BCN November 9, 2026

BoardConverting Serving the North American Corrugated and Folding Carton Industries Since 1985 November 9, 2026 VOL. 42 NO. 46

Dominion Packaging Invests $25M In New Facility Sandston, Virginia based Dominion Packag- ing has invested $25 million to expand its foot- print in eastern Henrico County, with plans to create more than 100 jobs, it announced last week. The expansion includes a new 188,000-square-foot industrial facility at 2724 Seven Hills Blvd., marking Dominion Packag- ing’s second location within the Airport Logis- tics Center. According to the company and the Henri- co County Economic Development Authority, the new facility will serve as a hub for finished goods and distribution, with those opera- tions relocating from Dominion’s neighboring 241,000-square-foot facility at 2708 Seven Hills Boulevard. The company, which produces folding car- tons and consumer packaging, also operates a 342,000-square-foot manufacturing facility at 5700 Audubon Drive in Sandston, where it is headquartered. “Dominion Packaging has called Henrico home for more than twenty years, and this ex- pansion is a direct result of the trust our cus- tomers place in our team,” Chief Operating

Manufacturing Forecast 2027: Healthy Outlook Ahead BY PHIL PERRY Manufacturers can look forward to a fairly benign operating environ- ment in 2027. “We look for a moderate acceleration in growth,” said Bernard Yaros Jr., lead U.S. economist at Oxford Economics ( oxforde- conomics.com ). “The worst of the energy price spike is tentatively over, federal spending on defense will increase, and businesses will spend money rebuilding their inventories.”

Oxford Economics expects real GDP to grow by 2.5 percent in 2027, a notable increase from the 2.2 percent expected when 2026 numbers are finally tallied. While this represents a welcome surge over the lackluster 2.1 percent clocked in 2025, it remains among the most sluggish growth rates of the past ten years (see chart). Even so, it is sufficiently strong to provide businesses with a solid springboard for generating profits. (Gross Domestic Product, the total value of the nation’s goods and services, is the most commonly utilized measure of economic growth. “Real” GDP subtracts the effects of inflation. Economists say an in- crease of 2 percent to 3 percent in real GDP reflects the nation’s “nat- ural growth rate” which supports business activity and maintains full employment while avoiding inflation). Support for the favorable GDP numbers is coming from both the do- mestic and industrial quarters, noted Yaros: “Gains in financial wealth are powering the spending of well-to-do households, while the Ai infra- structure buildout has turbocharged business investment.” CONTINUED ON PAGE 22

CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

WHAT’S INSIDE 8 Sonoco To Invest $40M In Expansion Of VA Mill 10 AICC Advises On Cybersecurity Readiness 12 Accurate Box Opens Doors To NJ Congresswoman, Governor 20 Koenig & Bauer Expands Collaboration With RRD

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Officer and Executive Vice President Tommy Piper said in a statement. “Moving finished goods and distribution into our new Seven Hills facility gives us the room to grow man- ufacturing right next door, add well-paying jobs and keep delivering the quality and service that globally recognized brands expect from us. We’re grateful to Henrico County and the EDA for being such strong partners in our growth.”

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According to Piper, the new building completed con- struction in June. In an email, he said the new positions created through the expansion will consist of operators, supervisors, material handlers, general labor and mainte- nance support.

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Sonoco To Invest $40M In Expansion Of VA Mill

cy of our products while increasing capacity that supports long-term growth.” Construction is expected to begin in early 2027. The first phase of the project will focus on enhancing sheet formation, profile control, density and cleanliness while expanding the mill’s production capabilities. A second phase, targeted for completion by the end of 2028, will include investment in pulping operations, water systems, automation and employee experience improvements.

Hartsville, South Carolina based Sonoco Products Com- pany, a producer of uncoated recycled paperboard (URB) in North America, has announced its plans to invest $40 million over the next two years to modernize and expand production of its Richmond, Virginia paperboard mill. The investment will enhance the mill’s manufacturing capabilities, improve product quality and operating effi- ciency and increase annual production capacity by approx- imately 9,000 tons. The Richmond mill is a strategic asset within Sonoco’s integrated URB system, supplying paper- board used in the Company’s iconic paper can packaging and producing lightweight Tan Bending Chip (TBC) grades for a diverse customer base. “Richmond has long played an important role in sup- porting our Consumer and Industrial packaging business- es with quality paperboard that delivers value to our cus- tomers,” said Howard Coker, Sonoco’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “This investment demonstrates our commitment to strengthening Sonoco’s paperboard system through tar- geted, high-return projects that enhance efficiency, im- prove product performance and positions us to meet growing customer demand. By adding state-of-the-art ca- pabilities, we will further improve the quality and consisten-

The project will be executed with minimal production disruption, allowing the mill to maintain its current annu- al output of approximately 120,000 tons throughout con- struction. Sonoco’s Industrial Paper Packaging segment is North America’s largest producer of URB, operating 10 mills and 16 paper machines across the United States and Canada. Together, these facilities produce approximately 1.2 mil- lion tons of high-quality heavyweight and lightweight TBC paperboard annually, supporting a broad range of pack- aging applications and end markets.

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AICC Advises On Cybersecurity Readiness

According to AICC, hackers could steal business or customer information, change or delete website content, disrupt operations, or use the website server to reach oth- er connected systems. AICC advises members who have not already done so to contact their website provider, developer, or IT team to address the following questions: • Does the company's website, online store, customer or vendor portals, or any equipment with a web admin page use PHP? • If so, have the October 21 PHP security updates been installed? • If a system cannot be updated immediately, what pro- tections are in place in the meantime? • How quickly are critical updates installed, and who is monitoring for an attack in the meantime? • Have there been any signs of a break-in since October

AICC has alerted members to a serious website security issue that requires immediate attention. The following in- formation has been vetted by AICC's Innovation and Tech- nology Committee. Hackers are already exploiting two critical security flaws in PHP, software that runs behind the scenes on millions of websites throughout North America, including those built with WordPress. On October 26, the U.S. Cy- bersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) con- firmed that the flaws were being used in real attacks. The vulnerabilities allow attackers to take control of a website server without a password. The official CISA alert is avail- able at cisa.gov .

21? Installing the update does not remove an attacker who is already in the system. Websites that do not run PHP, such as sites built entirely in Python, are not affect- ed by these flaws. Website providers can confirm which software is being used. AICC also recommends that companies using a hosting provider request written confirmation that their website is running on a patched version. If anything appears wrong, members should contact their IT provider and cyber insurance carrier im- mediately. Beyond the immediate threat, AICC rec- ommends that members review their tech- nology systems, from office and business systems to machine centers on the plant floor. Companies should determine which systems could continue running and which would stop if internet access were lost or if systems had to be disconnected during a cyberattack. Understanding these vulnerabilities can help companies develop backup plans to keep essential business and production operations running. AICC outlined two scenarios for mem- bers to consider: an internet outage, where the company's internal systems re- main healthy, but cloud-based services are inaccessible; and a cyberattack, where on- site systems could be affected. This makes clean backups and paper procedures im- portant components of a response plan. AICC encourages members to un- derstand which systems and information would remain accessible without an in- ternet connection and to establish proce- dures for maintaining operations during a disruption.

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Accurate Box Opens Its Doors To NJ Congresswoman, Governor Paterson, New Jersey based Accurate Box Company, a woman- and family-owned corrugated box manufacturer, recently opened its doors to Congresswoman Nellie Pou and New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill for a tour of the facility. “Accurate Box Company is a great example of a busi- ness not only surviving, but thriving here in northern New Jersey,” said Rep. Nellie Pou. “Paterson is the cradle of our nation’s industrial revolution, and I am focused on making sure manufacturers can continue operating in our region. It is with the help of firms like Accurate Box that we can continue creating jobs and generating commerce for our communities to benefit from. I thank Governor Sherrill for coming to Paterson and her commitment to supporting a pro-growth economy here in the Garden State.”

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“It is not often that you have elected officials right at your doorstep. It was an honor to have both Congress- woman Nellie Pou and Governor Mikie Sherrill tour our manufacturing plant and meet our employees. The fact that they came here shows just how much they believe in the success of our company and want to encourage eco- nomic development here in Paterson,” said Lisa Hirsh and Mark Schlossman, the family behind Accurate Box Com- pany. Accurate Box Company was founded in 1944 by Henry Hirsh, originally as a small folding carton company in New- ark. In the 1960s, Henry’s son Charles Hirsh took over the business with tremendous success. By the 1980s, Accu- rate Box had outgrown its original manufacturing plant in Newark and moved to its current home in Paterson. Currently woman-owned and run by Lisa Hirsh, grand- daughter of the founder, Accurate Box Company is one of the largest independent box manufacturers of litho-lami- nated corrugated packaging in the United States. All of its packaging is 100% recyclable and printed with eco-friend- ly inks. This year, Accurate Box celebrated eighty-two years in operation, and it's looking forward to continuing to grow as an independent family-owned company.

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Fastmarkets RISI, PPC: U.S. Folding Carton Shipments To Grow In 2027 According to the newly released 2026–27 Trends Industry Outlook & Market Data Report - independently prepared by Fastmarkets RISI for, and available exclusively to, mem- bers of the Paperboard Packaging Council (PPC) - U.S. folding carton shipments are forecast to grow 1.3 percent in 2027, signaling a gradual market recovery with oppor- tunities and challenges varying across end-use markets. The report examines folding carton demand across the United States and Canada and 17 end-use segments, giv- ing industry leaders a closer look at market direction and the economic and consumer trends driving demand. “In conversations with our members, we’re hearing more questions about changing consumer habits, evolv- ing brand expectations, and the regulatory landscape,” said Emily Leonczyk, President of the Paperboard Packag- ing Council. “Those shifts have different implications de- pending on the markets companies serve. PPC invests in this independent research to give members credible, de- tailed market intelligence they can use to evaluate trends and inform their own business decisions.” The outlook reveals important differences beneath the headline forecast. Fastmarkets identifies six end-use mar- kets projected to grow by more than 1 percent annually through 2030, including cosmetics and toiletries, pharma- ceuticals, and dry foods. At the same time, pressure on household budgets, slower growth in grocery and restaurant spending, and the increasing adoption of GLP-1 medications are among the factors influencing consumer behavior and food-related packaging demand. Beyond these market shifts, PPC is seeing continued investment among its members in production technology, workforce development, and innovative paperboard ap- plications. From improving operational efficiency to devel- oping packaging that replaces other materials, converters are exploring opportunities to strengthen their competitive position and respond to evolving customer expectations. “Market forecasts tell us something about expected demand, but our members are also demonstrating what’s possible,” Leonczyk added. “Paperboard’s renewability, versatility, and performance create opportunities to solve new customer challenges. Combining that innovation with market intelligence is how we can help move our industry forward.” Prepared annually and available exclusively to PPC members, the Trends Report provides independent mar- ket intelligence on North American folding carton demand and trends across end-use markets. The research helps member companies better understand market conditions and supports their individual business planning. Together with PPC's resources, the report strengthens members ’ confidence in navigating a changing industry. Visit: paperbox.org .

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Mesirow Appoints Beber Chief Executive Officer

that he will lead Mesirow with the same dedication that has defined our success.” “Mesirow has built an exceptional firm grounded in its entrepreneurial spirit and a deep commitment to its cli- ents,” Beber said. “These qualities are a clear reflection of the strength of Mesirow’s people and the culture that has been built over generations, and I am honored to join

Chicago, Illinois based Mesirow, a leading independent, employee-owned financial services firm, has announced that Shawn Beber will serve as the firm’s next Chief Execu- tive Officer. After an extensive search, Mesirow’s Board of Directors voted unanimously to appoint Beber to the role. Beber joins Mesirow after more than two decades at the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC) where he held several senior leadership roles across business- es as well as functional areas, including US Commercial Banking & Wealth Management, Risk Management, Legal and Strategy & Corporate Development. Most recently, he served as President & CEO of CIBC Bank USA where he successfully led the bank through a period of econom- ic and market uncertainty. Beber played a crucial role in CIBC’s successful expansion in the US, including the $5 billion acquisition of The Private Bank in 2017, which was a foundational transaction for CIBC’s growing US presence. “Shawn has proven to be an extraordinary leader with the experience, judgment and ability to bring people to- gether to serve clients and grow businesses,” said Richard S. Price, who will continue serving as Executive Chairman, focused on organizational strategy and civic and commu- nity engagement. “He understands that lasting success comes from investing in our people, and I am confident

Mesirow to continue building on the firm’s momentum and delivering meaningful value to the clients and communi- ties we serve.” Beber currently serves on the Northwestern Memorial Foundation Board, the Board of Trustees at the Illinois Ho- locaust Museum and Education Center and the Board of Directors at the Executives’ Club of Chicago. He is also an active member of the Commercial Club of Chicago. Richard S. Price, Executive Chairman, Mesirow, left and Shawn Beber, CEO, Mesirow.

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Cascades Appoints Brisson VP Corporate Strategy

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leadership and strategic vision, he has distinguished him- self through his ability to establish clear direction and align teams around common objectives. “We are very pleased to welcome Martin to our lead- ership team. His recognized expertise in strategy and transformation, combined with his strong experience in value creation, will be a significant asset in supporting our growth ambitions, positioning the Company for the future, and maintaining strong and transparent relationships with our investors,” said Hugues Simon, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cascades. In his new role, Brisson will work closely with the lead- ership teams to identify and capitalize on growth oppor- tunities, support the achievement of long-term objectives and maintain a proactive and enduring dialogue with the financial community. AF&PA Releases Q3 2026 Containerboard Report The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) has re- leased the Q3 2026 Containerboard Quarterly report. Total containerboard industry operating rate remained above 94.5 percent for the second consecutive quarter, bringing the year-to-date operating rate 2.5 points high- er than last year. Total containerboard production in Q3 increased 2.7 percent compared to Q2, while new supply (production – exports + imports) increased 5.8 percent over the same period. • New supply in Q3 2026 was higher than any of the pre- vious six quarters. Exports declined 11 percent from Q2 while imports increased 25 percent. • Of the four major grades, the recycled medium operat- ing rate compared to Q2 was up to 95.1 percent, which exceeded its prior year-to-date level by more than four points. The operating rates for the linerboard grades and semichemical medium all declined slightly com- pared to Q2 but remained in the mid-90s. • Mill inventories ended the quarter below 370,000 short tons for the first time since October 2024.

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Koenig & Bauer Expands Collaboration With RRD

while continuing to serve as a global partner for packag- ing, labelling, and supply chain management. “RRD is committed to leading the way in print technol- ogy innovation and continuously meeting the dynamic needs of our customers,” said Lisa Pruett, president, RRD

Koenig & Bauer has expanded its long-standing collabo- ration with RRD, a provider of marketing, packaging, print, and business services, to support its global Systemat- ic Manufacturing, Automation & Robotic Transformation (SMART) strategy. Koenig & Bauer sheetfed offset presses and post press equipment are integrated into RRD’s unified digital plat- form, advancing high-performance manufacturing across packaging, labels and commercial operations. Located in select RRD facilities across the globe, high-speed Koenig & Bauer Rapida presses and automated post-press die cutters link to RRD’s standardized data foundation. This connected architecture enables real-time operational de- cisions, dynamic job routing and automated quality con- trols across facilities. By connecting Koenig & Bauer machinery with digital tooling, in-line sheet scanning and automated plate chang- ing, RRD reduces setup times, minimizes paper spoilage and supports client sustainability mandates through mea- surable material waste reduction. Koenig & Bauer’s press- es on the RRD production floor create a wide variety of communications in any shape or size using specialty coat- ings and substrates for producing unique print solutions that provide value added messaging to their customers

Integrated Packaging. “Our investments in advanced man- ufacturing technologies and equipment across multiple RRD locations substantially strengthens our smart factory infrastructure. Deploying these heavy-duty sheetfed offset presses and multiple 57-inch die cutters expands our pro- duction capabilities while providing the network resilience and predictable lead times our enterprise clients require.” “We are honored to be one of RRD’s partners of choice,” said Steve Korn, Director of National and Key Accounts at Koenig & Bauer. “This investment reflects RRD’s continued commitment to strengthening manufacturing efficiency and achieving the highest levels of quality control across its operations.”

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Manufacturing Forecast (CONT’D FROM PAGE 1)

BOARD CONVERTING NEWS

Cautious Optimism Reports from the field corroborate this forecast. “Many of our members are cautiously optimistic about 2027, giv- en the fairly positive year they have experienced,” said Tom Palisin, Executive Director of The Manufacturers' As- sociation, a York, Pennsylvania-based regional employers' group with nearly 500 member companies ( macentralpa. org ). “A lot of them are reporting a strong pipeline of or- ders, while many are in a ‘no fire no hire’ mode, investing in training and skill upgrades which will allow them to in- crease capacity to take advantage of growth opportunities that may come along.” Profits are running especially strong at manufacturers serving the national defense and data center sectors, not- ed Palisin. While that trend is expected to continue, results are mixed at many other companies because of uncertain- ty about tariffs, inflation in raw material prices, and supply chain disruptions caused by the war in the Middle East. Even so, added Palisin, companies are generally maintain- ing the status quo in the workforce. “We have not seen any major layoffs or disinvestment.”

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The coming year should see a healthy increase in new business initiatives, an important driver of the economy, as CEOs invest the cash generated by their operations. Ox- ford Economics expects corporate profits to increase by a healthy 9.4 percent in 2027. That comes off a surprise 18.7 percent boom in expected 2026 results, generated largely by tax cuts from Washington, supercharged by the greater productivity resulting from Ai adoption. Much of that cash will end up in new projects. Ox- ford Economics expects business investment to rise by a healthy 5.9 percent in 2027, coming off a 7 percent in- crease in 2026 and a 4.1 percent boost in 2025. “Com- panies are taking advantage of opportunities to invest in their operating platforms and in expanding their business- es,” said Andrew Petryk, Head of Industrials at Brown Gib- bons Lang & Company (BGL), an investment banking firm ( bglco.com ). “They believe in long term investment, and they want to be prepared when the market takes off rather than be- ing caught missing the window of opportunity. They are using this slower time to upgrade their equipment and streamline their operations through automation.”

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Manufacturing Forecast (CONT’D FROM PAGE 22)

Board Converting NEWS INTERNET DIRECTORY

Projects that cannot be financed by internal funds will require outside sourcing, and here the environment is favorable, if pricey. Petryk noted that capital is generally available, through both traditional lending sources and non-bank lending institutions, although interest rates are higher than in the past. Dark Clouds All, of course, is not rosy. A number of familiar dark clouds threaten to rain on the economic parade. Among them are rising interest rates, high material and energy costs, uncertain tariff policies, and tapped out lower-in- come consumers. Interest rates are, perhaps, the top-of-mind concern. “Because the Federal Reserve has not achieved its 2 per- cent target inflation rate for more than five years, it is like- ly that monetary policy will tighten in 2027,” said Anirban Basu, Chairman & CEO of Sage Policy Group ( sagepolicy. com ). “That means that borrowing costs will be on the rise, making it likely that fewer company initiatives will be finan- cially viable.” Again, field reports tell a similar story. “The recent in- crease in interest rates by the Federal Reserve will have a pretty significant impact on our members who engage in a lot of short-term borrowing,” said Palisin. “While they have not yet pulled back investments in building and machin- ery, time will tell if that changes. They are likely to become much more disciplined in putting pencil to paper to deter- mine the ROI for investments.” Relief may be in the cards. Oxford Economics expects the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates by 25 basis points in late 2027, after making sustainable progress toward its 2 percent inflation target. Housing Angst High interest rates, of course, make mortgages more expensive and thus dampen the housing industry, a signifi- cant driver of the nation’s economic health and of demand for manufacturers’ goods. For house shoppers, competition for available funds is keeping borrowing rates high. Mortgage rates were clos- ing in on 7 percent toward the end of 2026. “Global de- mand for credit is coming from places like China and the U.S. to support their budget deficits as well as from the pri- vate sector to support the roll out for artificial intelligence,” said Bill Conerly, Principal of his own consulting firm in Lake Oswego, Oregon (conerlyconsulting.com). “Fami- lies shopping for mortgages are competing for loans with companies like SpaceX and Anthropic, as well as the U.S. and Chinese Treasuries, while the global supply of savings has not increased much.” Additional downward pressure on sales is coming from the increasing price tags on available homes. “We are looking for median prices of existing homes to increase 3.7 percent in 2027 after increasing 1.7 percent in 2026 and 1.9 percent in 2025,” said Yaros. CONTINUED ON PAGE 26

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.

AOPACK LTD www.aopackmachine.com

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.

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.

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Manufacturing Forecast (CONT’D FROM PAGE 24)

Board Converting NEWS INTERNET DIRECTORY

Little wonder that for the second year running, sin- gle-family homebuilders are contending with a significant inventory of unsold homes, which needs to be worked down before too many new ones come on the market. “I continue to be not too optimistic about residential con- struction,” said Conerly. “We’re not going to see mortgage rates coming down. People say we need more housing, but the fact is our population is hardly growing, and with restrictions on immigration population growth will stay fair- ly low.”

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. 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. AMERICAN CORRUGATED MACHINE www.acm-corp.com

Forecasts from Oxford Economics put numbers on the phenomenon. “We look for housing starts to fall by 2.4 per- cent in 2027, after falling 1.4 percent in 2026 and 1 percent in 2025,” said Yaros. Multifamily builders are also facing slow rental growth and high rental vacancy rates. Mean- while, labor constraints continue to affect builders, espe- cially amid the crackdown on unauthorized immigration. Commercial Construction Manufacturers also create products for the commercial side of construction, and there the story is much happier, at least for the burgeoning sector that serves the growth of Ai. “On the commercial side, I think we will continue to see strong demand for data centers,” said Conerly. “De- spite the political opposition, there will be plenty of com- munities around the country that will look favorably on the tax revenue they can get from having data centers in their community.” A further positive impetus is that the hyper scalers who are driving the investment—the Amazons and Metas and Microsofts of the world--do not seem to be sensitive to in- terest rates or material costs. What’s good for the data center world, though, does not seem to be helping the rest of the non-residential sec- tor. “The economy is just not growing so quickly that we need a lot more retail stores,” said Conerly. “We're also a bit overbuilt in industrial and warehouse space. We'll build some offices in the suburbs but not much in the down- towns with exceptions like New York and San Francisco.” Labor shortages are yet another familiar challenge for manufacturers, who are not expecting much improvement anytime soon. “Manufacturing tends to have one of the highest percentages of folks within five years of retire-

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.

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.

CORRUGATED REPLACEMENTS, INC. www.corrugatedparts.com

Corrugated Replacements, Inc. is a production powerhouse that manufactures high quality machine parts and replace- ment parts for the corrugated and paperboard converting industries. CRI can redesign, engineer, and manufacture any part while providing a rapid turn-around rate, keeping machines running at their peak performance.

ESKO www.esko.com

ArtiosCAD and Kongsberg are the most trusted names in CAD/CAM solutions. Esko’s ArtiosCAD is the most widely used CAD software in the world. Esko’s Kongsberg series of tables brings you reliable, outstanding quality for sample- making and short run production.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 28

26 November 9, 2026

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Manufacturing Forecast (CONT’D FROM PAGE 26)

Board Converting NEWS INTERNET DIRECTORY

ment, so filling the labor pipeline and maintaining a skilled workforce is a pretty significant concern,” said Palisin. “A more positive year has meant a further tightening of the labor market so I think the problem will continue to be a chronic one.” Oxford Economics supports this prognosis, expecting the unemployment rate to end 2026 at 4.2 percent and re- main there through 2027. It was 4.5 percent at the end of 2025. (An unemployment rate of between 4 percent and 6 percent is believed to represent “full employment.”) Consumer Confidence Consumer spending is an important factor in the econ- omy and thus a vital support for the manufacturing sec- tor, accounting for some 70 percent of GDP. Despite the nation’s healthy economy, though, lower- and middle-in- come consumers are discontented and are holding back at the cash register. A big problem is that, for many, wage increases have not kept pace with inflation. “Three things are weighing most on consumer confi- dence,” said Michael Brisson, Senior Economist at Moody's Analytics ( economy.com ). “One is the cost of living, par- ticularly the recent run up at the gas pump, a second is job security in a market where openings have thinned out, and a third is general uncertainty around economic policy.” Brisson sees a deceleration in consumer spending ahead. Retail sales are expected to increase by 2.5 percent in 2027, roughly half the 4.9 percent increase expected for 2026. There’s nothing like rising income to soothe the con- sumer, and here the story is mixed. “We’re not seeing the eight to 10-percent plus increases in hourly entry level wages that we saw during the pandemic, but we're still seeing increases that are higher than the pre-pandem- ic levels,” said Palisin. “We anticipate continuing upward pressure in wages in 2027, given the shrinkage in the pool of available workers.” Palisin noted that the acute shortage of machinists and skilled welders and fabricators may result in more wage increases for those workers. The Road Ahead As we enter the early months of 2027, economists sug- gest manufactures watch these key indicators for an idea of how the year will turn out: • Interest rates: “What companies should be hoping for is that the forecasts of economists are wrong and that in- terest rates begin to decline,” said Basu. “But it seems unlikely that inflation is going to approach the Federal Reserve's 2 percent target anytime soon. So it’s quite likely that interest rates will remain high or even rise from current levels.” • Employment: “I would be looking at the employment figures and especially the unemployment rate,” said Conerly. “Persistent low unemployment is a sign that the economy is doing well, but also a sign that the Fed

EMBA www.embausa.com

The EMBA group supports a complete line of corrugated converting machinery for the worldwide market. EMBA’s Quick Set technology enables the highest productivity across a broad range of converting equipment, from mini to super jumbo. EMBA also includes the McKinley jumbo line of flexo folder gluers and rotary die cutters as well as ser- vice, rebuilds and upgrades for both EMBA and McKinley.

DOMINO www.dominodigitalprinting.com

Domino is a leading manufacturer and distributor of digital printing and product identification solutions. Celebrating its 44th year, Domino is headquartered in the UK and North America headquarters are Illinois. Domino has 25 subsid- iaries, representation in over 120 countries, and over 2,900 employees worldwide .

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 reputation for outstanding service and delivering de- monstrable performance improvements. HarperLove’s ser- vices include innovative product development and custom product formulation, machine and process assessments, adhesive formula adjustments, machine tuning, and more. HARPERLOVE www.HarperLove.com

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