-9 4 0.00 $9 0 5.00-9 2 5.00 $9 0 5.00-9 2 5.00 $9 0 5.00-9 2 5.00 $9 2 5.00-9 4 5.00 $9 0 8.00-9 2 8.00
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.
More box makers, brokers and end users are relying on the containerboard pricing in Board Converting News to negotiate their contracts than ever before. See the current prices every week right here on Page 3. The Price is Right!
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
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.
Len Prazych at 518-366-9017 lprazych@nvpublications.com
42# Kraft Liner 26#
Semi-Chem Medium
East West
$9 2 0.00 $ 96 5.00
$9 1 0.00 $9 4 5.00
3
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October 30, 2023
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4 October 30, 2023
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Complete Design & Packaging Invests In Kolbus AutoBox
Concord, North Carolina based converter, Complete De- sign & Packaging, announced the installation of a Kolbus MultiNova compact multi-point gluer to aid their business in providing an array of custom corrugated packaging and displays. The MultiNova gluer specializes in converting small- to large-sized run lengths of straight-line and crash-lock box work. This machine is designed to be quick to set — taking between 5 to 10 minutes for straight-line or 15 to 20 min- utes for crash-lock, with computerized memory control for repeat glue position jobs. It is designed for batches of a few hundred up to a few thousand. CD&P also reports that the MultiNova was delivered
ahead of schedule. With- in a few days, the Kolbus team had installed the machine and completed training. “The MultiNova is a robust machine with a compact footprint. It real-
ly is an ideal option for companies looking to streamline production and expand their product offering,” said Ryan Clark, Kolbus America. “The quick set-up time, automat- ic feed, modern gluing technology and the latest safety guarding system made this machine the perfect choice.” AICC Launches New Group: Women In Packaging AICC, The Independent Packaging Association, invites women to unlock their full potential and become part of a vibrant community dedicated to championing women's voices, fostering growth, and propelling them toward new heights in the AICC Women in Packaging Group. “There has been an eagerness among many of AICC’s women members to create this group,” said AICC Presi- dent, Mike D’Angelo. “AICC will ardently support this group and we know it will flourish because of the unique nature of the independent.” The AICC Women in Packaging Group offers many ben- efits, including a supportive network and resources to ad- vance their careers. By joining this transformative Group, participants will gain: • Networking Opportunities: Connect with like-minded women from the packaging industry, share experienc- es, and forge valuable professional relationships. • Empowering Mentorship: Access a network of experi- enced mentors passionate about supporting women's professional growth. Gain guidance, advice, and wis- dom from industry leaders. CONTINUED ON PAGE 6
5
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October 30, 2023
AICC Launches (CONT’D FROM PAGE 5)
Box Shipments ( U.S. Corrugated Product Shipments) Industry Shipments In Billions of Square Feet Month June 2023
• Enhancing Skills and Learning: Develop essential lead- ership skills and broaden industry expertise, empower- ing participants to excel in their careers. • Inspiring Role Models: Be inspired by the stories of ac- complished women leaders who have shattered glass ceilings in the packaging industry. Learn from their jour- neys, triumphs, and lessons. • Support: Find a welcoming community of women who uplift and empower each other. Celebrate collective achievements, and share successes. This group welcomes women from all levels and back- grounds at AICC member companies. Two online meet- ings will be held annually and two destination meetings are scheduled during AICC's National Meetings. The facilitator, Taryn Pyle, AICC Director of Education & Talent Development, will guide and support participants on their journey. During a career spanning 25 years in as- sociation leadership, Pyle has become an empowerment coach and a Gentle Trauma Release practitioner. Her pas- sion for empowering women in various industries has giv- en her a deep understanding of women's challenges. “Together, we rise, break barriers, and shape the future. This Group celebrates the strength, diversity, and brilliance of women in packaging,” said Pyle. To learn more and join the AICC Women in Packaging Group, visit www.AICCbox.org/Advisory .
Year
Actual
Percent Change Avg Week Percent Change
2023 2022
33.006 34.817
-5.2
7.501 7.913
-5.2
Industry Total
Year-to Date
June 2023
Year
Actual
Percent Change Avg Week Percent Change
2023 2022
189.149 206.082
-8.2
7.447 8.113
-8.2
Industry Total
Containerboard Consumption (Thousands of Tons)
Year
Month
Percent Change Year-to-Date Percent Change
2023 2022
2.7037 2.8541
-5.3
15.5017 16.9061
-8.3
Container Board Inventory - Corrugator Plants (Thousands of Tons)
Corrugator Plants Only
Date
Percent Change Weeks of Supply
Percent Change
June May
2.2422 2.3221
-3.4
3.6 3.9
-7.7
Shipping Days
Year
Month
Year-to-Date
2023 2022
22 22
127 127
SOURCE: Fibre Box Association
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Coastal Container Names Larsen GM Of Sheets Business Unit Holland, West Michigan based Coastal Container an- nounced the hiring of Scott Larsen as General Manager of the Coastal Sheets business unit. Larsen, a Michigan State School of Packaging gradu- ate, brings over 30 years of experience in the corrugated industry to the position.
The new Sheets division will capitalize on the corruga- tor’s capacity to run over two billion square feet of material per year. Coastal Sheets bolsters the Coastal Group’s abil- ity to withstand supply-chain disruptions and positions the company as the region’s only locally owned and operated provider of onsite sheets production. “I am most looking forward to being a part of an inno- vative, entrepreneurial team that has built a reputation for excellence,” said Larsen. “My experience at Union Camp/International Paper and Akers taught me about the corrugated sheets business, from design, production, customer service and especially how to sell value and I’m excited to bring that knowledge and expertise to a team that has great people and a great culture.” Brent Patterson, Coastal Container’s CEO, said that Larsen is a great fit for the company. “With his directly relatable experience and his previous track record of success, Scott is an outstanding addition to our team, particularly as it relates to his experience with Fosber corrugators and their implementation,” Patterson said. Larsen joins a growing team of industry experts includ- ing Nathan Hoekstra, Coastal’s General Manager; Tom Staal, Management Systems Director; Troy Howard, Plant Manager; and William Cessna, Director of Operations. To- gether, they represent more than 100 years of experience in the packaging industry.
Prior to joining the Coastal team, Larsen spent seven years at Union Camp/International Paper before moving to Akers Packaging in Illi- nois. He has worked in sales, sales management and general manage- ment, roles which prepared him well for his new role.
Scott Larsen
Larsen will oversee the new Fosber Corrugator, which launched production on October 9 and represents the same family of machines he managed while at Akers. His focus will be leading his team to optimize its capabilities and provide corrugated sheet products, as well as finished boxes and honeycomb, to the company’s partners. Coastal’s recent $25 million expansion added 65,000 square feet of capacity to accommodate the corrugator and more than 60 new jobs by bringing the corrugating capabilities in-house.
8 October 30, 2023
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IP To Close Containerboard Mill In Orange, Texas
tions to the company over the years. We are committed to providing severance benefits, outplacement assistance and more to help employees during this time." In total, approximately 900 positions will be impacted. Wherever possible, the company's goal is to minimize the impact on employees by using current vacancies, retire- ments, normal attrition and other roles at International Pa- per. The permanent closure of the Orange mill will reduce the company's containerboard capacity by approximately 800,000 tons. The company's remaining containerboard mill system in North America will include 17 mills with an annual production capability of 13MM tons. The actions in Pensacola and Riegelwood will reduce IP's pulp capacity by approximately 500,000 tons (300,000 tons fluff pulp and 200,000 tons southern bleached softwood). The company's remaining pulp mill system will include eight mills with an annual production capability of 2.7MM tons.
Memphis, Tennessee based International Paper (IP) last week announced a series of actions to further strengthen and optimize its manufacturing system to meet customers' needs. The company will permanently close its container- board mill in Orange, Texas, and will permanently cease production on two of its pulp machines - the #20 machine in Riegelwood, North Carolina, and the #4 machine in Pen- sacola, Florida. "Decisions like these are extremely difficult, because of the impact on our employees, their families and the com- munities in which we operate," said Chairman and CEO Mark Sutton. "We are grateful to our employees in Orange, Riegelwood and Pensacola for their significant contribu-
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ChromaScape Names Wright Technical Services Manager
Be Social, Stay Current !
Independence, Ohio based ChromaScape has introduced William “Bill” Wright as the company’s Technical Services Manager and a driving force behind its technical service
team. With a focus on technical expertise, innovation and strategic collaboration, Wright excels in or- chestrating seamless cooperation among team members an ensuring customer satisfaction. Wright is an experienced paper industry professional with more than three decades of success. In
Bill Wright
his current role, he oversees projects that encompass tri- als, audits, troubleshooting and product development. He works closely with sales management and technical sales, forging strong partnerships that facilitate effective communications and alignment of objectives, while main- taining a sharp focus on understanding the customer’s needs and challenges. His specialties include Wet End Chemistry Application, Paper Making, Technical Sales, Fluorescent Whitening Agents Expert, and Process Engineering. He attended the University of Delaware/Delaware Technical College in Newark, Delaware.
Follow Board Converting News on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook to get the most current news and information for the corrugated and folding carton industries.
Len Prazych at 518-366-9017 lprazych@nvpublications.com
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TAPPI Foundation Announces 2023-24 Scholarship Winners
TAPPI has announced the 14 scholarship recipients for the 2023-2024 ac- ademic year totaling $60,000. Each year, TAPPI awards graduate and un- dergraduate scholarships to students in the pulp, paper, packaging and related industry. Alex Boyd, a junior majoring in paper and chemical engineering at Western Michigan University, and Weston Cregger, a fourth-year student at North Carolina State University (NCSU) pursuing a dual degree in paper science and engineering and chemical engineering, are recipients of the William L. Cullison Scholarship. The TAPPI Foundation’s $4,000 William L. Cullison Scholarship is named in honor of TAPPI’s fifth executive director and is awarded each year to a third- or fourth-year student working toward a career in pulp and paper, corrugated container, or flexible packaging. Sofia Dwyer, a junior majoring in chemical engineering at Miami Univer- sity, D’Kayla Thomas, a senior pursuing a paper science and engineering degree at NCSU, and Nayab Tufail, a sophomore majoring in paper engi- neering at Western Michigan University, are the recipients of the 2023- 2024 TAPPI Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Scholarships. The $1,000 TAPPI Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Scholarship was es- tablished in 2022 in support of underrepresented populations which in- clude but are not limited to African American, Native American, Hispanic and Latinx, Asian, Pacific Islander, LGBTQ+, and people with disabilities. All applicants must be students enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program, and demonstrate an interest in a career in paper, pulp, tissue, and packaging. “Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, the TAPPI Foundation scholarships are investments in the future of the industries we serve,” said Larry N. Montague, TAPPI President and CEO. “By supporting the develop- ment of talented students, we empower them to drive innovation, sustain- ability, and progress. Congratulations to this year’s recipients.” In addition to the Association-level scholarships, Technical Division scholarship winners include: • Emily Baker, chemical engineering, Miami University, Process Control Division Scholarship • Katherine Bodenschatz, industrial design, University of Cincinnati, Cor- rugated Packaging Division’s Suppliers Advisory Committee Scholar- ship Alex Boyd, in addition to receiving the William L. Cullison Scholarship, was awarded the Corrugated Packaging Division’s Mitsubishi Heavy Indus- tries Scholarship, Terry S. Paulson Memorial Scholarship, and Process Con- trol Division Scholarship. Weston Cregger, in addition to receiving the William L. Cullison Schol- arship, was awarded the Charles B. Tibbits Memorial Scholarship, the Cor- rugated Packaging Division’s Joe Dieffenbacher Engineering Memorial Scholarship, Engineering Division Scholarship, Ron Franklin Fiberglass Mat Memorial Scholarship, and Process & Product Quality Division Scholarship. Other recipients include: • Hannah Getsee, paper science and engineering, NCSU, Coating and Graphic Arts Division’s Robert W. Hagemeyer Scholarship • Meegan Heerlyn, paper and chemical engineering, Western Michigan University, Coating and Graphic Arts Division’s Robert W. Hagemeyer Scholarship an Process and Product Quality Division Scholarship CONTINUED ON PAGE 16
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October 30, 2023
Our long-awaited 2023 Packaging Playbook is finally here. We talk through all the challenges present in
our changing world of corrugated packaging and more importantly, how to solve them.
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PPC, AF&PA Promote Packaging Industry In Washington DC The Paperboard Packaging Council (PPC) announced on Linkedin its participation at National Forest Week in Wash- ington D.C. along with the American Forest & Paper Asso- ciation.
TAPPI Scholarships (CONT’D FROM PAGE 14)
• Bryanna Lawry, chemical engineering and paper sci- ence engineering, NCSU, Process and Product Quality Division Scholarship • Abigail “Abbi” Brooke Mendius, graphic design and production, Dunwoody College of Technology, Corru- gated Division Scholarship • Kate Ross, chemical engineering, Miami University, the Corrugated Packaging Division’s John O. Telesca Engineering Scholarship and Process Control Division Scholarship • Allison Thompson, chemical engineering, University of Maine, Engineering Division Scholarship, Paper and Board Division Scholarship, and the Ron Franklin Fiber- glass Mat Memorial Scholarship • Gracelynn Woods, paper science and engineering and chemical engineering, NCSU, Paper and Board Division Scholarship TAPPI is currently accepting scholarship applications for the 2024-2025 academic year. Applications are due February 15, 2024. For application details and to view the gallery of 2023-2024 scholarship recipients visit tappi. org/scholarships . For more information about the TAPPI Foundation and the scholarship program, contact Mary Beth Cornell, Mem- bership and Global Development Director, at mcornell@ tappi.org.
Their purpose was to educate legislators on the sus- tainability of the industry and the many multi-generational, family-run businesses that supply paperboard packaging for essential products. Pictured above, from left, are PPC staff members, Ben Markens and Brian Westerlind, Andrew Johnson of Graph- ic Packaging International, and Eric Malnove of Malnove Holding Company.
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Manufacturers Analyze Investment Decisions BY GREG KISHBAUGH
Be Social, Stay Current !
The Manufacturing Institute, the workforce development and education affiliate of the National Association of Man- ufacturers, in partnership with Cognizant, released a study that examined the different approaches manufacturers take in making investment decisions. “As manufacturers continue to evolve, the nature of work and skills must adapt to meet the needs of the changing industry,” said NAM Chief Economic and Director for the Center of Manufacturing Research Chad Moutray.
Follow Board Converting News on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook to get the most current news and information for the corrugated and folding carton industries.
Len Prazych at 518-366-9017 lprazych@nvpublications.com
“Manufacturing leaders must prioritize investments to best position their companies in a competitive market- place and set themselves up for success over the long term. Three investment priorities emerged across manu- facturer size and industry: increasing throughput and low- ering costs where possible, creating new opportunities for growth, and building a stronger, more resilient workforce. Nearly all the companies we interviewed emphasized the importance of investing in their workforce.” The study consisted of an online survey and in depth interviews of manufacturing leaders from June to August 2023. Making Priorities When asked about their top priorities for current dollars, nearly 74 percent of manufacturers reported building a ro- bust and trained workforce as a key area for investment, which fits in with the larger macroeconomic conditions of the tight labor market and shortage of available workers. When business leaders were asked how they would spend a marginal $1 million, 61.5 percent would invest in new equipment. These findings point toward a desire to make smart investments that will transform operations and the production process, while also ensuring that the work- force can adapt to such changes. Additional areas of focus for marginal dollar investment included investing in improved processes and operations (60.2 percent), optimizing existing equipment (53.4 per-
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Manufacturers (CONT’D FROM PAGE 18)
cent), investing in new equipment (51.7 percent), investing in new technologies (46.6 percent) and research and de- velopment (44.9 percent). When considering their future growth strategies, man- ufacturers identified a stronger domestic economy for growing sales (69.5 percent), increased efficiencies in the production process (67.8 percent) and maintaining a ro- bust and trained workforce (67.0 percent) as the most sig- nificant factors in contributing to expansion. Greg Kishbaugh is a Contributing Editor to BCN. Amazon Announces New Fulfillment Center To Eliminate Plastic Packaging Seattle, Washington based Amazon announced its first au- tomated U.S. fulfillment center to eliminate plastic delivery packing as part of a multiyear effort to convert U.S. fulfill- ment centers to paper. Amazon’s fulfillment center in Euclid, Ohio is the first in the U.S. to replace plastic delivery packaging with paper packaging solutions that are curbside recyclable.
Suppliers: Leverage Our Reach
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Len Prazych at 518-366-9017 lprazych@nvpublications.com Advertise in BCN in print and/or online to leverage our expansive reach!
Amazon has traditionally used a mix of plastic and pa- per packaging to optimize for durability, weight, and size. Since recycling plastic packaging generally requires cus- tomers to use a drop-off location, Amazon’s packaging engineers have been researching and experimenting for years to develop solutions to deliver products to custom- ers with paper. By rebuilding existing machines to use paper instead of plastic, creating durable and flexible paper packaging, improving made-to-fit technology, and transitioning from plastic air pillows to paper filler, the team enabled the Eu- clid fulfillment center to transition fully to paper packaging. “This is a major milestone for our U.S. fulfillment cen- ters, and I’m incredibly proud of the teams that developed new technologies to eliminate plastic packaging,” said Pat Lindner, VP of Mechatronics and Sustainable Packaging at Amazon. “This is just the beginning, as we continue to discover
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Amazon Announces (CONT’D FROM PAGE 20)
waste by minimizing the amount of material shipped per packaging, and also helps give customers an “easy-to- open” experience. BHS Corrugated, Highcon Announce New Strategic Partnership Weiherhammer, Germany based BHS Corrugated Maschin- en- und Anlagenbau GmbH and Yavne, Israel based High- con Systems Ltd. announced a Strategic Partnership to serve the industry's needs for digitalization and automa- tion in the corrugated packaging market. BHS Corrugated, a provider of solutions for the corru- gated industry, and Highcon recognized that Highcon's unique technology is starting to serve an important role in the core market of BHS Corrugated. Highcon's corrugated packaging and display products have been placed with market leaders, including Pratt Industries, Schumacher, and WestRock. BHS Corrugated said that the incorpora- tion of Highcon's digital die cutting equipment into the Box Plant 2025 strategy of the German company can serve the industry's needs as it moves towards greater automation and digitalization. “Highcon's unique solutions can be a very valuable building block in the digitalization and enhanced opera- tional efficiency of the corrugated industry,” said Christian Engel, Managing Director of BHS Corrugated.
more ways to eliminate and reduce plastic packaging for our customers.” One of the new technologies is a new machine that creates on-demand, curbside-recyclable, made-to-fit packages for products that require more protection than a non-padded bag.
The machine measures an order’s dimensions and creates a right-sized, protective packaging using a type of corrugate that is flexible and lighter than the typical box. It has the largest custom-packaging size range of any other automated machine at Amazon, with the ability to create made-to-fit packaging for roughly half of Amazon’s shipped packages. The made-to-fit technology, paired with a lighter corrugate, allows the machines to reduce
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SINCE 1955
Oklahoma Interpak (CONT’D FROM PAGE 1)
daughter wanted to get involved. Julie wasn’t coming without Eric, but fortunately they both possessed skills from their careers at the time that would prove to be great assets to the business. Julie was an accountant at PricewaterhouseCoopers and Eric was a salesman in the healthcare industry. At 25, they breathed new life into the company with Ju- lie’s flair for numbers and Eric’s ambition and energy which would be needed to build good relationships with custom- ers and especially to find new ones which has proven to be instrumental in the company’s current success and lon- gevity.
A Stripper Operator checks quality prior to a run.
Eric, who had a background in marketing, also came up with a clever slogan that sparks a lot of feedback and name recognition, “We Divide, You Conquer,” both suc- cinct and easy to remember. New Customers Julie’s father was happy they came aboard when he was at a point where he wanted to spend time with his other interests and was maybe getting a little bored. “I think us coming and getting into a new substrate of partitions helped inspire him to keep going a little longer,” Eric said. Julie and Eric set a goal to grow the business and build on its success so that it could support all their livelihoods. They invested in new partition machinery and began to modernize the facility. “It’s a way different factory than when we started,” Eric said. Initially, the company’s longtime partition customers consisted of several local glass factories, one of which was going out of business. To stay viable, Eric knew he would have to develop a new customer base starting from scratch. “I didn’t know anything about who to sell partitions to. Our only customers at the time were the glass factories so I started calling glass factories and that didn’t work,” Elgin said.
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Oklahoma Interpak (CONT’D FROM PAGE 24)
hot sauces and salsa, automotive parts, and about every- thing else one could imagine. Building Their Niche By 2010, Eric and Julie became part-owners of Okla- homa Interpak, one of the few if only manufacturers of as- sembled partitions made of chipboard and corrugated in the area, and one of only a handful of its size in the US. They outsource shipping with brokers and trucking companies or LTL (less than truckload) shipping that trans- port their partitions to companies all over the US from their central location in Oklahoma. “We’ve had some pretty good success,” Eric said. “While there are more boxes in the world than partitions, Interpak serves a large geographic shipping radius, I get surprised all the time.” New Substrates Business has continued to grow especially after get- ting into the chipboard business in 2005, Julie said. That year, Eric said they invested in American-made partition machines from Premier Paper Converting Machinery, for- merly Milwaukee Tool and Die, to process chipboard — a stripper machine and an assembler machine. “It’s just grown from there. It’s the bigger part of our business now by quite a bit,” Eric said. “We took a plunge in 2005, and it has proved to have been a good move.” Investing In Machinery & Automation The stripper machines make the parts while the assem-
But in his quest for new customers, he came across a box factory and curiosity got the best of him. “I found out they were outsourcing partitions from an- other company. I thought, I do the same thing and I’m clos- er, let’s try it,” Eric said.
Oklahoma Interpak still has a few of the larger glass customers, but most of the clients who buy their partitions today are independent and integrated box manufacturers or packaging brokers from all over the country. The partitions serve a critical role in protecting items for transport which could be glass, beverages, food including A fully automatic partition line slots and assembles in one pass.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 28
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Oklahoma Interpak (CONT’D FROM PAGE 26)
the auto lines, Eric said. They offer a large variety of sizes from ¾-inch up to 15-inch. “You can’t run those on the same machine,” he added. “Plus, they need different machines for cutting corrugated than they do for chipboard.” When Eric first started, he spent time in the shop running the machines. Though they use different machines now, it was a great education in mechanical processes. Key Attributes Oklahoma Interpak enjoys being unique. Some box companies make their own partitions, but it’s a big invest- ment for them and it also performs a completely differ- ent function than making boxes. Sometimes outsourcing makes more sense. “What we do is nothing like a box plant,” Eric said. “It is a tedious and more labor-intensive process.” One of their selling points is that their partition machines do not use steel-ruled dies which saves money for box plants. “Our machines do not require steel rule dies, which helps to lower costs. There are no tooling charges required for our orders,” Eric said. Another advantage of doing business with Oklahoma Interpak is their smal size, which makes them quick on their feet. They can customize to customer needs more easily than the larger firms; they can make timely decisions which helps their customers if they’re having an emergency.
blers assemble the parts into the partitions. Eric said they have automated processes significantly since 2001. There are now automated lines that allow one person to slot and assemble the entire job from two rolls of sheet- fed paper.
“We’re looking at purchasing another automated machine so we can continue to grow,” Eric said, with Julie adding, “It really increases our capacity whenever we get a new one because we run the automated machine for three shifts. So, we run 24 hours.” They still need separate strippers and assemblers to handle small or intricate jobs that fall beyond the scope of A chipboard partition runs through an auto-collapser.
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INTRODUCING
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Automation (CONT’D FROM PAGE 28)
Board Converting NEWS INTERNET DIRECTORY
Workforce Oklahoma Interpak employs 40 people and 10 to 15 “temp-to-perm” employees at any given time. Eric said they look for people with a “can do” attitude who are will- ing to learn. While hiring has been difficult in the past few years, Eric said they have a solid group now. Julie said their longest working employee has been there 19 years, another employee started “as a kid” 15 years ago and is now a supervisor.
ADVANTZWARE www.advantzware.com
Advantzware provides a comprehensive system to address the business management needs of the independent box business, as well as the ERP requirements of full scale pack- aging plants and integrated companies. With modules for estimating, scheduling, production, inventory and account- ing, this scalable system supports companies that produce corrugated boxes, folding cartons, point of purchase dis- plays, assembled partitions, and paperboard products. AIR CONVEYING CORPORATION www.accfilter.com Air Conveying Corporation is a leader in the industry of Pneumatic Conveying Systems and has been in business since 1968. As an equipment manufacturer rather than sim- ply a sales organization, we have complete control over the quality of material and products which make up your pro- posed system. Our equipment is found in printing, folding carton and corrugated plants throughout the world. We've been designing, manufacturing and engineering pneumatic conveying systems since 1984. We partner with our customers to ensure they operate efficiently and guar- antee our systems meet or exceed their specifications. ASDI specializes in full pull-through systems trim separators, and NFPA compliant systems with full electronic controls. AMTECH SOFTWARE www.amtechsoftware.com AIR SYSTEMS DESIGN, INC. www.airsystemsdesign.com Amtech offers the industry’s most innovative and com- prehensive corrugated and packaging ERP, integrated scheduling software, and engineered automation technol- ogy. For over 30 years, Amtech has kept our customers competitive in an ever-changing economy with customer digital storefronts and workflows, business intelligence, automated scheduling for corrugators, converting and shipping, proactive roll stock and inventory management. APEX INTERNATIONAL www.apexinternational.com World’s largest Anilox and Glue & Metering roll manufac- turer, providing the widest selection of corrugated engrav- ings and complementary services. Anilox engraving options available from our North American manufacturing facility include elongated 75°, 60°, 45°, plus Apex’s patented GTT technology. Glue rolls are produced with Hardened Stain- less Steel and a max TIR of 10 µ for Single, Double Facers.
Julie brings historical knowledge of the company to her ownership role. As a teenager, she cleaned the bathrooms and filled in for the office, but hated every minute of it, she said. It’s a different story today. The Elgin’s two chil- dren are teenagers, but they spent a lot of time at the plant when they were small, corralled by a Dutch door to the office of the financial controller, but mom to them. A 25-cell partition being assembled for the decorated glass industry.
Eric has been active with the AICC, The Independent Packaging Association, serving as Region 4 director twice and is now a board member at-large. He attends most meetings and participates in legislative issues of interest to the corrugated packaging industry. Growing & Expanding The last of their contract packaging business stopped in 2009 to make way for more and more partition ma- An operator bundles partitions per a customer’s palletization specifications.
ALBANY INTERNATIONAL www.albint.com
Albany International has a corrugator belt for every appli- cation. Our reputation for durable performance is the trade- mark of the most dependable belts in service today.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 32
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Automation (CONT’D FROM PAGE 30)
Board Converting NEWS INTERNET DIRECTORY
chines, with more profit to follow. Since 2016, revenues have grown 140 percent, Julie said.
ARC INTERNATIONAL www.ARCInternational.com
ARC International is a world leader in the manufacturing of roller products for flexography. The latest nano-technology laser engraving in our NC and NV manufacturing facilities ensures superior quality and consistency in anilox rollers.
AES (ADVANCED EQUIPMENT SALES) www.aesales.net
AES is a leading full-service provider of integrated convey- ance systems specializing in scrap, trim, and dust. AES en- gineers custom scrap systems and works as a partner in process improvement to help businesses achieve greater profitability, productivity, and sustainability. Products include balers, shredders/hoggers, core shredders, filters, fans, and specialized dust control and collection systems. AES is the ex- clusive distributor for the AirShark Rotary Material Separator.
They believe that additional automation machines will boost revenue even further. With the business in good hands, Schilt retired in 2020 and remains a co-owner. As soon as they can, they will be expanding their 55,000-square-foot facility again by another 20,000-square-feet or so. There have been several additions to the building already as business has grown and more space will be needed to fit the new automated machine. “I think the next expansion will allow us to be able to do the layout that needs to happen,” Eric said. Success Begets Success Focusing solely on box partitions makes Oklahoma In- terpak among the best at what they do. As experts in the field, they produce multiple sizes of partitions to fit a box perfectly to exact specifications and assist customers in choosing the most economical design and materials. A first-shift auto-one operator off-bears assembled partitions.
AMERICAN CORRUGATED MACHINE www.acm-corp.com
For a wide variety of new and used equipment on to- day’s market, visit our website at www.acm-corp.com.
BAUMER HHS CORPORATION www.baumerhhs.com
hhs is a global leader in advanced gluing, camera verifica- tion and quality assurance systems for the packaging indus- try. Zero-defect quality and elevated production speeds are key parameters in the manufacturing of corrugated boxes. With hhs Xcam Box Monitoring and non-contact flap gluing of corrugated board, hhs offers every option for quality as- surance in the production of boxes with flexo folder gluers. BLOWER APPLICATION COMPANY (BLOAPCO) www.BloApCo.com BloApCo has served the corrugated industry since 1933 with a variety of scrap handling solutions, including Hori- zontal Floor Shredders, Trim Cutters, and Material Handling Fans and Conveying Systems. BloApCo Shredders allow for continuous shredding and pneumatic removal of sheet waste stacks of all sizes, roll slab, cores, and carton scrap.
CORRUGATED MACHINERY SPECIALISTS www.cmsretrofits.com
Leading manufacturer and installer of quality retrofits, up- grades and replacement parts for S&S and Prime Flexo Folder Gluers. Specialists in reconditioning of S&S Flexo Folder Gluers, including ink, air and electrical systems.
As Oklahoma Interpak succeeds and grows in the industry, the box manufacturers who use their partitions find success as well by being able to rely on them for safe shipping of the fragile contents within their boxes. With a robust customer base, continued investments in machine automation, future expansion plans, and an unyielding drive to make the family business as successful as it can be, the sky is the limit for Oklahoma Interpak. Owner, Eric Elgin, and one of the many orders in process.
CORRUGATOR BELT SERVICE LLC www.corrugator.com
Serving the corrugated box industry since 1991, Chicago- based Corrugator Belt Service LLC maintains corru- gator belts for peak board quality and performance.
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