Buckeye (CONT’D FROM PAGE 20)
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worked on the rotary diecutter and then the flexo. I was in maintenance for a time. In 1999 I went into management of the second shift we had running at the time. “From 2006 until now, I’ve been in my current posi- tion, overseeing the whole facility,” Mullins said. “There’s been such enormous change from when I started. When I first came through these doors, everything was handset with long setups, all hand fed. Our first high-speed piece of equipment was a J&L. We purchased another J&L Spe- cialty Folder Gluer and the first one was phased out. Then we actively began weeding out all the older machines and upgrading everything so that the machines were fully au- tomated with pre-feeders. “The addition of the flexo machine from Haire brought us to a new level,” Mullins continued. “Its durability, its run- nability; the Haire equipment is like night and day from the equipment we used to run compared to now. At the time of purchase, Haire promised a 15-20 minute setup time. Our guys are setting it up in 5 to 7 minutes.” Perfect Timing It is said that timing is everything. It is also something that is very often completely out of a company’s control. “As it turns out, the major steps toward installing the Haire flexo folder gluer were done during Covid,” Pieroni said. “While it was no one’s idea of the perfect time for such a big investment, we knew delaying it would only hurt us and our customers. “So, in the course of nine months during the pandem- ic, two flexos were pulled out and the new Haire machine was installed. This allowed one shift on the ApStar to out- perform and run more product than two crews on the two prior flexo models combined.” An ApStar diecutter was added at the same time, which allowed Buckeye to reduce eight shifts on its prior ma- chine down to just three. “We were running out of work because the machine eats paper,” he laughed. In 2016, the company had 79 associates; it is now run- ning with 37. The lead-up to the installation of the flexo folder gluer was long as Pieroni spent the necessary time to explain to management at the time, and the board of directors, why the investment was so important. “Haire was very patient as we considered every op- tion,” Pieroni said. “They toured us through other facilities that were running the ApStar machine to watch it in action, and they provided us with every data point we needed and requested. “We are not just buying a piece of equipment, we are entering into a partnership,” he concluded. “Haire under- stands that.” During the pandemic, Buckeye also moved to better control the data within the company in order to make more informed decisions going forward. “We installed an EnCore system from Amtech. It was
ADVANTZWARE www.advantzware.com
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aging plants and integrated companies. 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.
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Aopack is a leading manufacturer of automatic corrugated box making machines for short-run and on-demand pro- duction. 1,200+ machines operate in 60+ countries. The BM2800-Ultra integrates digital printing, slitting, slotting, creasing, and vibrating knife cutting, delivering efficient, flexible solutions for customized corrugated box orders.
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22 July 6, 2026
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