BoardConverting Serving the North American Corrugated and Folding Carton Industries for 36 years November 30, 2020 VOL. 36, NO. 48
Beyond COVID-19: The Next Normal For Packaging Design BY MCKINSEY & COMPANY The COVID-19 pandemic has reshaped the megatrends buffeting the $900 billion-a-year packaging industry. As the world manages through—and begins to emerge from—the great public-health and eco- nomic crisis, we expect these megatrend shifts to change packaging design in fundamental ways. To prepare for these changes and the move to the next normal, packaging companies must rethink packaging design beyond “must- haves,” such as reasonable costs, convenience, and performance.
DS Smith: Brace For Holiday Demand For Packaging With the pandemic upending holiday trends, DS Smith released a new survey that shows retailers and supply chains need to be pre- pared for a rush of online shopping and high consumer demand for effective packaging. The results – paced by 75 percent of con- sumers saying they plan to do at least half of their holiday shopping online – offer fresh guidance to help manufacturers, suppliers and others in mapping out their business strategies amid a health care crisis. “The rapid growth of e-commerce that has occurred during the pandemic, combined with the busy holiday shopping season, is putting unparalleled pressure on the behind- the-scenes logistics operations,” said Mark Ushpol, Managing Director of Packaging at DS Smith. Poorly designed packaging that doesn’t perform in this rigorous supply chain can create additional issues, like shipping de- lays or gifts arriving damaged,” Two-thirds of those surveyed (66 percent) say they are anxious about in-store visits this holiday season because of COVID-19, and about the same (62 percent) expect to shop more online this year than in 2019 – and man-
Three major requirements must be addressed: first, a good sustainabil- ity narrative; second, design with hygiene in mind, given recent height- ened consumer-safety concerns; and third, design for e-commerce, ship-ready design, and direct-to-consumer models. With the right focus and innovation capabilities, these megatrend shifts and the resulting design challenges could help packaging con- verters grow by enabling customers to revise their packaging portfo- lios with improved design. To help companies navigate through the future and stay ahead of the competition, we propose critical moves they can make to jump-start their packaging-design change journey. Progressing Megatrends: The Next Normal Of Packaging Although sustainability has recently taken a back seat, it remains a key industry-shaping trend. Packaging-sustainability goals have not CONTINUED ON PAGE 22 Package designs can optimize products for e-commerce by preventing dam- age, boosting productivity and improving the customer experience.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 4
WHAT’S INSIDE 8 FBA Announces Changes To Monthly Statistics 10 Rekindling Our Recycling Success Story 12 Sonoco Adds To Its EnviroSense Line Of Sustainable Packaging 18 Evergreen Packaging Wins AF&PA Leadership Award
T H A C K E R I N D U S T R I A L S E R V I C E C O M P A N Y
O P E R A T O R T R A I N I N G T A I L O R E D T O Y O U R G O A L S Before any training star ts, we need to know your goals. We’ l l help you identi f y them, customize them, measure them and help achieve the expectations set by your team. Our intensive training wi l l encompass two ful l days at your faci l ity for al l par ticipants, during the week or on a weekend. Al l you need is a room for training your group and the machine you want to train on.
O U R T E A M
Our Training team consists of three corrugated industry exper ts with nearly 100 years of combined experience. Their backgrounds are in both integrated and independent companies with roles ranging from Machine Operator to Director of Operations. Making them more than qual i f ied to tackle any machine and training issue. Cal l today to learn how your team can benef it from the industry ’s premier training program.
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November 30, 2020
C u r r e n t O p e r a t o r E x p e r i e n c e
S T E P 1
M a c h i n e t y p e G o a l s / E x p e c t a t i o n s
I s s u e s
Q U E S T I O N N A I R E
P l a n 2 d a y s w i t h i n y o u r s c h e d u l e
S T E P 2
1 d a y c l a s s r o o m a n d 1 d a y a t m a c h i n e
S C H E D U L E
1 - B o x S e t u p C a l i b r a t i o n T o o l i n g
S T E P 3
T R A I N I N G
T r o u b l e s h o o t i n g
DS Smith: Brace (CONT’D FROM PAGE 1 )
ufacturers have to be ready to respond with efficient and sustainable options. For online shoppers, most (68 percent) will rely on home deliveries. And they have high expectations for that, with more than a third (36 percent) saying they won’t buy again from a brand online if a package arrives damaged or if it arrives late. Taking a step further, nearly 9 in 10 con- sumers (88 percent) expect companies to replace dam- aged gifts at no expense. While shoppers don’t want damaged gifts, a DS Smith survey from August proved that wasted space in packag- ing also is a pain point. Nearly all consumers (93 percent) reported they have received packages with wasted space, and nearly three-fourths (73 percent) have received pack- ages that were twice the size or more than needed. All this wasted space has left a bad impression, as 54 percent re- ported they would think twice before ordering again from a company that had excessive space in their packaging. Sustainable options also are important, with 25 percent of consumers in the latest survey saying they are more likely to purchase gifts from companies that use sustain- able packaging options and 19 percent more likely to pur- chase gifts from companies that use less packaging. NOTE: The poll of 1,000 U.S. adults November 4-8 has a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points.
The Price is Right More readers rely on Board Converting News’ containerboard pricing to negotiate their contracts. SUBSCRIBE TODAY.
Robyn Smith at 910-553-4055 /rsmith@nvpublications.com Len Prazych at 518-366-9017 / lprazych@nvpublications.com
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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 indi- cated 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 $885.00-890.00 $900.00-910.00 $900.00-910.00 $900.00-910.00 $930.00-940.00 $903.00-912.00
26# Semi-Chem. Medium
Short Ton Del. Short Ton Del. Short Ton Del. Short Ton Del. Short Ton Del. Short Ton Del.
$820.00-850.00 $835.00-855.00 $835.00-855.00 $835.00-855.00 $865.00-875.00 $838.00-858.00
West Coast U.S. Average
SHEET PRICES BY REGION (AVERAGE) Per 1MSF, local delivery included, 50MSF single item order, truckload delivery. Sheets
PERFORMANCE-DRIVEN CORRUGATED SOLUTIONS
E. Coast Midwest South-SW S. CA N.CA/WA-OR US Aver.
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
122.76
148.46
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.
At EAM-Mosca, we partner with you to provide the best corrugated strapping solution for your application. To learn more about our strapping systems for the corrugated industry visit www.eammosca.com/corrugated or contact us at info@eammosca.com | 844-859-6968
42# Kraft Liner 26#
Semi-Chem Medium
East West
$920.00 $965.00
$910.00 $945.00
AVERAGE CONTAINERBOARD PRICES.indd 1
3/7/19 2:04 PM
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AF&PA Releases October 2020 Boxboard, Containerboard Reports The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) has re- leased its October 2020 Boxboard Monthly report. Total Boxboard production in October decreased two percent compared to October 2019. It was down three percent when compared to the same 10 months of 2019. The box- board operating rate was 93.6 percent, up 0.8 points from October 2019 and down 0.6 points year-to-date. Solid Bleached Boxboard production in October in- creased one percent compared to October 2019. It was down six percent when compared to the same 10 months of 2019. Recycled Boxboard production in October de- creased five percent compared to October 2019. It was down two percent when compared to the same 10 months of 2019. AF&PA also released its October 2020 Containerboard Monthly report. Total Containerboard production in Octo- ber increased three percent compared to October 2019. It was up four percent when compared to the same 10 months of 2019. October 2020 production of container- board for export decreased 13 percent compared to the same month last year; it was up 15 percent year-to-date. The containerboard operating rate was 98.1 percent, up 3.6 points from October 2019 and up 2.8 points year- to-date.
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November 30, 2020
40 ft of paper travel from preheater to hot plates 3 seconds of heat, glue and bonding 1 chance to get it right! the ZONE
Design & Production
Chicago Electric offers 10 technology solutions to control ‘the Zone’ CORRUGATOR Sectoral preheating plate
Our sectoral preheating plates provide direct heat by means of a double steam circuit, allowing for efficient heating in hard-to-access locations, as well as to act as a steam shower to open the paper’s fibre, making it receptive to absorbing the heat and the glue.
This translates into increased speed and improved quality of the cardboard sheet finish.
The system’s main advantages are as follows:
• The plate may only be used to heat, only to humidify, or both options at the same time. • The plate is sectored, which allows for applying humidity to the sections. • It provides temperature in previously inaccessible locations and near the location needed. • It compensates the loss of temperature dissipated due to distance, speed or limitations of the exiting preheaters. • Quick transferring of heat to the paper. • The combination of the hot plate and steam shower allows for providing heat even to the hardest papers to heat. • Does not dry out the paper. • Possibility of operating as a humidifier and pre-conditioner. • Maintains and improves the fibre’s elasticity. • Acts according to the operator’s needs. • Facilitates the paper’s hygroscopy to absorb the glue and improve rubberising.
CONTROLLABILITY
1. Wrap Arm - Position & Temperature 2. Preheater Direct Drive
DOUBLEBACKER IMPROVEMENT
3. Steam Plate 4. Contact Roll 5. Glue Machine Direct Drive Touch Productivity Issue—Glue Unit Many glue units run with a rider roll or a guiding bar system. The rider roll with paper gap allows a precise glue application, but requires frequent Contact Roll
PRODUCTIVITY
C/ Orfeó Català 13-15 · 08440 Cardedeu (Barcelona) telf: +34 93 846 01 06 · comercial@al-gar.com WWW.AL-GAR.COM
DOUBLEBACKER IMPROVEMENT
calibrations and settings. Bar systems avoid this, but compensate this with the risk of exces- sive glue application. The system contains many wearing parts. Solution The contact roll combines the ad antage of both systems and ensures minimum contact between board and applicator roll. The system uses small pneumatic cylinders in order to achieve a “soft touch.”
6. Gap Control 7. Curved Plate 8. Roller Shoe Press When it comes to a short-term increas of web tension, spring loaded systems with shoes or airpressure activated system have problems in compensating these. The system is lifted for a short time. This may result in de-lamination and in the ‘double kiss’ effect. Solution For a defined and exact bonding point of the web fiv weight rollers will be installed usually over the first flat hotplate of the heating section. The rolls are mounted into a frame, which is actuated by means of two pneumatic cylinders. P oductivity Issu —Double Kiss Bonding
PRODUCTIVITY
PRODUCTIVITY
DOUBLEBACKER IMPROVEMENT
Roller Shoe
DOUBLEBACKER IMPROVEMENT
9. Thin Wall Hot Plates 10. Pressure System Benefits —Exact glue application due to defined contact of applicator roll to web. Web is in contact to less flute tips compared to bar systems. • High precision glue application • Less moisture applied to web —No wear of shoes and springs —No adjustment of shoes or paper gap —Uniform glue application over entire working width for all flutes by use of pneumatic cylinders instead of springs — Less contamination by paper dust and glue remains —No jam of board because of web breaks caused by splice joints going through 630-784-0800 Benefits —Rollers secure exact defined first point of contact of liner and single-faced board - No double kiss —Frame design avoids unintended lifting of roller shoe (compared to spring or air loaded systems) - No double kiss —Pressure can be increased or released for special grades or products 490 Tower Blvd., Carol Stream, IL Contact Chicago Electric to GET IT RIGHT 630-784-0800 info@chicagoelectric.com chicagoelectric.com Solution The ProPress system ensures an optimum heat transfer to the board. It offers a wide range of set- tings. The loadi g pressure can be varied, the number of shoes can be lifted in accordance t the line speed. The outer shoes can be lifted in accordance to the paper width. The shoe bars will be delivered pre-assembled for a short installation time. —Liftable for easy paper infeed and for cleaning of the machine —Position adjustable in paper direction to avoid grooves in hotplate Press Productivity Issue—Poor Heat Transfer Rollers are usually limiting the heat transfer, since they often have contact mainly on the edges of the plates due to wear or bent plates. They also cause often loss of caliper and bearing need to be replaced frequently. Airpressure actuated systems can only supply a limited pressure and have com- pared to shoe systems a closed surface. Pressure Shoe
Plate vity Issue—Poor Heat Control l hotplates are slow to react to pressure due to high steam volume and massive y also have high heat radiation and heat profile. Worn plates can damage crease edge crush.
Thin-Wall Hot Plates
t by peripheral drilled hot plates. anufactured out of special wear and nt steel, through which a continuous is drilled, with one inlet and one outlet. ecured by a massive steel frame.
CORR24usa.com
ance from steam to paper surface results in fast heat flow
FBA Announces Changes To Monthly Statistics
Box Shipments ( U.S. Corrugated Product Shipments) Industry Shipments In Billions of Square Feet Month October 2020
Beginning in 2021, The Fibre Box Association (FBA) will change the publication frequency of the Monthly Statisti- cal Report and publish corrugated shipments, container- board consumption and containerboard inventory data on a quarterly rather than monthly basis. Subscribers will also begin to receive summary data for U.S. corrugated industry shipments (actual and average week) and containerboard (consumption and inventory) data on a quarterly rather than monthly basis. The changes align with a similar change in the Amer- ican Forest & Paper Association’s publication of contain- erboard monthly reports and will take place beginning with the first quarter of 2021. The first report will include monthly data for January, February and March and will be published in mid-April 2021. There will be three additional reports published for the second, third and fourth quarters of 2021. There will no longer be monthly reporting. There will be no change to data collection. Member companies will still be required to submit monthly data. The last Monthly Statistical Reports and Monthly Statis- tical Bulletins will be published on December 15 (Novem- ber 2020) and February 1, 2021 (December 2020). Contact Rachel Kenyon at rkenyon@fibrebox.org or (847) 364-9637 with questions.
Year
Actual
Percent Change Avg Week Percent Change
2020 2019
37.396 35.888
4.2
8.499 7.802
8.9
Industry Total
Year-to Date
October 2020
Year
Actual
Percent Change Avg Week Percent Change
2020 2019
337.942 330.090
2.4
7.933 7.785
1.9
Industry Total
Containerboard Consumption (Thousands of Tons)
Year
Month
Percent Change Year-to-Date Percent Change
2020 2019
3.0635 2.9470
4.0
27.6535 27.1498
1.9
Container Board Inventory - Corrugator Plants (Thousands of Tons)
Corrugator Plants Only
Date
Percent Change Weeks of Supply
Percent Change
Oct.
1.8156 1.9511
-6.9
2.6 2.9
-10.3
Sept.
Shipping Days
Year
Month
Year-to-Date
2020 2019
22 23
213 212
SOURCE: Fibre Box Association
8
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Rekindling Our Recycling Success Story BY MARY DRAIN
I do, however, have another thought. When did our recycling success story get stamped out? Because to be clear, we have an outstanding recycling success story. In 2019, 92 percent of all corrugated was successfully recovered for recycling in the U.S., and the average cor- rugated box was made with 50 percent recycled content. That track record is miles ahead of any other packaging material’s recovery and re-use rates. Corrugated is one of few materials that is recovered for recycling through an established, healthy market and never needs to go to waste. The fiber in OCC is valuable, and in high demand by both domestic and foreign manu- facturers. Most OCC is used to make new paper products. All the above reasons and many more should make corrugated packaging like catnip to eco-conscious con- sumers who prefer their purchases come in sustainable packages. If our message has been smothered by the plastic industry’s manipulations, let’s rekindle it. Help our industry by shouting it from the rooftops and sharing it with all who will listen. FBA works relentlessly to get these posi- tive messages out via social media and our website, www. corrugated.org . Help us fan the flames by encouraging everyone you know to “follow” us. Maybe if we share it with enough people, the next 7th grade class will vote paper/corrugated as the most sustainable material – be- cause that is the truth. Mary Drain is the Director of Technical Services at Fibre Box Association (FBA). Reach her at mdrain@fibrebox.org.
A colleague’s junior-high student was recently working on a unit on Sustainability. In a class survey, the kids were
asked, “What is the most sustain- able material?” Given the choic- es of paper, aluminum, glass and plastic, more than half said “Plas- tic, because it is easy to recycle.” I’m not here to dive further into the manipulation by the plastics industry to get consumers to buy more plastic. Recent articles and
Mary Drain
features, such as How Big Oil Misled The Public Into Be- lieving Plastic Would Be Recycled (NPR), and Plastic War (CBC) have been shining a light on something our industry has known for a long time: not all items put in the recycling bin get recycled or even have functional systems for recy- cling once they’re sorted. Consumers have been sorting for decades. Unfortu- nately, most of the plastic they put in the recycling bin has not been and will not be recycled. In fact, no more than 10 percent of plastic produced has ever been recycled. And, at best (2018), the amount of plastic packaging and con- tainers recycled compared to generated is 13.1 percent.
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Sonoco Adds To Its EnviroSense Line Of Sustainable Packaging South Carolina based Sonoco Protective Solutions, a di- vision of Sonoco, has announced the addition of two new paper-based packaging options for heavy and high-value products to its EnviroSense line of more sustainable pack- aging: the EnviroSense FiberMax Bulk Box and the Enviro- Sense FiberMax Master Roll package. FiberMax Bulk Box packaging is designed to help com- panies with products weighing thousands of pounds pro- tect their items, maximize transportation efficiency, reduce storage space, increase stacking strength and make it easy for their customers to recycle the packaging at the end of its useful life. Similarly, EnviroSense FiberMax Mas- ter Roll packaging helps manufacturers of equally heavy, high-value materials in roll form such as films, foils and
laminates avoid damage, reduce costs, improve storage utilization and simplify recycling after use. Both EnviroSense FiberMax packaging solutions are 100 percent recyclable and provide the strength needed to hold thousands of pounds. Users of the FiberMax Bulk Box will find the remarkably strong package costs about half as much as similarly sized wooden crates. Likewise, Fi- berMax Master Roll packaging can be as much as 25 per- cent more cost effective and more than 50 percent lighter when compared to wooden crate alternatives. “We believe we have a responsibility to develop more sustainable packaging to help protect and preserve our planet for future generations,” said Carl Kraus, Segment Vice President of Protective Solutions at Sonoco. “Al- though customers have relied on us for returnable pack- aging innovation, some supply chains need one-way and export solutions. The FiberMax Bulk Box and Master Roll solutions apply this same philosophy to the development
of bracing and cushioning options for heavy and fragile goods – offering superior pro- tection from the rigors of new distribution channels while at the same time providing an innovative new option that’s 100 percent recyclable.” FiberMax Bulk Box and FiberMax Master Roll packaging represent the latest additions to Sonoco’s expanding assortment of more sustainable packaging options designed with tomorrow in mind. Brausse Group NA To Rep New ETERNA Product Line Vancouver, British Columbia based Brausse Group Noth America has announced that it is representing ETERNA, a Bobst Group Company, which has launched the mid-lev- el ETERNA line of folding carton and cor- rugated equipment, raising the standards of equipment in the market through Bobst Group technology. The new “Simply Good” ETERNA product line was designed and branded by the Bobst Group to make a clear statement. Now differ- entiated in the mid-market position, access to Group technology enables continuous im- provement, upgrades and innovations which will continue to improve the ETERNA brand in the future. Brausse Group, established in Vancou- ver, BC, Canada, in 1987 has manufactured thousands of die cutters, folder gluers and foil stampers for both the folding carton and corrugated industries over the years and has hundreds of customers running production daily in the U.S. and Canada today.
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November 30, 2020
Shop And Ship Early BY RACHEL KENYON
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed things a lot – including the way we will celebrate the holidays. The new mantra of mass media and re-
tailers alike advises consumers to shop and ship early. In fact, a recent Supply & Demand Chain Executive article noted, “Seventy-three percent of American consumers, many of whom are digi- tal newcomers, plan to do their holiday shopping online, and 26 percent plan to ship gifts directly from retailers to friends and family. Combined with 88 percent of consumers expressing con- cern over packages arriving late, these shifts put
Rachel Kenyon
retailers under mounting pressure to make this holiday season a suc- cess.” That means all eyes are on the supply chain. The good news is retailers and consumers can count on corrugated packaging to make those happy holiday deliveries. From point A to point B, corrugated boxes are specifically engineered to protect and cushion products along their journey. Simply put, corru- gated packaging is the backbone of the American supply chain. The ability of a box to withstand the rigors of transport through an increas- ingly complex supply chain is crucial for protecting the product inside and supporting the brand behind it. This means the package must arrive in pristine condition and graphics on the box need to provide a mobile billboard for the brand. In addition, it is more important than ever for con- sumers to understand corrugated packaging’s environmental progress and the importance of why and how to recycle the box after use. Box manufacturers have stepped up to the challenge. They have in- creased production of corrugated boxes to keep transport packaging flowing throughout this pandemic year to makers of essential products, holiday gifts and more. In the early days of the pandemic, we watched as the supply chain flexed and contracted amidst pantry-stocking and toilet paper hoarding. The corrugated industry worked to ensure our facilities and our workers were deemed essential. In March, corrugated box shipments grew by 9 percent above March 2019 shipments, boosted by both an additional shipping day and over- stocking of household paper, cleaning supplies and food. Shipments grew again year-over-year in June, July, and September. With October shipments hitting record highs and putting the industry up 2.4 percent through ten months of the year, it is important that we celebrate boxes and the extraordinary work they do. The only thing boxmakers ask from consumers in return, is that they recycle. When it comes to environmentally sustainable packaging op- tions, corrugated has no equal. With an untouchable annual U.S. recov- ery rate hovering around 90 percent for the past nine years – making it the most recovered packaging material in use today – corrugated is a recycling success story. To echo the words of FBA’s immediate past chairman Jeff Chalovich earlier this year, “Boxes. The most extraordinary ordinary thing in the world.” Truer words were never spoken, and there has never been a better time or year to bring this tagline to life. Thanks to Jeff and to everyone in the corrugated industry working hard to make corrugated boxes that will allow retailers and consumers to shop and ship early this holiday season. They click it, corrugated ships it. Rachel Kenyon is Vice President of the Fibre Box Association .
Cosmo DeNicola Chairman, Amtech Software
Packaging ERP Algorithmic Scheduling Web-Based Access Online Customer Portals
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STOP GUESSING.
WE KNOW THE ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS...
WHAT IF?
Get Answers-Be Proactive. • There’s a board increase or decrease? • My volume goes up or down? • I lost my largest customer? • My MIX changed ? • I bought a new machine? • I sold more sheets? • My labor costs go up 5%? • I added OT or another shift?
With Amtech’s NEW AUTOMATED PERFORMANCE COSTING To Learn More or Schedule a Demo Darren Artillio: dartillio@amtechsoftware.com 215.639.9540 www.amtechsoftware.com/accurate-costing
CompanyBox Recognized For Rapid Growth In NC
Box’s dedication to cultivate robust customer relation- ships has proven to be meaningful. “We’ve specifically put an emphasis on building a strong customer sup- port team,” adds CompanyBox President, Kyle DeJesus. “Those are the people differentiating us from just anoth- er packaging company. We’ll never stop innovating. We look forward to continuing our work in Charlotte focus- ing on sustainable custom packaging. I’m excited to see what next year brings. The Charlotte Business Journal will reveal the rank- ings of the top 50 fastest-growing companies in a virtual award ceremony on Thursday, December 3 at 4:00 EST.
Charlotte, North Carolina based CompanyBox was re- cently recognized by the Charlotte Business Journal as one of the 50 fastest-growing private companies in the Charlotte region. Launching as a small startup in 2014, CompanyBox has always had the goal to grow strong internally while striv- ing towards outward expansion. “We are very excited and honored to be included in this group,” said Louie DeJesus, founder and CEO of CompanyBox. “We continually focus on innovative solutions that lead to new offerings for our customer base. It’s wild to look back at where we started and where we are today.” In the beginning CompanyBox had just two employ- ees, Louie and his son Kyle DeJesus. If you could travel to the past, you’d see the original set up in a 16,000- square-foot building, with only one printer. Today, Com- panyBox has expanded employee headcount and a new 105,000-square-foot space with plans to add a third shift and additional high-tech equipment in Q1 of 2021. “Not only does this award celebrate the new jobs we’re creating in Charlotte, it also recognizes the effort of all our dedicated employees who have helped us grow this company,” says DeJesus. With a 200 percent customer growth rate, Company-
Green Bay Packaging To Install Harmax Roll Conveying System
Eagle River, Wisconsin based Harmax Rollcon has an- nounced the sale of a custom designed roll conveying system for the new 1500 fpm Fosber corrugator being in- stalled at Green Bay Packaging’s new converting facility in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The Harmax roll conveying system will automatically convey rolls from the roll storage area to high speed unwind stands. The system also safeguards operators by eliminating clamp trucks at unwind stand work areas. Visit www.materialhsa.com for more informa- tion or contact Ray Cornell at (847) 542-8487 or raycor- nell@sbcglobal.net to schedule a demonstration.
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Evergreen Packaging Wins AF&PA Leadership Sustainability Award Memphis, Tennessee based Evergreen Packaging has an- nounced that it is the recipient of the American Forest & Paper Association’s (AF&PA) 2020 Leadership in Sustain- ability Award for Sustainable Forest Management for its submission, Family Forests – The Key to Certified Success. Awards were presented at the AF&PA’s Presidents Forum. “Our winning project demonstrates Evergreen’s com- mitment to responsible forestry,” said John Rooney, Pres- ident of Evergreen Packaging. “By partnering with the Appalachian Woodlands Alliance and the American Forest Foundation, we’ve been able to help family forest land- owners overcome obstacles to gain forestry certification. That helps us obtain more certified fiber to meet market demand and ensure healthy forests for years to come. Evergreen Packaging recognizes that family forests are key to sustainable forestry, and the company is focused on helping family forest landowners increase access to forest certification programs. “Protecting our Planet’s Resources is one of our sustainability pillars, and central to that com- mitment is the protection of our forests and sustainable forest management,” explained Derric Brown, Sustainabil- ity Director for Evergreen. “In addition, one of our paths for promoting sustainable forestry is engaging in strategic partnerships.”
As a founding member of the Appalachian Woodlands Alliance (AWA), Evergreen Packaging has been instru- mental in helping develop the Smallholder Access Pro- gram (SAP), a two-year Forest Stewardship Council pilot program targeted to southern and central Appalachia woodland owners under 250 acres. The AWA, including Evergreen as a participant, is the recipient of an important award, the Forest Stewardship Council’s 2020 FSC Lead- ership Award in the Uncommon Partnership category. “This successful partnership has enabled us to partic- ipate in a pilot project designed to improve forest health and to help meet rising customer demand for certified products,” says Brown. In 2019, Evergreen Packaging also committed signifi- cant funding to the American Forest Foundation (AFF) to support the development of a Landscape Management Plan (LMP) for the state of South Carolina. These two pro- grams are examples of how Evergreen Packaging is re- ducing barriers and increasing access for small landown- ers to participate in forest certification programs. Brown explains the long-term goal: “Sustainability is at the heart of what we do. Engaging small landowners in re- sponsible forest management is essential to healthy com- munities and the sustainability of our forests. Evergreen believes that sustainably managed forests benefit the en- vironment, are crucial to our industry, and the goals of our company and our customers.” Visit evergreenpackaging.com for more information.
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Weyerhaeuser Reports Completion Of Timberlands Transactions In OR Seattle, Washington based Weyerhaeuser Company an- nounced the completion of two separate transactions in which it purchased timberlands from and sold timber- lands to funds managed by Hancock Natural Resource Group, a Manulife Investment Management company. The company purchased 85,000 acres of timberlands in mid-coastal Oregon in one transaction and sold 149,000 acres in southern Oregon in a separate transaction, for a net cost of approximately $40 million in cash. The compa- ny expects no tax liability in conjunction with the sale. “Oregon is an incredibly important operating region for us, and we’re always looking for opportunities to en- hance our portfolio,” said Devin W. Stockfish, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Through these transactions, we’re gaining highly productive timberland, streamlining operating costs and access to key domestic and export markets, and strengthening our ability to deliver immedi- ate and long-term value for our shareholders.” Weyerhaeuser Company, one of the world’s largest private owners of timberlands, began operations in 1900. The company owns or controls approximately 11 million acres of timberlands in the U.S. and manages additional timberlands under long-term licenses in Canada. Visit www.weyerhaeuser.com for more information.
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Beyond COVID-19 (CONT’D FROM PAGE 1 )
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been abandoned by leading fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies and retailers, which remain commit- ted to achieving high recyclability across their packaging portfolio over the long term. However, given the strong emergence of the new hygiene megatrend—one likely to become a key element of the next normal in packaging— companies will have to rethink the materials and design requirements of sustainable packaging. Although sustainability has recently taken a back seat, it remains a key industry-shaping trend. E-commerce is everywhere. As a result of the stay-at-home orders in many countries, consumers have dramatically increased their digital engagement—in particular, for online grocery shopping. In the United States, online penetration in this segment has increased hugely. Some industry forecasts predict that penetration will reach 10 percent in 2020, compared with two to three percent before the crisis. This will have significant implications for packaging design. Understandably, most of today’s packaging has been op- timized for traditional brick-and-mortar requirements, not online shipments. The pandemic has brought about major channel and category shifts. In packaging’s next normal, we expect consumers to go on being price sensitive, to further accel- erate their online shopping across all categories, and to CONTINUED ON PAGE 24
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Beyond COVID-19 (CONT’D FROM PAGE 22)
focus even more on health and hygiene. These changing consumer preferences will make it necessary to rethink the product mix at FMCG and retail customers. Inevitably, there will be implications for packaging design. Before the COVID-19 crisis, FMCG companies and retailers facing significant margin compression passed these pressures up the line to converters. This issue has already affected packaging design in multiple ways: for example, the substitution of different packaging materials, “light-weighting,” redesigned formats to increase filling ef- ficiency and volume density, smaller pack sizes, and shelf- ready packaging. Given the crisis, we expect such cost pressures to continue, and this could amplify the existing need to use packaging design to reduce costs. Speedier Digitalization Of The Value Chain Another expected outcome of the pandemic is in- creased digitalization of the value chain through automa- tion and the more widespread use of AI—not only for cost efficiency and productivity, but also to make supply more resilient and transparent through real-time tracking. The result could be a greater need to integrate technology— radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags and near-field communications (NFC)— into packaging. Innovative pack- aging designs will play an important enabling role. Pack- aging companies will need to reassess their strategies in light of these evolving megatrends. The consumer’s perceptions of both the actual prod- uct and brand value depend highly on packaging—both its tactile feel and its look. It is therefore a key compo- nent in promoting products and helps to differentiate the introduction of new ones—particularly in today’s world, with rampant SKU proliferation and robust competition on shelves for the consumer’s attention. Primary packaging is also an information carrier that educates consumers about the product inside and ways to use it. Ensuring A Cost-Efficient Delivery System Packaging plays a basic role in containing and protect- ing the product—for example, helping to preserve food, to extend its shelf life, and to minimize waste. It facilitates the consumer’s need for convenience. The consumer’s chang- ing behavior and lifestyles have imposed new demands on packaged goods—for example, reducing the prepara- tion time of food, packaging ready-to-eat fresh meals, and enabling “portionability,” portability, and smaller individual packs. Packaging design has played an important role in fulfilling these requirements by incorporating, for example, easy-to-open and resealable closures. As we move to the next normal, packaging companies should further rethink packaging design, beyond these ex- isting must-have factors. Any packaging launched during the pandemic or in the near future should take into ac- count three other important requirements. 1. Design with a strong sustainability narrative : The broad spectrum of design opportunities to improve the CONTINUED ON PAGE 26
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Kolbus Hycorr understands that quality is a reflection of the great care that takes place throughout the entire manufacturing process. From the time we pour the first casting until the equipment is prepared for shipment, our manufacturing team owns every step to maintain strict quality control. Our customers can rest easy knowing that their equipment has been built with great attention to detail. FOCUS ON QUALITY
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Beyond COVID-19 (CONT’D FROM PAGE 24)
Board Converting NEWS INTERNET DIRECTORY
sustainability narrative can be split into two major groups, which can be addressed in two stages: • Step one: Low-hanging fruit. The design improvements here are no-regrets moves, carried out with only a mini- mal impact on operating costs and capital expenditures for customers and packaging converters alike. These moves include eliminating unnecessary packaging, in- creasing the use of recycled content in the packaging material when this would be easy to do (for instance, in less sensitive applications, such as nonfood items), and helping to communicate sustainability narratives more effectively (for instance, by showing consumers how to recycle packaging). • Step two: Harder but doable. Actions here include packaging-design enhancements that can promote more extensive improvements than those in step one by taking into account the full circular economy and the direct environmental impact of producing packaging materials. This effort could involve packaging design to take advantage of recent innovations in materials and to use more mono-materials. It could also involve intro- ducing packaging designs in new shapes and forms for easy recycling, with new substrates. 2. Design with hygiene in mind : The consumer’s aware- ness of hygiene and safety concerns has increased dra- matically and will probably persist long after the pandemic subsides. A recent survey showed that more than two- thirds of U.S. consumers worry about contracting COVID-19 from food packaging and that more than 40 percent use household disinfectants to clean the products they buy. In the short term, during the crisis, the consequences seem to be an increase in single-use packaging—for example, take-out food typically requires more packaging than food at quick-serve restaurants. Retailers are applying new safety and hygiene ap- proaches to protect consumers—among other things, ban- ning reusable bags, requiring face masks to be worn, and limiting the number of shoppers in stores. Given heightened concerns around this issue, it will have a profound long-term impact on packaging designs and functionality. Several aspects must be addressed through new, improved packaging designs, particularly for foods and beverages, as well as other uses that require consumers to engage directly with packaging (for exam- ple, personal-care and healthcare products): • Ensure that the virus is minimally viable on the packag- ing surface. The choice of substrate can affect the via- bility of the novel coronavirus, so there could be plenty of room for enhanced packaging designs. For example, a study published during the pandemic indicates that coronavirus-survival rates vary from 24 to 72 hours, de- pending on the packaging-material substrate. • Develop new delivery mechanisms for packaging. The consumer’s demand for convenience has sparked de-
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Advantzware provides a flexible and comprehensive sys- tem to address the business management needs of the in- dependent box business, as well as the ERP requirements of full scale packaging plants and integrated companies. With modules for estimating, scheduling, production, inven- tory and accounting, this scalable system supports packag- ing plants that produce corrugated boxes, folding cartons, point of purchase displays, assembled partitions, paper- board products, foam fabrication, as well as distribution of packaging supplies. Advantzware has been in operation for over 30 years and continually enhances our system to ad- dress the needs of the industry. AIR CONVEYING CORPORATION www.accfi lter.com Air Conveying Corporation has been designing, manufac- turing, and installing state of the art trim removal systems for the Corrugated, Folding Carton and Printing industries for more than 49 years. Contact us today.
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Amtech offers the industry’s most innovative and compre- hensive corrugated and packaging ERP, integrated sched- uling software, and engineered automation technology. For over 30 years, Amtech has remained at the backbone of successful businesses from the independent box makers to the largest integrateds. We keep our customers competitive in an ever-changing economy with options such as custom- er digital storefronts and workflows, business intelligence, automated scheduling for corrugators, converting and ship- ping, proactive roll stock and inventory management, and so much more in an integrated, single vendor environment. APEX INTERNATIONAL www.apex-groupofcompanies.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.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 28
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