BoardConverting Serving the North American Corrugated and Folding Carton Industries for 39 years June 19, 2023 VOL. 39, NO. 25
Kruger’s Major Investment In ‘Etown’ Paying Early Dividends BY DAN BRUNTON Canadian based Kruger, Inc.’s newest corrugated plant is up and run- ning in Elizabethtown, KY. The $142 million state-of-the-art packaging facility is considered one of the most advanced in North America with a high level of automation and best-in-class manufacturing capabilities.
Registration Open For ICPF Holiday Weekend In NYC The International Corrugated Packaging Foundation (ICPF) has announced that regis- tration is now open for its annual fundraising event in New York City. Taking place Decem- ber 8-10 at the The Refinery Hotel, a luxury hotel in Midtown Manhattan’s Garment Dis- trict, the popular weekend event will also fea- ture networking dinners, a Broadway show and shopping opportunities during one of the most beautiful times of the year in New York. Your registration will be confirmed once you complete a registration form AND your payment is received. Registration can be paid by check, ACH or credit card (add three per- cent processing fee for credit card payments). Make checks payable to International Cor- rugated Packaging Foundation with “New York” in the memo line, and mail them to Inter- national Corrugated Packaging Foundation, 500 Park Boulevard, Suite 985 in Itasca, IL 60143. For ACH payment information, contact csalaverria@icpfbox.org. A portion of the registration fee ($1,750) is a donation to ICPF, a non-profit foundation. It is tax deductible to the full extent of the law. Additional costs may be deductible as a busi- ness expense.
Kruger manufactures 100 percent recycled containerboard and customized packaging solutions from four facilities in Quebec and On- tario, Canada. Since its founding more than 119 years ago, Kruger, a fourth-generation family owned company, has embraced a customer centric and market driven focus. “Simply put, it is in the Kruger DNA be- cause it is the most tried tested and true strategy that has enabled us to thrive despite the vagaries of business cycles,” said Michael Lafave, Chief Operating Officer of Kruger Packaging L.P. The packaging plant, Kruger’s first in the U.S., provides significant market expansion beyond the Canadian border. Elizabethtown, known as Etown, is located about 30 miles south of Louisville and within shipping distance to many major U.S. cities. With its modern façade of glass, brick and steel panels, the 500,000 square-foot building is an imposing sight as you drive up to it, resembling a contemporary office complex. The interior is equally impressive with windowed offic- es, sleek conference and training areas and a large brightly decorated employee break room with a mini-market and an outdoor picnic area. CONTINUED ON PAGE 24 Kruger's new packaging plant in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, is its first in the United States and provides significant market expansion beyond Canada.
WHAT’S INSIDE
6 x x 8 x x 12 x x 26 x x 4 TAPPI Offering Plant Discounts To Send Teams To CorrExpo '23 AICC Opens Registration For Carbon Neutrality Program AICC Emerging Leader Training Workshop In Denver A Success 34 BW Papersystems Celebrates 30 Years Of Twin Box Slitter
EVERYTHING CORRUGATED UNDER
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The Price is Right!
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 E. Coast Midwest Southeast Southwest
42# Kraft liner $ 9 55.00-960.00 $ 9 70.00-980.00 $ 9 70.00-980.00 $ 970.00-980.00 $ 1000.00-1 010.00 $ 9 73.00-983.00
26# Semi-Chem. Medium
Short Ton Del. Short Ton Del. Short Ton Del. Short Ton Del. Short Ton Del. Short Ton Del.
$ 890 .00-9 4 0.00 $9 0 5.00-9 2 5.00 $9 0 5.00-9 2 5.00 $9 0 5.00-9 2 5.00 $9 2 5.00-9 4 5.00 $9 0 8.00-9 2 8.00
West Coast U.S. Average
SHEET PRICES BY REGION (AVERAGE) Per 1MSF, local delivery included, 50MSF single item order, truckload delivery. Sheets
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
141.08 148.46
122.76 131.80
More box makers, brokers and end users are relying on the containerboard pricing in Board Converting News to negotiate their contracts than ever before. See the current prices every week right here on Page 3.
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.
Len Prazych at 518-366-9017 lprazych@nvpublications.com
42# Kraft Liner 26#
Semi-Chem Medium
East West
$9 2 0.00 $ 96 5.00
$9 1 0.00 $9 4 5.00
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June 19, 2023
TAPPI Offering Box Plant Discounts To Send Teams To CorrExpo 2023 Are you on the fence about sending your teams to TAPPI CorrExpo 2023, August 28-30 in Cleveland, Ohio? TAPPI has announced it is offering the Box Plant Deal, a special tiered pricing program designed specifically for box plants and converters. Primary registrants must be TAPPI members and pric- ing is tiered based on the number of employees attending. Employees must all be from the same plant or converting location, except for those sending 15 or more employees. Box Plant rates increase on July 30. Highlights of this year’s event include panel discus- sions, Tuesday evening’s event at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Monday evening’s welcome reception, the popular What’s New/Tech Talk sessions, and an expansive exhib- it floor featuring a comprehensive display of equipment manufacturers, suppliers and more. Bob Chapman, Chairman and CEO of Barry-Wehmiller, will be the opening keynote, while Mark Schulman, world- class drummer for performers including P!nk, Foreigner, Billy Idol, and Cher, is the closing keynote at the event which will be at the Huntington Convention Center. To download the Box Plant Deal registration form, visit correxpo.org/boxplant or go to correxpo.org to book ho- tel accommodations and to learn more.
Core Competency
BloApCo Floor Shredders easily handle Cores and Sheet Waste
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Why is it unusual to see a “used”
Just ask an owner. for sale?
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Registration Open For AICC 2023 Southeast Summit in Kingsport, TN AICC, The Independent Packaging Association, an- nounced open registration for the Southeast Summit 2023 taking place July 11-13 at the MeadowView Marriott Resort in Kingsport, Tennessee. In addition to networking opportunities, AICC members are invited to a plant tour of the Domtar Mill in Kingsport, as well as a golf tournament that will be held onsite at the Cattails Golf Course. Domtar, in operation for more than 100 years, is home to the second-largest recycled containerboard machine in North America. It can produce and market 600,000 tons of recycled linerboard and corrugated medium annually and is the largest recycled manufacturer in Tennessee.
The Domtar Mill in Kingsport, Tennessee.
The Kingsport Mill prevents about 50,000 tons of recy- cling residuals and other byproducts from entering land- fills each year by repurposing it to produce energy and electricity for the mill.
The Cattails Golf Course is billed as one of the top public golf courses in Tennessee. It features Bermuda fairways and bentgrass greens with scenic views of Bays Mountain.
The Cattails Golf Course
The links-style front nine offer gently rolling terrain, combined with greenside mounds and bunkers. The back nine fea- tures a target golf experience meander- ing through the woods, highlighted by two memorable “risk-and-reward” par 5s. The course also features a winding stream, six lakes, wide fairways, and large putting greens. Four sets of tee complexes allow golfers of all skill levels to enjoy the challenge of the par 71 layout. Single registration is $325. But boxmak- ers with two or more attendees receive a discount: $290 each for two attendees; $280 each for three attendees; $270 each for four attendees. Contact AICC for pricing on five or more attendees. Golf tournament registration is $125. To register for the Southeast Summit, visit aiccbox.org or contact Laura Mihalick at lmi- halick@aiccbox.org or (703) 836-2422.
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Feeder
Robot Prefeeder Designed for Die Cutters & FFGs
— High Speed Six Axis Robot — 400 BPM Feed Rate — Integrated Conveyor and Backstop — Integrated Safety Guarding — Small Footprint
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AICC Opens Registration For Carbon Neutrality Program
Box Shipments ( U.S. Corrugated Product Shipments) Industry Shipments In Billions of Square Feet Month December 2022
AICC, The Independent Packaging Association, an- nounced open registration through July 1 for the Carbon Neutrality Program, a 12-week online course. AICC has partnered with The Packaging School to craft a sustainability program that enables AICC member companies to develop internal champions who know the dos and don’ts of sustainable packaging — ambassadors who will transform their customers’ sustainability intent into action. If a customer has ever told you, “My customers want to know our carbon footprint,” you know if you want to really impress them you need to give a two-part answer — your company’s number and how the packaging you create for them will reduce theirs. Sustainability is not a one-time discussion within the packaging development process but an important and complex conversation for every industry. The conversa- tion needs to begin during the packaging concept phase with a focus on both the beginning and end of a pack- age’s life. You can clearly show how this will greatly minimize its impact on the planet and allow you to serve your custom- ers’ brand messaging responsibly.
Year
Actual
Percent Change Avg Week Percent Change
2022 2021
30.124 34.180
-11.9
7.927 8.545
-7.2
Industry Total
Year-to Date
December 2022
Year
Actual
Percent Change Avg Week Percent Change
2022 2021
400.520 416.189
-3.8
7.979 8.291
-3.8
Industry Total
Containerboard Consumption (Thousands of Tons)
Year
Month
Percent Change Year-to-Date Percent Change
2022 2021
2.4260 2.7360
-11.3
32.5461 33.8321
-3.8
Container Board Inventory - Corrugator Plants (Thousands of Tons)
Corrugator Plants Only
Date
Percent Change Weeks of Supply
Percent Change
Dec. Nov.
2.2603 2.2586
0.1
3.5 3.6
-2.8
Shipping Days
Year
Month
Year-to-Date
2022 2021
19 20
251 251
SOURCE: Fibre Box Association
CONTINUED ON PAGE 10
Puhl custom designs systems to meet your needs. • Moving to a new facility? Puhl has experience moving entire plant systems all while minimizing down time in BOTH plants during the transition. • Below roof AND above roof systems custom designed to meet your needs. • New and Remanufactured Equipment (balers, blowers, separators, filters and more). Our Remanufactured equipment includes a warranty and offers significant savings. • NFPA and OSHA compliant systems designed by our NFPA trained engineering team. • Dust Briquetters, Certified Explosion Isolation Valves, Flame Front Diverters and more to control dust and meet NFPA requirements. • PLC Touch Screen Controls with Real Time Pressure Balancing and Real Time Remote Monitoring available on your smart phone or computer.
Balers • Shredders • Trim Collection Systems • Dust Collection Systems • Cyclones Trim Separators • Spiral Duct • Used Equipment • Filters • Briquetters 240 Airport Road | Gallatin, TN 37066 | 615.230.9500 | FAX 615.230.9590 | sales@gfpuhl.com | www.gfpuhl.com Follow us on LinkedIn
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Superior boxes require precise printing and cutting.
APSTAR HG2 ROTARY DIE CUTTER
You can’t have quality without precision. The APSTAR HG2 offers print-to-print registration accuracy through as many as seven inline flexo sections. That precision creates less downtime and higher profits. When you balance speed, print quality, and precision, you get an APSTAR… and that means better boxes. Contact Haire Group to see how the APSTAR's precision can impact your bottom line.
hairgroup.com
Carbon Neutrality Program (CONT’D FROM PAGE 8)
ences and events on a variety of packaging topics, not the least of which is sustainability. During these conferences, he realized a need for pro- fessional development in the packaging industry, so he founded PackagingSchool.com as a way to reach those who need packaging knowledge but cannot stop what they're doing to go back to school and pursue a traditional degree. Always on the lookout for new topics, partners, and col- laborators, Hurley's team is currently working on a series of lessons that review each of the UN's Sustainable Devel- opment Goals. He is also a packaging innovation consul- tant at Quad and has worked at companies that include Kraft Foods and Milliken. The program is divided into four, three-week phases beginning with an online sustainability course that focus- es on Extended Producer Responsibility; a sustainability goal-setting workshop; a carbon workshop; and atten- dance at the AICC National Conference. A special two-person price for this online training series is offered, which culminates with a live class during the AICC 2023 Fall Meeting. Registration fees are $4,000 for two people per mem- ber company and $2,500 for one person per member company. For more information on becoming a sustainabili- ty champion within your company, contact Taryn Pyle at tpyle@aiccbox.org or visit aiccbox.org .
The four-phase program will allow members to: • Define the key terminology a learner needs to speak the language of sustainability with colleagues and cus- tomers • Construct UN-based sustainability targets and goals • Develop sustainable system designs (on the material level) • Measure the carbon footprint of their packaging • Select relevant offset programs to achieve carbon neu- trality at a per product/box level Dr. Andrew Hurley, Associate Professor of Packaging Science at Clemson University is the instructor for the
program. "Packaging is awesome," is one of his favorite sayings, and he continually strives to share his passion with as many people as possible. Hurley has crafted a hands-on approach for his students to build packages from a data-driven per- spective — walking them through
Dr. Andrew Hurley
the various stages — including brainstorming, prototyping, market research, sustainability and life cycle analysis — so they create packages that arrive under budget, show re- duced damage, and are sustainably designed. Hurley is constantly on the move, attending confer-
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KOLBUS RD 115S G ra ph ics Series Ex cellence in M otion
"We have been thoroughly impressed with the machine quality. Simply put – the machine is an engineering marvel . From the 4” thick cast iron side frames, print quality, on-time installation with exceptional training, and after installation support, we couldn’t be more pleased with our investment in the Kolbus RD115S. It’s allowed us to print jobs immediately, that took us years to perfect.” - Steve MacDonald Production Manager, New England Wooden Ware
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AICC Emerging Leader Leadership Training Workshop A Success In Denver, Colorado The AICC Emerging Leaders Workshop held in downtown Denver earlier this month was a big hit among attendees, hosts and presenters alike. Colorado Springs, Colorado based Packaging Express, with its Pres- ident Matt Davis, AICC Vice Chair, reported having a great time not only showing attendees their operations and sharing their story, but also enjoying a Colorado Rockies baseball game together with lunch at the beautiful Garden of the Gods Club.
The Emerging Leaders also toured the DeLine Box Company's Digital Center, which featured their Barberan digital printer, design center and specialty folder gluer In addition to other networking and educational events, the Emerg- ing Leaders were inspired by a host of perspectives on leadership with presentations from Mike D’Angelo, AICC President, and Taryn Pyle, AICC Director of Education & Talent.
The Emerging Leader program is an exclusive series of training, net- working and leadership opportunities for ambitious young professionals in the paper and packaging industry. To join, individuals must be 35 or under, an employee of an AICC General or Associate Member company, and ready to make a commitment to contribute to their growth and devel- opment and that of their network of peers.
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Coastal Container Promotes Nathan Hoekstra To General Manager Holland, Michigan based Coastal Container, a full-service packaging supply company, has announced the promotion of Nathan Hoekstra from Director of Sales to General Man- ager. Hoekstra has worked for Coastal Container for the past 13 years, predominantly in sales, and during that time he has helped build a company that serves customers with increased efficiency, speed, automation, and ultimate de- pendability. “When you’re managing people, leading equals edu- cating,” said Hoekstra, who leans heavily on his education training as a manager. Hoekstra holds a Certificate of Executive Management from Mendoza College of Business, Notre Dame, and mem- bership in Leaderwork leadership since 2016. Contemplating the future of Coastal Container, Hoeks- tra is excited about the advocacy for locally owned, locally operated organizations. “Governor Whitmer and Lt. Governor Gilchrist are seek- ing to incentivize doing business with and amongst Michi- gan-based companies. A focus on ‘Made in Michigan,’ with us being the major manufacturer fitting that bill in our mar- ketplace, will help us carve out our piece of an expansive market,” Hoekstra said.
Be Social, Stay Current !
Follow Board Converting News on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook to get the most current news and information for the corrugated and folding carton industries.
Len Prazych at 518-366-9017 lprazych@nvpublications.com
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Visit us at Booth 323
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Engineered Recycling Systems takes decades of engineering experience and system integration expertise to provide our partners turnkey solutions. We engineer, design and install world-class scrap collection and dust extraction systems providing our customers with equipment and system designs that deliver unprecedented levels of quality and craftsmanship, our solutions increase production and cut labor costs. SAFEST DUST COLLECTION SYSTEM ON THE MARKET
SIGNIFICANT ADVANTAGES OVER CONVENTIONAL DUST FILTRATION TECHNOLOGY
• No compressed air, water, explosion vents or high-speed abort gates required • No ladder or lifting equipment needed for servicing • System operates without housing, ensuring it is not considered a confined space • Lower maintenance costs • Less production downtime • Minimal time required for changing out filter media • No makeup air required • CCM® OCT Filters = SAFE to operate and maintain
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International Paper Celebrates Military Appreciation Month
Memphis, Tennessee based International Paper recog- nized its many team members and thanked them for their military service during Military Appreciation Month. Tinisha Roberts, Senior Manager for Corporate Staff Groups, Performance & Analysis, served for 12 years, end- ing her service as Staff Sergeant (E-6). "My military experience armed me with many skills re- lated to managing people, dealing with conflict and man- agerial courage. I encourage veterans starting with IP to continue to tap into their military learnings and bring them forward where they are applicable,” Roberts said. “The leadership and training they bring to any job will help them support their team in reaching goals with structure and a 'can do' attitude." Stephanie Tindall, HR Business Partner for NAC, served four years in the Army in Air Defence Intelligence/S3 Oper- ations Management Deployment Readiness. "My military experience helped me learn humility in leadership, agility to make decisions and a team winning mindset," Tindall said. "And for those currently transition- ing to civilian life, remember to be patient with yourself. Comradery is hard to find outside of your brothers and sis- ters in arms, but those at IP will be your new family to build and grow with."
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Vanguard Companies Names Kissinger As New Sales Rep
and financial oversight, most recently working for Interna- tional Paper’s Retail Display Division working closely with Walmart and Sam’s Club to create POP displays that drove off-shelf sales and increased brand awareness. “Vanguard is delighted to welcome James to the Ben- tonville sales team,” said James Beard, CEO. “I look for- ward to James growing the Vanguard brand while building and deepening key relationships.” AF&PA Opposes New York State's Packaging Reduction/Recycling Act The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) Senior Director of Government Affairs Abby Sztein issued the fol- lowing statement in response to the New York State Legis- lature’s Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act (S4246A / A5322A), which proposes to create an ex- tended producer responsibility program in the state: “The (AF&PA) is encouraged to see policymakers focus on improving recycling infrastructure. However, we are opposed to rushed, one-size-fits-all policies like S4246A/ A5322A that do not reflect the complexities of the state’s recycling system and could impact the long-term success of highly recycled materials, like paper. "Paper recycling is a model that works. We encourage lawmakers to oppose hasty passage of S4246A/A5322A and instead support a statewide needs assessment to bet- ter understand New York's recycling requirements."
Kansas City, Missouri based Vanguard Companies, a lead- ing designer and manufacturer of retail point-of-purchase (POP) displays, industrial packaging, and fulfillment ser-
vices, announced the appointment of James Kissinger, Sales Represen- tative, Bentonville, Arkansas. “We look forward to having James join Vanguard Companies where his industry insight, retail ex- pertise, and passion will help drive new opportunities to foster growth,” said Jennifer Wulf, Chief Commercial
James Kissinger
Officer. “Collaborating with our creative services, market- ing, and regional sales teams, he will be expanding our critical foothold in the national market while expanding our corrugated merchandising solutions and building our future.” Kissinger will be working under Bentonville Regional Sales Manager, Drew Wilkins, creating new opportunities with multi-vendor expertise and continue to draw on his years of experience to grow revenue while sustaining a high-level of integrity and accountability. A veteran of the CPG and retail display industry, Kissinger is experienced in national account management
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Registration Open For FTA Fall Technical Conference
FTA, The Flexographic Technical Association, announced its 65th anniversary celebration continues as registration opens for the Fall Technical Conference 2023. The three-day conference, themed “Do More with Less,” is set for October 9-11 at the Louisville Marriott Downtown in Louisville, Kentucky. With an all-new CPC Connect program to attract brand owners, there will be opportunities for printer/converters to attend for free, and an agenda built specifically to ad- dress the industry’s hottest topics and major areas of con- cern. The event will focus on people, processes and produc- tivity, and a mix of technical content, interactive learning
experiences, one-on-one networking, and a chance to connect with industry leaders. “Everything we talk about will be centered around max- imizing your current resources (people, equipment and capabilities) and the technologies that will allow you to
further hone your focus,” said Program Chair Catherine Haynes of All Printing Resources. “Picking up where we left off with last year’s Optimal Method print project, we are also taking what we learned and applying it to expanded gamut printing.” In addition to showcasing a revolutionary new method for creating EG curves, sessions and presenters will emphasize the vital role of calibration, communication, and process control in achieving unparalleled color accu- racy. The conference will begin with a focus on enhancing productivity and product qual- ity by investing in your workforce. Inside INFOFLEX at Fall Technical Con- ference, package printers and converters can establish relationships and partnerships with companies dedicated to helping them grow their business, expand their product offerings, and improve their production ef- ficiency. More than 60 exhibitors will be present the afternoons of October 9-10 to showcase the latest advancements in flexography and package printing technology on the show floor. Early bird pricing for Fall Technical Con- ference ends July 28. Printer/converter attendees can buy one registration and re- ceive a second free. To register or to learn more, visit fallcon- ference.flexography.org . To reserve a booth for INFOFLEX at Fall Technical Conference, contact Jay Kaible at jkaible@flexography. org. For 65 years, FTA has been enabling flex- ographes to grow their skills, connect with likeminded individuals, expand their reach- able market and drive flexography to pack- aging printing dominance.
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WestRock Announces Fiber-Based Alternatives to Single-Use Plastic Atlanta, Georgia based WestRock Company announced a sustainable packaging solution to replace single-use plas- tics adopted by its retail partners including Costco. The high-strength EnduraGrip handles and Cluster-Clip bun- dling solution offer shoppers a fiber-based alternative to plastic clips and shrink wrap at a time when twice as many consumers associate sustaininability with paper versus plastic.
The Perfect Combo Get Peak Performance From Your Equipment with Matched Component Sets
Nothing’s more rewarding
than a couple made for each other. That’s why the engineers at ARC International have focused their skills and talents on crafting perfect
The EnduraGrip is designed to bundle bottles and jars in a range of shapes, sizes, weights, and multipack con- figurations. Engineered for durable and comfortable han- dling while providing a fully printable surface for vibrant graphics, it can maximize shelf impact, maintain durabili- ty under challenging conditions, help manage costs with minimized material usage, and automate application by changing parts of existing solution to a fully automated system that is in development.
matches between the components that must work in tandem on your exo folder gluers and die-cutters: • Anilox Rollers and Ink Chambers • Anilox and Wiper Rollers • Feed and Pull Rollers • Glue and Meter Rollers You can achieve the press speeds and print quality you need to ll your most demanding orders by pairing your team with The ARChitects of Flexo. Contact ARC today to learn how these engineered matches of exo folder gluer and die-cutter components (new or
reconditioned) can help you achieve a more perfect union of production and pro ts.
The Cluster-Clip is designed for bundling small and large jars and is made with CustomKote or CarrierKote board depending on the supply chain conditions the prod- uct will need to withstand. The CarrierKote substrate offers wet-strength for performance in moisture-rich conditions. Related fiber-based products include WestRock’s Ev- erGrow produce trays, tills, punnets, totes, carriers and clamshells and EnShield Paperboard takeout packages. The EnShield can replace poly-extruded packaging for ap- plications requiring grease resistance.
The ARChitects of exo
ARCInternational.com 800-526-4569
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ARC.5pBCN_AnlxChmbr.indd 1
3/31/21 6:09 PM
CARTOSTRIP Productivity Tool for Corrugated. Automated Stripping Device Manufactured in the United Kingdom. AUTOMATED STRIPPING DEVICE DESIGNED FOR THE FOLDING CARTON, PRINTING & CORRUGATED INDUSTRIES
• Processes carton board, solid board and corrugated material • Two-handed operation with dual valves for added operator safety • Quiet operation with very low noise levels during operation
• Significant productivity gains improve quality and reduce labor costs • Provides a rapid return on investment since stripping time is reduced up to 85%
sales@youngshinusa.com youngshinusa.com 1320 Tower Road, Suite 111 Schaumburg, IL 60173
NORTH AMERICAN SALES & SERVICE (847) 598-3611
Kruger's Investment (CONT’D FROM PAGE 1)
eral Manager of the Kentucky plant. For doublewall, the corrugator has been running B/E flute as a replacement for 40# and 44# C-flute. The new corrugator features many of Fosber’s latest generation machine units, including the Link M3 roll/stand splicers for quick and safe roll changes and a double lev- el divert knife for high-speed splice removal. A dedicat-
The temperature-controlled manufacturing area was designed for maximum efficiency. The plant is currently running two shifts with plans to add a third in May. When fully operational, it will employ 150 and produce 2.4 bil- lion square-feet a year of 100 percent recycled corrugated boxes. By the end of this year, it is projected the plant will have produced 1.4 billion square-feet. The product mix is largely packaging for the consumer goods markets, including food and beverage and e-com- merce. About 50 percent is pizza boxes. Lightweight, eco-friendly products are Kruger’s key value propositions to customers. Lafave said, “Our high strength to basis weight properties of the liner and me- dium we produce from 100 percent OCC and sorted resi- dential paper offers exceptional performance using light- er weight board combinations than anyone in the North American market and indeed from around the world.” Latest Generation Machine At the heart of the new facility is a state-of-the-art Fos- ber S/Line corrugator. The machine, which is a 2.8m (110- inch), 460 m/min (1500 fpm) model, can run single and doublewall board. It runs both virgin and recycled liners and medium without problem as well as lighter weight grades. “We don’t run anything higher than a 30# medium and we run mostly 20# and 26# liners,” said John Keith, Gen-
ed starch kitchen from Ringwood ensures correct starch mixture and allows for the minimum amount of glue to be carefully applied via the singlefacer. Kruger chose the Fosber corrugator for its ability to run lighter weight grades and for its safety features, especial- ly related to the roll handling system. “We don’t use any
CONTINUED ON PAGE 26
13,500 KPH • 4-Out Capabilities • No Feed Interrupts • Automatic Set Ups PRODUCTION SPEED
agstacker.com 540-234-6012 Contact the A.G. team at
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SHINKO SUPER ALPHA OC
MORE BOXES EVERY MINUTE . . . PERIOD! Since 1955 we have been serving the corrugated industry with both new and used equipment. Now more than ever, we offer practical and affordable solutions to meet the needs of today’s boxmaker.
The Shinko Super Alpha OC Flexo Folder Gluer shares many of its features with the Super Alpha Fixed Type. The primary differences are the printers and their set up features. Capable of running speeds up to 350 SPM. SHINKO Super Alpha OC Open & Close Servo Driven High Speed Flexo Folder Gluer
Sizes Available: 35” X 94” to 66” X 110”
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SINCE 1955
Kruger's Investment (CONT’D FROM PAGE 24
well as the Pro/Care package for machine diagnostics and monitoring. To round off the complete offering from Fos- ber America, a full maintenance plan for OEM quality sup- port is in place. The corrugator uses a steam system from Stickle Steam Specialities, and a Kohler WaterDeck was recently added allowing corrugator operators to quickly change the warp profile on the board while maintaining constant corrugator settings.
clamp trucks or industrial equipment near the corrugator on the operator side,” said Keith. “Clamp trucks work on the periphery and deliver rolls to the Harmax roll handling system, which in turn delivers them to the corrugator. From a safety standpoint, Fosber’s Link M3 roll stands are phe- nomenal.”
Another important aspect of the corrugator when de- signing the new facility was noise reduction; full sound enclosures have been fitted to the new S/Line, helping to keep the operating environment clean and quiet. As with all Fosber lines, the machine at Elizabethtown includes full Syncro corrugator and process control, as
All of the paper grades, including Kruger’s signature XTR™ 100 percent recycled extra high-performance liner- board and corrugating medium and GreenWhite™ white top linerboard, are sourced from Kruger mills in Canada and delivered to Etown via rail car. CONTINUED ON PAGE 28
Do you need printed sheets? We have your answer.. Introducing Heartland’s ColorCorr. This is “flexo-printing in the round”. On our corrugator we can print up to 109” wide. The advantage is that we can print the equivalent of ½ roll at a time and not be required to keep several rolls of very expensive preprinted paper on the floor. Much less waste and risk. In continual print mode, we use either laser-engraved rubber rolls or solid rubber rolls to print a “flood coat” or a repeating pattern. If we are printing a repeating pattern, we can run a two-color design on the paper. Customers have found that running sheets we print can allow them to run a lighter-grade due to reduced caliper loss, and in some cases eliminate one or more machine passes.
For more information contact: Charlie Freeman | 816-500-8889 | cfreeman@heartlandsheets.com Tim Kramer | 816-841-8317 | color@heartlandsheets.com
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EMBA Ultima ™ . Innovation from the premier class supplier Ultima intelligence
It continues. The progressive evolution of EMBA’s unique Ultima ™ technology platform, combining out- standing production performance with dramatic savings in raw materials and energy. The innovative and patented EMBA Non-Crush Converting ™ technology eliminates nip points, pre- serving the geometry and strength of the corrugated profile throughout the entire converting process, creating significant savings in paper cost with higher BCT values for a much stronger product, while Quick-Set ™ enables the shortest possible changeover time between orders. The intelligent Ultima ™ technology platform is born from our desire to constantly exceed market demands and cultivate focused collaboration with our customers. The cleverness of the Ultima ™ platform offers “easy to
run and easy to learn” features for machine operators and a modular development environment for designers, making the EMBA Ultima ™ upgrade compatible throughout its entire lifetime. That’s why it’s called Ultima intelligence.
Available machines ● EMBA 175 QS Ultima ™ ● EMBA 215 QS Ultima ™ ● EMBA 245 QS Ultima ™ ● EMBA 295 QS Ultima ™
EMBA’s World first Non-Crush Converting ™ technology, with the unique Ultima ™ feed unit and the acknowledged Quick-Set ™ feature, makes the EMBA Ultima ™ unbeatable.
www.emba.com
Kruger's Investment (CONT’D FROM PAGE 26
The back end of the machine is a symphony of pro- cesses linking together a long and highly automated line consisting of Plexpack shrink tunnels, Bobst bundle break- ers, and Mosca bundlers. RDC 2 has half the capacity of RDC 1, with a single pizza line and the capability to run straightline die-cuts. “No one has ever had these DROs with these kind of back ends. It’s really something,” said Keith. “It’s almost like working on a corrugator.” A fifth bay is available for an additional Bobst machine, make and model to be decided. Rotary dies, printing plates and ink buckets are stored on a mezzanine above the manufacturing area serviced by an elevator for auto- matic transport to the converting lines. Dies are kept on a BCM Transtech semi-automatic storage rack system. Inks are supplied by Quantum Ink Co. Material transport is fully automated from the corruga- tor to finished goods and integrates a vertical WIP ware- house from WSA-USA. WSA’s scope of supply included: • Fully automatic material handling system including a Vertical WIP Storage and iFAS Smart Factory Auto- mation System. The four level rack system is located between the corrugator and converting and has a foot- print of approximately 15,000 square-feet. It includes 288 cells and is serviced by two Korber stacker cranes. It can store approximately 8 million square-feet of in-process product.
The corrugator interfaces with Kiwiplan for scheduling. At plant level, Kruger is running Advantive’s full Kiwiplan order to cash software solution. Within the supply from Ad- vantive, Kruger is also running TSS (Transportation Sched- uling Solution) to coordinate shipping and QMS (Quality Management System) on the floor. Utilizing the suite of Ki- wiplan solutions, coupled with the array of state-of-the-art equipment, this plant is quickly becoming a showcase for how the industry can move toward full automation. Besides the traditional Kiwiplan scheduling modules, Elizabethtown is also running several automated links to machines that include: • Rollstock automated link to capture automatic con- sumption at the wet-end; • Normal dry-end link; • Automated Strapper links; • Automated Conveyor link to WIP; • In-process links to the four converting machines. Symphony of Processes For converting, there are four high-speed Bobst ma- chines: two identical DRO die-cutters, an 8.20 Expertline flexo folder gluer that runs at 24,000 boxes an hour, and a 1228 FFG. All of the machines are four-color with Inkspec viscosity control systems. Both die-cutters have IR dryers from JB Machinery. Where the die-cutters differ is their back end configuration. RDC 1 is a dedicated pizza line.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 30
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INTRODUCING
LINERBOARD A NEW LIGHTWEIGHT SO POWERFUL, YOU’D THINK IT WAS A HEAVYWEIGHT.
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Kruger's Investment (CONT’D FROM PAGE 28
Culture Of Collaboration John Keith has more than 35 years of experience in the corrugated industry working for both integrated and inde- pendent companies. The Etown plant was his sixth green- field startup. He said these types of projects are “huge events, like bringing a small city together.” To ensure everything went smoothly on the machine side, Kruger took the unusual approach of tasking the main suppliers, such as Fosber, Bobst and WSA, with se- lecting and managing the ancillary components from other companies. Keith and his team met with the OEMs twice a day as a group to talk about the schedule and startup. He attributes this team approach to fostering collaboration. Keith said staffing the plant posed few challenges. Eighty percent of the salaried staff was in place by Novem- ber 2021, before any of the machines had started up. The managers have more than 400 years of combined corru- gated experience. For hourly employees, Kruger participated in local job fairs and posted announcements on social media plat- forms, such as LinkedIn and Facebook. “At the first job fair, I interviewed 37 people in four hours,” said Keith. “We still have a huge pool of people we haven’t even called on yet. We’re getting ready to go to a third shift so every two weeks we’re starting another five to eight people, put- ting them through intensive classroom training and then hands-on training on the machines.”
• Automatic Tooling Delivery and Retrieval System from the converting machine centers to the mezzanine. • Automatic Roll Delivery and Butt Roll return system from the roll storage room to the Fosber corrugator.
Finished sheets off the corrugator go directly into the WIP warehouse or downstream to converting or to ship- ping where they are strapped and prepared for delivery to local sheet plants. Etown has two shipping lines with load doublers, pallet inserters, tiering devices and EAM Mosca unitizers and palletizers. The plant has 27 dock doors. WSA-USA supplied a fully automatic material handling system, including a Vertical WIP Storage and iFAS Smart Factory Auto- mation System.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 32
Serving the North American Corrugated and Folding Carton Industries Since 1985
Give your digital marketing campaign a boost! Leverage your message to your potential customers with the credibility of Board Converting News behind it. Sponsor a weekly Monday issue or we’ll send out an eblast any day of the week to our full online circulation. You provide the copy, images and link to a video or website and we’ll do the rest! Contact Len Prazych 518-366-9017 lprazych@nvpublications.com
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Kruger's Investment (CONT’D FROM PAGE 30)
Suppliers: Leverage Our Reach
The startup of the Etown plant has been particularly gratifying for Keith. He is especially proud of the workforce who he says are committed to the plant’s success. Indeed, walking about the manufacturing floor, it is clear that they enjoy working there. “It’s a great plant to work,” said Blake Watson, Corrugator Supervisor. Watson had worked at an-
Board Converting News is read by more independent AND integrated decision-makers than any other industry publication.
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other box plant before joining Kruger a year and a half ago. When asked how this plant is different, he said, “For one, safety is of the utmost importance here. Knowing that all of our employees will go home the same way they came in is what separates us; that, and the state-of-the-art machinery to meet our customer’s timelines and to give them the best product possible.”
Len Prazych at 518-366-9017 lprazych@nvpublications.com
• Machinery selection • Plant layout • Project Management • Consulting
A true corrugated industry veteran with nearly 50 years’ experience, Richard Etra can help you with every aspect of box plant operation. Contact Richard today for a no-cost consultation: email: richard_etra@etracorrugatedsolutions.com ph: 917-647-9520
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The best of
two worlds
Two companies team up for your success!
Koenig & Bauer Celmacch’s expertise with converters have enabled us to develop machines for you with the highest technological standards in the industry. This supports maximum reliability, quality and flexibility. Our range of products meet different investment strategies and productivity requirements, ranging from entry-level models to machines that are equipped with the highest levels of automation, sophistication and the highest throughput.
Contact us for information on how you can become the next success story.
kevin.erbe @koenig-bauer.com
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