Atlas Container (CONT’D FROM PAGE 22)
ning. That keeps things moving.” Glue application is monitored through a Valco Melton detection system that photographs every glue tab as it passes. Boxes that fail inspection are marked with UV ink and automatically diverted, reducing the risk of defects reaching the customer. Scrap from all machines feeds into a centralized recovery system and is baled using an Amer- ican Baler, which provides consistency and predictability. Paper for the corrugator is sourced from multiple sup- pliers, allowing Atlas to manage availability and pricing without locking itself into a single source. For heavier-duty applications beyond the Severn plant’s triplewall capacity, Atlas operates Universal Jumbo equipment at a nearby fa- cility, providing additional capability without crowding the main production floor.
Rather than wholesale replacement, Atlas has taken an in- cremental approach, upgrading and modifying machines over time to extend their usefulness and match changing customer needs. One of the first machines Holston points out is the Fos- ber corrugator the Atlas team refers to as the “franken-ga- tor,” a reference to the novel Frankenstein and nickname earned because the dry end was updated three or four years ago, while other sections incorporate components from earlier generations of equipment. “It’s got pieces from a couple different machines,” says Holston. “But it does exactly what we need it to do, and it runs well.” That assessment carries across much of At- las Container’s production floor. The company’s product mix is largely brown box work, with a heavy concentration of doublewall and some triplewall applications. The plant regularly runs C-flute, B-flute, E-flute, and various double- wall combinations, and roughly 50 to 60 percent of total production is die cut. That mix drives both scheduling and equipment decisions.
Design support remains an important part of the offer- ing. Atlas employs three in-house designers using Artios- CAD, a resource Holston says many customers depend on. Atlas does not operate digital printing equipment in- house, a decision that has been made deliberately. High- end graphics, litho work, and digital printing are handled through trusted partners, with printed sheets returned to Atlas for converting. “If we had the volume to justify it, maybe,” Holston says. “But digital printers costing four million dollars or more is a big investment for us.” Regional By Design The same practical mindset that shapes Atlas Contain- er’s operations also defines how the company is orga- nized and how it goes to market. Most of Atlas’s customers are regional, many are family-owned, and many value di- rect communication over layered account structures. The company’s sales organization reflects that, with a dozen salespeople covering Maryland, Washington, DC, Pennsyl- vania, and New Jersey. Several members of the sales team are based locally and share territory rather than operating within rigid geographic lines. That structure keeps sales closely connected to production and design, allowing is- sues to be addressed quickly and expectations to be set accurately. The American Baler provides consistency and predictability in managing recovered scrap.
Two Ward die cutters remain central to that work, one configured for one-color jobs and the other for three col- ors, supported by two Post gluers for finishing. The layout is designed to accommodate frequent changeovers and a wide range of order sizes, reflecting Atlas’s willingness to handle both small and large runs without disruption. “We’ve always tried to keep the plant set up so we can say ‘yes,’” Holston says. “Whether it’s a few hundred boxes or a few hundred thousand, we don’t want the equipment or lack of it to be the reason we can’t do the job.” Recent investments have focused on tightening quali- ty control and improving efficiency while preserving flex- ibility. Atlas added three newer machines over the past several years, including a Latitude and two Embas. One of those, an Emba 215 four-color Quick Set, is very well suited for smaller boxes and shorter runs. “The print stations are on top,” Holston explains. “So you’re setting up the next job while the machine is still run- Marquip Ward United’s piece of Atlas’ “Franken-gator.”
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February 23, 2026
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