Are You Using AI In Your Box Plant? If So, BCN Wants To Hear About It! Let’s be honest, there’s no way around it anymore. If you’re running a box plant and trying to stay competitive, you’ve probably had at least one conversation about AI, if not many more. Whether it’s curiosity, skepticism, or cautious experimentation, AI has officially entered the chat. Across the industry, AI is being increasingly integrated into processes and tasks like scheduling, maintenance, data organization, customer service, and admin. The plac- es that quietly eat up time and energy. We want to hear how box makers are actually utiliz- ing this technology. What inefficiences were you trying to solve first? Is AI helping, or still more talk than action? How has adoption gone internally? Have you seen real results, or are you still figuring out where it fits? How do you think AI fits in the long-term vision for your company? We’re compiling your AI experiences to tell a broader story about how this technology is taking hold in the in- dependent corrugated and folding carton industries. The beauty of our industry is that even when we compete, we still learn from one another. This feature is about sharing ideas, not giving away secrets. If you’re interested in being part of the conversation, please reach out to Ashley Prazych at aprazych@nvpub- lications.com.
AVERAGE CONTAINERBOARD PRICES The average prices reported are tabulated from prices PAID by various sources throughout the United States the week previous to issue. Prices in some areas of the country may be higher or lower than the tabulated average. The prices tabulated here are intended only for purposes of reference. They do not connote any commitment to sell any material at the indicated average. Transactions may be completed at any time at a price agreed upon by seller and purchaser. REGION 42# Kraft liner 26# Semi-Chem. Medium $ 900.00-925. 00 $ 825. 00 -$850.00 U.S. Average 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. 42# Kraft Liner 26# Semi-Chem Medium East $970.00 $960.00 West $1,015.00 $995.00 REGION North American containerboard producers didn’t try for price increases in 2025 beyond those that took hold ear- ly in the year after having been announced in late 2024. Most of the major producers announced two hikes for 2024, which followed about two years of no increases. Meanwhile, movement continues behind the scenes on the containerboard price-fixing lawsuit that Artuso Pastry Foods Corp. brought in July 2025 against major produc- ers including Cascades, Georgia-Pacific, Greif, Interna- tional Paper, Packaging Corporation of America and Pratt Industries. Graphic Packaging International and Smurfit Westrock have since been dismissed from the case. PCA Increase (CONT’D FROM PAGE 1)
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