Board Converting News, November 24, 2025

November 24, 2025

VOL. 41, NO. 47

BoardConverting Serving the North American Corrugated and Folding Carton Industries for 40 years

FlexoTechs Partners With A&V For Innovation, Growth BY GREG KISHBAUGH As a musician and audiophile, Mike Rogers strives for harmony, bal- ance and clarity when listening to music or performing it live. As the Operations Manager of printing plate manufacturer FlexoTechs, Rent- on, Washington, he aims for the very same things. A turntable sits atop corrugated shelving in Rogers’ office, groaning beneath hundreds of albums, bracketed by speakers on either side. Throughout the day, Rogers will lower the needle to a favorite al- bum, reminding himself of how each individual note builds, one atop the other, to form a more cohesive whole.

GP, IP Announce Additional U.S. Plant Closures Two of the paper and packaging industry’s largest global producers, Atlanta, Georgia based Georgia-Pacific (GP) and Memphis, Tennessee based International Paper, have announced additional U.S. plant closures, re- flecting a broader trend of consolidation and footprint realignment seen throughout the past year. GP has announced its plans to perma- nently close its corrugated plant in Mt. Olive, Illinois by December 31, 2025. The plant will continue to operate for the next 60 days fol- lowed by a safe and orderly shutdown. Approximately 134 jobs will be impacted by this closure. GP is working to support those employees with potential opportunities within Georgia-Pacific and other Koch companies or connecting with job fairs and opportunities for employment outside the company. GP's focus over the next two months is to continue to safely operate the plant while sup- porting their employees during the transition. International Paper has also announced the closure of its packaging facilities in Comp- ton, California and Louisville, Kentucky. The facilities will cease operations by January

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WHAT’S INSIDE

The plates the company builds are the fulcrum of the flexo process upon which balances color, design and a product’s ability to connect with consumers. FlexoTechs began as an in-house plate supplier for independent powerhouse Alliance Packaging, located within the company’s Pacific Northwest headquarters. The origins of Alliance stretch back to 1967 when Gordon Younger, CONTINUED ON PAGE 22 The FlexoTechs team, from left: Mike Rogers, Operations Manager; Rick Wray, Plate Maker/Mounting; Andrew Elder, Production Artist; Jamie Thayer, Plate Mounter; Tatyana Bamesberger, Production Artist; Lucy He, Prepping/ Shipping; Maranda Marx, Customer Service Representative/Scheduling; Dean Cariker, Plate Specialist/Plate Maker; Dina Carnes, General Manager of FlexoTechs/DieTechs. Not pictured: Jason Storey, Production Artist, Hills- boro, Oregon division.

6 x x 8 x x 12 x x 26 x x 10 PPC Elects Hilda S. Murray As New Board Chair 12 NAM Hosts Workforce Summit, ICPF Shares Takeaways 16 Mesirow Advises Color Craft On Sale To PaperWorks 16 Litho Press And Vivid Go Bold With GFI Ink Dispensers

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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 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

Share the story of your company’s success with an ARTICLE in Board Converting News. The corrugated and folding carton industries are waiting! Brand Owners, Converters & Decision-Makers READ BCN Don’t keep it a secret! Articles generate leads for converters and suppliers! Industry Stories (AKA Articles) May be hiding plain view. If spotted in your organization, approach with extreme excitement and report to BCN immediately!

Plant Closures (CONT’D FROM PAGE 1)

2026. All customers will be serviced from other nearby locations. The Compton facility closure will impact 125 employ- ees, while the Louisville facility closure will impact 93 em- ployees. The company will work to minimize the impact on employees by using attrition, retirements and current vacancies at other International Paper locations. Team members at these locations will receive outplace- ment assistance, access to mental health support resourc- es and severance benefits. These closures are aimed at accelerating strategic ini- tiatives to improve quality, reliability and service delivery.

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Declining Cardboard Demand In U.S. Casts Shadow On Holiday Sales According to a report on Packaging Gateway , ship- ments of corrugated packaging in the United States have dropped to their lowest levels in a decade, prompting speculation that the upcoming holiday season could prove weaker than expected for retailers. Recent figures from the Fibre Box Association (FBA) show that U.S. corrugated box shipments in the third quarter of 2025 fell to their lowest third-quarter reading since 2015. Typically, box shipments climb during the third quar- ter as retailers ramp up for holiday displays and stock. Yet this year several packaging firms have reported that orders during October were flat or below normal levels. The decline in shipments is widely viewed as a de- mand indicator for consumer goods and retail sup- ply-chains. Less demand for boxes may point towards muted retailer expectations or consumer spending. Industry commentary suggests multiple headwinds are contributing to the fall in corrugated box shipments. These include weak consumer sentiment, a sluggish housing market and trade policy uncertainty. Production data shows that containerboard output (the primary raw material for corrugated boxes) fell 3.1 percent YOY in Q3 and that capacity cuts across North

America are proceeding rapidly. Analysts note that per-cap- ita box use is now more than 20 percent below its 1999 peak, illustrating structural demand changes in the market. For the packaging industry, the slump in box shipments is a warning signal. Reduced orders mean lower utilization and higher pressure on margins and capacity planning. Some mills and converting plants have already announced closures or cutbacks in response to sustained weak de- mand. From a retail perspective, the weakness in corrugated box volumes suggests that the forthcoming holiday shop- ping season may not deliver the same volume of goods movement seen in prior years. Because many seasonal dis- plays and shipping boxes are ordered late during Q3 into October, the low volumes raise questions about the scale of inventory build-up and promotional programming. For global packaging professionals, the current trend underscores growing emphasis on right-sizing, alternative fulfilment formats and more efficient packaging design to adapt to shifting demand. The fall-off in traditional corrugat- ed box shipments may accelerate innovations in sustain- able and flexible packaging options. Ultimately, the marked decline in US corrugated box shipments signals caution not only within the packaging sector but across retail supply-chains. It suggests that holiday demand may be under pressure, prompting a close watch on November and December vol- umes in the weeks ahead.

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PPC Elects Hilda S. Murray As New Board Chair

The Paperboard Packaging Council (PPC) has announced the election of Hilda S. Murray, Executive Vice President and Owner of TPC Printing & Packaging, as the new Chair of its Board of Directors. Murray’s appointment marks a continuation of strong, values-driven leadership at PPC as the organization ad- vances its mission to promote innovation, collaboration, and sustainability across the North American paperboard packaging industry. A respected leader and advocate for independent con- verters, Murray brings decades of business and industry experience to her new role. Under her leadership, TPC Printing & Packaging, a 100-year-old, family-owned folding

Hilda S. Murray

carton converter based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, has grown into a dynamic company recognized for its crafts- manship, innovation, and commitment to sustainability. “Hilda’s leadership represents the very best of our in-

dustry,” said Emily Leonczyk, Executive Director and Vice President of the Paper- board Packaging Council. “Her deep un- derstanding of both the challenges and opportunities facing converters today, combined with her passion for people and innovation, makes her the ideal person to guide PPC through this next chapter. She embodies the values of integrity, adapt- ability, and community that define our membership.” Throughout her career, Murray has helped TPC evolve through multiple indus- try transformations—from textiles to digital workflows, from mass-market to high-end luxury packaging, and, most recently, into rigid box manufacturing. Known for her forward-thinking mindset, she has cham- pioned new technologies and sustainable materials, helping TPC remain competitive and resilient amid an ever-changing mar- ketplace. Commenting on her new role, Murray said, “It’s an incredible honor to serve as PPC’s Board Chair at such a pivotal time for our industry. As converters, we share a spirit of creativity and collaboration that drives continuous improvement. My goal is to build on that energy, to unite and sup- port our members through change, cele- brate one another’s success, and keep moving the industry forward together.” Under Murray’s leadership, PPC will continue to strengthen its member com- munity through education, advocacy, and workforce development initiatives, while advancing the sustainability of paperboard packaging. Learn more about the PPC Executive Committee and Board at paperbox.org .

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November 24, 2025

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NAM Hosts Workforce Summit In Charlotte, ICPF Shares Takeaways The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) recently hosted its fourth annual Workforce Summit in Charlotte, North Carolina. The conference, held at the Manufacturing Institute—NAM’s workforce development and education partner—explored conversations around skills-based hir- ing, talent investment and the growing impact of AI on the paper and packaging industry. Caitlin Salaverria, President of ICPF, attended the conference and shared her learnings and impactful takeaways of the event. One foundational element of ICPF’s Strategic Road Map is evaluating partnership opportunities with existing national programs. The Manufacturing Institute is a great place to get connected with, offering a multitude of re- sources and solutions to manufacturing workforce needs. • Change the narrative on talent investment: Across most companies, a big challenge is developing the business case for talent investment. Know it is possi- ble to quantify the impact of labor investment. Today, market leaders are investing across six pillars of talent excellence, tailored to address specific organizational challenges: work design, talent planning, attracting & onboarding, talent development, talent effectiveness and culture & experience. In order to get started, it is imperative to have human resources, operations and

finance all working together toward talent investment goals.ICPF’s Workforce Development Report is a help- ful resource as you target talent investment. Each quar- ter, we provide ideas and resources to help industry companies attract, retain and develop a talented work- force in today’s competitive environment.

• Reimagine frontline leadership in the age of AI: Em- bedding an AI-positive culture works to get all levels of employees excited, ignited and enabled when it comes to AI. Frontline leaders are navigating the AI-enabled workplace by shaping employee experience, strength- ening leadership skills and guiding teams through AI-driven change. Attendees got a sneak peek at the CONTINUED ON PAGE 14

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November 24, 2025

NAM Hosts (CONT’D FROM PAGE 12)

high-achieving and career-oriented students. Once estab- lished, the cooperative of local employers that make up the FAME Chapter will generate a continuous pipeline of skilled technicians through the AMT program. ICPF is aware of industry companies that are already taking advantage of this program. You can join a local chapter or start your own if there isn’t one already in your area. • Heroes MAKE America Program: The Manufacturing Institute’s Heroes MAKE America program provides integrated certification and career-readiness training in partnership with local community colleges to pre- pare transitioning service members, veterans, Nation- al Guard members, reservists and military spouses for rewarding careers in manufacturing. With backgrounds that often include significant experience in advanced technology, former service members are ideal candi- dates for manufacturing careers and poised to be natu- ral leaders in the manufacturing industry. To support and promote your company’s efforts, ICPF has curated an array of recruitment and retention resourc- es available for free on the ICPF website. The Summit reinforced the message that manufactur- ers must take action as they face shifting workforce ex- pectations, economic uncertainty, and rapid advances in technology. In this environment, collaboration is not op- tional – it is essential. Visit careersincorrugated.com for more information.

soon to be released MI and PwC 2025 Frontline Lead- er of the Future survey. • Explore community partnership models in action to address workforce challenges: By creating internship and apprenticeship programs, sitting on workforce de- velopment boards, doing philanthropic work, and con- necting with local schools of all levels, you can create career pathway partnerships. • FAME Program: The Federation for Advanced Manu- facturing Education (FAME) is an advanced manufac- turing workforce education and development run by the Manufacturing Institute with locations in 17 states. FAME provides global-best workforce development through strong technical training, integration of man- ufacturing core competencies, intensive professional practices, and hands-on experience to build the future of the modern manufacturing industry. The Advanced Manufacturing Technician (AMT) program administered under the FAME model leverages a work/learn frame- work to weave technical knowledge, professional be- haviors and distinct manufacturing core exercises into a focused co-op experience to build global-best, en- try-level, multiskilled maintenance technicians. The FAME model facilitates employer-led partner- ships between your company and local educational insti- tutions and establishes a channel for recruiting diverse,

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November 24, 2025

Mesirow Advises Color Craft On Its Sale To PaperWorks Industries Inc. Chicago, Illinois based Mesirow advises Color Craft Graph- ic Arts (“Color Craft” or the “Company”), a portfolio compa- ny of First Capital Partners (“First Capital”) on its sale to PaperWorks Industries Inc. (“PaperWorks”). Founded in 1929 in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, Color Craft Graphic Arts is a full-service producer of folding cartons for food, beverage and household goods markets. Gregg Weber, President & CEO of Color Craft, who will join the PaperWorks team commented, “We are thrilled to join an organization that emulates our values and has an outstanding reputation in the industry. This is a great op- portunity for the Manitowoc team to thrive within a larger folding carton network and leverage mill integration to de- liver even greater value and service to our customers.” He added, “Mesirow’s relationships and credibility in the sector, combined with expert guidance from start to finish, were pivotal in identifying PaperWorks as an ideal partner to support our continued growth, our customers and our employees.” Rick Weil and Melanie Yermack, Managing Directors and Co-Heads of Packaging at Mesirow Investment Bank- ing, said, “We are honored to have advised Color Craft on a transaction that aligns with its culture and strategic vi- sion.”

Litho Press And Vivid Innovations Go Bold With GFI Ink Dispensers In the large format corrugated package printing market, speed, color accuracy, and uptime separate the good from the great. For Litho Press, a $30 million Indianapolis-based operation specializing in top-sheet printing for major pack- aging converters, those advantages come from a powerful combination of technology and partnership. They rely on GFI Innovations ink dispensers and a close collaboration with Vivid Innovations, their longtime ink and pressroom supplier. “We’ve built our reputation on speed to market,” said Justin Hiott, General Manager of Litho Press. “Our clients expect fast turnaround and color accuracy that’s dead-on from the first pull. The GFI systems, together with Vivid’s support, give us that edge every day.” Litho Press has relied on GFI dispensing technology for 20 years, long before automation became commonplace. Today, their ink lab looks more like a boutique ink man- ufacturing facility: three GFI automated dispensing units, plus shakers, mixers, and automatic proofers, all integrat- ed into a digital color control workflow. The transformation has been dramatic. “Twenty years ago, we would order a PMS color and wait two or three days for delivery, only to discover it didn’t CONTINUED ON PAGE 18

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November 24, 2025

Litho Press (CONT’D FROM PAGE 16)

quite match,” Hiott recalls. “Now we can match, mix, and approve that same color in a couple of hours, if not less.” By producing every spot color in-house, Litho Press shortened turnaround times from 72 hours to just two, giv- ing customers same-day proofs and emergency job flexi- bility that few competitors can match. Their ink technician can mix small batches on demand, eliminating press de- lays and reducing waste. “The major advantage for us is we can run a lot tighter on the number of pounds that we’re making,” says Hiott. “Say we’re on the last 10,000 sheets and come up four pounds short on a job. Within 20 minutes, we can have the extra five or ten pounds made on press before produc- tion shuts down. That’s the difference between meeting a deadline and missing one.” Behind those pressroom efficiencies is Ryan Higgins, founder of Muncie, Indiana-based Vivid Innovations. A supplier who built his business around GFI systems, he runs a network of GFI dispensers across sites in Indiana and Michigan. This includes three machines at Litho Press, which process more than 1,000 pounds of ink per week. “As a small distributor, GFI technology lets me serve large, complex printers without a big production staff,” Higgins explains. “I can support accounts that run 50,000 pounds of ink annually with one person on-site, and save them hundreds of thousands of dollars a year in ink costs.”

Vivid Innovations provides the base inks, customized formulations, and day-to-day technical oversight that make the system sing. Each GFI AccuBlend-HV ink dispenser at Litho Press is loaded with Higgins’ proprietary database of base ink formulas, a key resource refined through thou- sands of live production color matches. “Ryan is our go-to guy,” adds Hiott. “He’s not only our ink supplier, our chemical supplier and our coating suppli- er, he is our eyes and ears in the industry. Without the rela- tionship with Ryan, we wouldn’t be as far as we are today.” Over the years, Higgins and Litho Press’s ink techni- cians have methodically formulated, tested, and vali- Matt Sanford, Ink Technician at Vivid Innovations, left, and Justin Hiott, General Manager at Litho Press stand with one of the GFI ink dispensers.

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Litho Press (CONT’D FROM PAGE 18)

dated each base color across different substrates and press conditions. This evolving data set allows the GFI COLORBOOK™ software to account for subtle pressroom variables, such as paper coatings, humidity levels, or UV versus conventional curing, to deliver highly predictable results from batch to batch. Instead of relying on a generic PMS recipe, each stored formula has been fine-tuned to Litho Press’s exact press- room environment, often with multiple versions of the same color calibrated for different customers or press configurations. The result is faster make-readies, fewer on-press adjustments, and a library of proven colors that can be dispensed and hit target density in minutes. “We’ve built a standards library that’s been tweaked, tested, and proven on real jobs,” Higgins says. “When Litho Press dispenses a color, it’s right every time. The op- erator can trust what’s coming out of that GFI nozzle, and that confidence saves hours of trial and waste.” Hiott credits that consistency not only for reduced downtime, but also for measurable pressroom efficiency. “The presses are our most expensive cost centers,” he explains. “Anything that keeps them running continuously is worth its weight in gold. With the GFIs, our colors are verified before they ever hit the press. There is less re- work, less waiting, and fewer adjustments made on the floor. Consistency to press has become tremendous.” The ability to control color to precise L*a*b* values has also strengthened Litho Press’s relationships with sophis- ticated brand owner customers who demand accuracy across substrates. Some color matches now have four or five formulations stored in the GFI system, each tailored to a customer’s exact standard. “One client might want their 185 Red at a slightly differ- ent hue than another,” Hiott says. “With GFI, we can store each version and call it up instantly. That’s a major advan- tage.” “Ryan’s not just a supplier, he’s a partner,” Hiott empha- sizes. “He’s proactive about solving problems before they ever impact production.” The financial benefits are equally compelling. Hiott es- timates at least 20 annual savings on PMS ink costs alone are the result of tighter control over ink usage, more ef- ficient batch sizes, and reduced freight and handling ex- penses. Because the team can blend exactly what’s need- ed, there is little to no excess ink sitting on the shelf or being sent for disposal. Yet the biggest impact, Hiott emphasizes, goes beyond cost. It’s about control and independence. “We don’t have to wait on outside suppliers or shuf- fle production because the ink isn’t hasn’t arrived yet,” he says. “If we need 10 pounds or 100, we make it. That freedom keeps our presses running and our customers on schedule. It’s enabled us to stay flexible and capable of adjusting to market changes while maintaining a compet- itive edge.”

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FlexoTechs (CONT’D FROM PAGE 1)

it wanted to offer both sheet and liquid plates. “No other manufacturer in the area offered both,” said Rogers. Enter Anderson Vreeland (A&V). In 2021, Rogers and FlexoTechs/DieTechs General Manager, Dina Carnes, met with A&V company reps at the FTA meeting in Dallas, Tex- as, and they were able to tour a non-competitive plate shop. The company primarily produced liquid plates and had, similarly, ventured into sheet plates. Carnes, an electrical engineer by trade, had worked with paper mills in the past before becoming involved with the converting side of the business. When the decision was made to expand operations with new equipment, she organized the move and was able to look at every decision from an engineering stand- point, while Rogers focused on the platemaking and graphic capabilities. The decision was made: FlexoTechs would install a new XSYS ThermoFlexX 80 flexo platemaker. Since it is head- quartered within an actual corrugated plant, there were some unique hurdles that FlexoTechs faced. “We are in a paper plant, basically surrounded by kin- dling,” Rogers said. “When we submitted our plans to the insurance company, they returned a 38-page PDF of mod- ifications that would need to be done before the plans could be approved.” The company had to take precautions in every aspect of the installation. All the plumbing for the solvent and

a salesperson at the time for Boise Cascade, launched Se- attle Packaging. When that business merged in 2001 with Sound Container, Alliance Packaging was born. Alliance has grown and prospered by pursuing a path of strategic acquisitions throughout the years, and just as importantly, by launching companies that can support its mission and provide efficiencies. In order to better control the quality and scheduling of its corrugated board, the company launched its own corru- gator company, Sheets Unlimited. In so doing it implement- ed a template that it would use in launching DieTechs, to supply Alliance with dies, and lastly, FlexoTechs for plates. It was not long before each of these in-house services began to spread out from beneath Alliance’s umbrella to provide their services to outside customers, as well. FlexoTechs was launched in 2011, and until 2014, Alli- ance was its sole vendor. Since then, FlexoTechs has been providing plates to outside converting facilities, with plans to increase the market share of that segment. When Rog- ers started with FlexoTechs in 2017 as a Graphic Designer, the breakdown for business was roughly 80 percent inter- nal use for Alliance and 20 percent to external customers. Now, it is closer to 60 external and 40 internal. With a goal of further increasing those numbers for out- side customers, FlexoTechs required new equipment to help achieve its growth. To be a true one-source supplier,

CONTINUED ON PAGE 24

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November 24, 2025

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FlexoTechs (CONT’D FROM PAGE 22)

file formats such as LEN-files can reportedly be seamlessly converted to 1-bit TIFF. ThermoFlexX can image all digital plates, any brand, solvent, water washable or thermal processing, and is compatible with all plate making equipment.

solvent waste was entrenched underground. Easy access shut-off valves were set up for the still, to and from. The still is in a four-hour rated room, and the compa- ny installed enhanced ventilation for fumes to provide the very best working conditions for its employees. “We spared no expense and we did everything by the book,” Rogers said. The company has now been producing sheet plates since the end of May last year. “Before machine installation, we spoke with our cus- tomers extensively to let them know we would begin pro- ducing sheet plates in-house,” said Rogers. “Overwhelm- ing they preferred that we use the XSYS FTL. Often, when you begin adapting new technology there are moments of uncertainty. We didn’t have that. Every customer that has been introduced to this technology has been thrilled with it.” The ThermoFlexX 80 offers a maximum plate size of 50 x 80 inches. It can automatically load and unload plates with the touch of a button. A guidance system ensures that even thick plates, up to 0.25 inches, can be seamlessly mounted on the drum, all automatically. The FlexTray mo- bile table, which can be adjusted in height and tilted, facil- itates easy plate handling and transport. ThermoFlexX imagers can be integrated with any work- flow or RIP that can produce 1-bit TIFF file format. Closed

Productivity up to 6 square meters an hour can be achieved at the standard quality of 2540dpi. This can be doubled up to 12 square meters an hour, due to the Dual FlexoTechs’ ThermoFlexX machine is well suited for high-vol- ume flexo plate production. Its large size fits multiple jobs to- gether and with intuitive solutions it can handle large, thick or partial plates easily, reducing material waste.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 26

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FlexoTechs (CONT’D FROM PAGE 24)

its base at Alliance, Rogers was able to leverage much of his past experience at other converters in the area, as well as DieTechs’ expansive hold on the die business of so many local converters. “DieTechs sells dies to nearly every converter in our area, which gave us a great advantage in spreading the word about what we were doing at FlexoTechs,” he said. “It was simply a matter of telling our die customers that we also make plates, as well.” Rogers stresses that equipment can only propel a com- pany say far; its the employees who ultimately decide the success a company enjoys. “We’ve built a team that pro- vides expertise, creativity and longevity,” he said. “We are all cross trained; everyone has their primary position with the company, but they have secondary positions, too.” The box business experiences enormous variance throughout the year, from low to high volume and back again. It’s typical to hire workers in the summer when business booms and then lay them off when slow season begins. But what FlexoTechs has done with staffing is to provide a more secure position where no one gets laid off. Since everyone is cross trained, if people take vacation or take sick days, there is coverage. Like many companies, COVID was a watershed moment for FlexoTechs. At one point, a visiting vendor exposed the workers to COVID and they all had to work remotely for 14 days, which they managed to do without missing a single

Head Imaging concept. The ThermoFlexX imager is controlled by a 360-degree rotating display, making the machine accessible from any side. The interface shows the job list with all parameters and a preview of the currently imaging plate.

The imaging system consists of three independent modules: motor, optics and laser. The design reportedly allows straightforward replacement of any of the modules. It is possible to perform optical fine tuning remotely. When the original decision was made to expand Flexo- Techs’ business footprint to even greater degrees outside The ThermoFlexX 80 imager offers a user interface that dis- plays machine controls, a comprehensive job list complete with parameters, and an intuitive imaging preview.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 28

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FlexoTechs (CONT’D FROM PAGE 26)

and meet any challenges they lay before us.” An enormous benefit for FlexoTechs is its location with- in Alliance Packaging. With a top-of-the-line corrugated facility at its fingertips, which can be used for training and trouble-shooting, it’s an invaluable resource. “We have a test kitchen,” Rogers said. “If we are talking amongst our team about the difference between a top printer and a bottom printer or rotary diecutter and flexo folder gluer, and someone is struggling with the concept we can literally walk out to the plant and talk with a press operator.” Rogers, in addition to his stated title of Operations Manager, is also in many ways involved in sales. He is the one currently leading the charge in marketing the compa- ny and increasing its presence into the broader market- place outside of Alliance. He and his team at FlexoTechs envisions a future that positions them as an undisputed resource for boxmakers. “As far as capabilities go, we offer full creative services along with print consultations,” he said. “We’re the experts and can entrusted to set up your files for your specific press so that you do not have to worry about it.” With box plants typically not having on-site graphics designers anymore, and with a much younger, inexperi- enced workforce in place, FlexoTechs wants to position itself as the business partner that can fill that gap. “One of our mottos,” said Rogers, “is that, ‘We design

due date on a order. The pandemic reinforced the notion that having a pre- pared workforce, ready for any contingency or emergen- cy, was a non-negotiable necessity. “Right now, anybody on our my team, if need be, could be out for an extended period and we would be able to operate without missing a beat,” said Rogers. “It might not be easy, but we have prepared ourselves as best we can.” Part of that preparation, from Rogers’ standpoint, was making certain the when the when Anderson & Vreeland showed up on site for training on the new equipment, he would be there every step of the way. “There was no part of the operation that I could dele- gate,” he said. “I had to know everything about the equip- ment. As Operations Manager, if someone had a question, I had to be able to answer them. I never wanted to be in a situation where I had to tell an employee to go ask some- one else. “As far as the rest of the team is concerned, there isn’t a thing I need to worry about. This is a great group of peo- ple; they’ve been given the room to grow and learn and they’ve willingly accepted that challenge. “Alliance is a great company, family-owned, and it’s al- lowed us to follow by example. All of which trickles down to our customers. We are always going to do our best to communicate with them, answer any questions they have,

CONTINUED ON PAGE 30

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FlexoTechs (CONT’D FROM PAGE 28)

Board Converting NEWS INTERNET DIRECTORY

with everyone in mind.’ What that means is that we are designing with the end user in mind because that is our customers’ customer. We want them to have the box that they want, the print that they want. But we are also design- ing with the press operator in mind. The operators should be able to press a button and the plates will run flawlessly and won’t need adjustments.” Since both Rogers and Carnes have backgrounds working in box plants, they understand what it is like for operators working on the plant floor. They understand first-hand the domino effect set in motion when the incor- rect plates are delivered. “We take our partnerships very seriously,” Rogers said. “Companies are entrusting us, in many cases, with making the decision as to whether they should run liquid or sheet plates. We don’t make that decision lightly.” It’s a philosophy that is noticed and very much appreci- ated among FlexoTechs’ many diverse customers. “Simply put, working with FlexoTechs feels like a part- nership,” said Geoff Nickerson, Sales and Design Manag- er of Boxmaster, British Columbia, Canada. “Mike and his team provide us with great products and fantastic service. As a sheet plant, lead times and being flexible to meet an array of customer demands require top notch vendors who have the drive to help. This describes who FlexoTechs are and they’ve played a key role in helping us grow and evolve in a dynamic market. We can put our trust in them to meet deadlines when the situation calls for it and get us the right product for the right project. Our creative team has an excellent relationship with the FlexoTechs team, sharing ideas, providing knowledge and finding ways to continuously improve on an already high performing pro- cess. They are a valued and core supplier for us and we appreciate what they provide for our business each day, knowing we can rely on them for what comes next.” And in building relationships, none has been more im- portant than the one between FlexoTechs and A&V. “Before our relationship with A&V, we had a vendor for liquid resin that sent us a shipment that was leaking,” said Rogers. “They sent a replacement, but that was lost and never arrived to us, which caused us to be down for a cou- ple days.” Rogers called his A&V account manager who had been fighting for his business at the time and made him an of- fer: come in this weekend and do a conversion and our business going forward is yours. Two techs came in that weekend and a new business relationship was formed. “We now had a vendor we could rely on,” Rogers said. “I made a, truthfully, ridiculous request and they came through. What they were willing to do for us in a jam told me a lot about A&V as a company. And they have contin- ued to demonstrate that since we’ve partnered with them.” FlexoTechs will be exhibiting in booth #TC15 at this year’s NW Hort Expo in Wenatchee, Washington, from De- cember 8-10. For more information, visit flexotechs.com .

ADVANTZWARE www.advantzware.com

Advantzware provides a comprehensive system to address the business management needs of the independent box business, as well as the ERP requirements of full scale pack- aging plants and integrated companies. With modules for estimating, scheduling, production, inventory and account- ing, this scalable system supports companies that produce corrugated boxes, folding cartons, point of purchase dis- plays, assembled partitions, and paperboard products. 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.

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Albany International has a corrugator belt for every appli- cation. Our reputation for durable performance is the trade- mark of the most dependable belts in service today.

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November 24, 2025

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