BoardConverting Serving the North American Corrugated and Folding Carton Industries for 40 years June 3, 2024 VOL. 40, NO. 23
Bay Cities Heads Into Future At The Forefront Of AI Technology BY GREG KISHBAUGH Advancements in AI technology — with arguments made from both the pro and con position — will undoubtedly dominate headlines for the foreseeable future. With that in mind, the AICC recently hosted a sem- inar entitled the AI Xperience in Rosemont, Illinois, to delve into the many ways the technology will transform the corrugated industry. Greg Tucker, President of Bay Cities, Pico Rivera, California, has been on the forefront of implementing the use of AI into his company’s workflow. On day one of the seminar, Tucker delivered a presentation
NAM: Durable Goods Orders, Shipments Rise
Manufacturers are seeing stronger demand with durable goods orders increasing again in April, marking the third consecutive monthly increase, according an economic report re- leased last week by the National Association of Manufacturers. Durable goods orders are now up 0.5 percent year-to-date. Manufacturers are facing rising costs but appear less able to pass these higher costs on to their customers. The S&P Flash U.S. Manufacturing PMI noted input prices rose sharply for manufacturers, driven by higher costs for various inputs and energy. New orders for manufactured durable goods rose $1.9 billion, or 0.7 percent, in April. This marks the third consecutive month of growth, following a 0.8 percent increase in March. When excluding transportation, new orders rose 0.4 percent, while orders exclud- ing defense remained almost unchanged. The transportation equipment sector led the increase with a $1.1 billion, or 1.2 percent, rise to $96.2 billion. However, other segments also recorded increases. New orders for pri- mary metals rose 1.3 percent while orders for electrical equipment, appliances and compo- CONTINUED ON PAGE 3
WHAT’S INSIDE
on the ways AI has aided Bay Cities in the storage and implementa- tion of the company’s data. Bay Cities, in addition to its sheet plant in Pico Rivera — and water and packout fulfillment centers — has recently launched a new joint venture with The Royal Group in Chicago, Illinois, and is also building another new facility that will be running on digital 4.0 technology, in which data will be the driving force and making many of the decisions. So, understanding data, how it can be gathered, stored, accessed and utilized, became more paramount for the company than ever. Tuck- er defined data as “something that happened at a particular time.” “Data became very, very important to us,” said Tucker. CONTINUED ON PAGE 24
6 x x 8 x x 12 x x 26 x x 4 SuperCorrExpo To Highlight Diecutting Productivity 10 Box Leader William Heintz Passes Away At 85 ICPF Donates To Cal Poly Corrugated Program 22 PCPC Holds Open Houses
At Packaging Innovation Center
EVERYTHING CORRUGATED UNDER
Machinery You Can Rely On, Sales Support You Can Trust Highcon has partnered with SUN Automation Group® to provide high-end digital finishing machinery to the USA and Canada. With a variety of equipment configurations to fit your operation’s demands, Highcon’s solutions are reinforced by the HighConnect Performance Reporting Platform Highcon Euclid 5C Specifically engineered for converters working in B1 format for corrugated and fluted substrates. • Improved responsiveness and turnaround times
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NAM (CONT’D FROM PAGE 1)
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.
nents increased 0.9 percent. Capital goods orders rose 0.5 percent for the month. Year-to-date, new orders for durable goods are up 0.5 percent Durable goods shipments also strengthened in April, rising 1.2 percent. Shipments are up 2.3 percent year-to- date. Shipments for capital goods rose 2.4 percent in April, and transportation shipments increased 3.4 percent. Federal Reserve minutes highlight rising concerns over stubborn inflation. Participants observed that while inflation had eased over the past year, there had been no further progress toward the 2 percent target in re- cent months. Recent data showed significant increases in goods and services prices, with core services inflation ex- cluding housing rising in the first quarter and core goods prices posting their first increase in several months. Sea- sonal patterns and volatile components may have contrib- uted to January’s large PCE inflation increase.. Participants discussed risks to the economic outlook, including persistent inflation, geopolitical events and un- certainties about the restrictiveness of current financial conditions. They emphasized monitoring financial system vulnerabilities and maintaining monetary policy flexibility. The federal funds rate target range was kept at 5.25–5.50 percent, with smooth balance sheet reduction. Future pol- icy decisions will be based on incoming data, the evolving outlook and risks.
REGION E. Coast Midwest Southeast Southwest
42# Kraft liner $955.00-960.00 $970.00-980.00 $970.00-980.00 $ 970.00-980.00 $1000.00-1010.00 $973.00-983.00
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
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.
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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SuperCorrExpo Educational Program To Highlight Diecutting Productivity TAPPI and AICC, The Independent Packaging Association, are inviting industry experts from around the world to Su- perCorrExpo on September 8-12 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida, for the most com- prehensive convergence of resources and insights in the corrugated and folding carton industries. This year’s edu- cational program includes the “Effective Methods to Max- imize Diecutting Productivity” Course, from 8:00 a.m. to noon EST on September 9-10. Attendees are invited to step into a world of enhanced efficiency and innovation and delve into the effects of equipment differences, the essentials of general main- tenance, and how subtle structural design changes can drastically affect production outcomes. Led by industry expert Rick Putch, Director of Technical Services and Process Improvement at National Steel Rule Co, this educational session is a must-attend for corru- gated converters eager to push the boundaries of what’s possible in die cutting, offering an immersive learning ex- perience focused on understanding the nuances that in- fluence quality and profitability in diecutting operations. Separate registration is required to attend the course. To register and learn more about the course and other ed- ucational opportunities, visit supercorrexpo.org .
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The value of lasting over time.
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AICC Southwest Summit Kicks Off At Texas Rangers Game June 19 AICC, The Independent Packaging Association, an- nounced the upcoming Southwest Summit, taking place June 19-20, at the Live by Loews Hotel in Arlington, Texas. This event promises to be an exceptional opportunity for networking, education, and industry insights. The Summit will kick off as the Texas Rangers take on the New York Mets at the Global Life Stadium. This unique experience combining America’s favorite pastime with networking opportunities will set the tone for an engaging event. Attendees will have the opportunity to tour promi- nent facilities in the area. Harris Packaging, a sheet plant with 290,000 square feet of production and warehouse space, will showcase its innovative operation.
Participants can be some of the first to see the new Greif CorrChoice Dallas bulk corrugated manufacturing fa- cility. This plant will primarily make triple wall sheets and jumbo boxes and will have capabilities that include inline gluing and stitching.
Attendees will also tour Dieco/Graph- ics 2 Press. Dieco is a leading company in the cutting die industry, specializing in designing and manufacturing precision cutting dies used in the packaging indus- try. Graphics 2 Press is a prominent player in the print plate industry, offering a wide range of printing plates. The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) visit will provide valuable learning opportunities. Attendees will enjoy lunch and hear from Mariam Yousuf, business economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, who will present trends in the local economy and future outlooks. As a member of the Research Department’s re- gional group, Mariam conducts research on regional economic issues, coordinates the production of and writes the release for the Dallas Fed’s Banking Conditions Survey and Agricultural Survey, and helps produce the Eleventh District Beige Book — the Dallas Fed’s survey of regional eco- nomic conditions. The event will wrap up with an eve- ning networking reception at the Choctaw Lounge at Texas Live. Attendees are en- couraged to book their rooms at the Live by Loews Hotel to enjoy the convenience and luxury of staying at the event’s primary venue. For more information and to regis- ter, visit www.AICCbox.org/Calendar .
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CCM ® OCT Filter STATE-OF-THE-ART, HIGHLY ADVANCED DUST COLLECTION SYSTEM
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Packaging Education Fundraiser Set For July 16-18 In Napa Valley Join the Foundation for Packaging Education for the up- coming fundraising event, set to take place from July 16- 18 in the breathtaking Napa Valley. This event promises an exquisite blend of luxury, camaraderie, and support for a vital cause — workforce development for packaging professionals. July is the perfect time to be in Napa Valley, where AICC members, with their spouses and partners, can share experiences and enjoy the good company of fel- low industry professionals. Attendees will be hosted at the luxurious Silverado Resort, offering a serene and ele- gant backdrop for this special occasion. The event will kick off with a welcoming reception on the opening night, setting the stage for two days of un- paralleled activities and networking opportunities includ- ing golf and a hands-on cooking class at the nearby Culi- nary Institute of America. The evening will be highlighted by a dining experience aboard the famous Napa Valley Wine Train. The second day will feature exclusive wine tours, tastings, and a gourmet lunch at the renowned Chateau Montelena and Beringer vineyards. For more information and to register, visit www.AIC- Cbox.org/Fundraiser .
Box Shipments ( U.S. Corrugated Product Shipments) Industry Shipments In Billions of Square Feet Month December 2023
Year
Actual
Percent Change Avg Week Percent Change
2023 2022
29.711 30.124
-1.4
7.819 7.927
-1.4
Industry Total
Year-to Date
December 2023
Year
Actual
Percent Change Avg Week Percent Change
2023 2022
380.555 400.520
-5.0
7.611 7.979
-4.6
Industry Total
Containerboard Consumption (Thousands of Tons)
Year
Month
Percent Change Year-to-Date Percent Change
2023 2022
2.4080 2.4260
-0.7
30.9333 32.5461
-5.0
Container Board Inventory - Corrugator Plants (Thousands of Tons)
Corrugator Plants Only
Date
Percent Change Weeks of Supply
Percent Change
Dec. Nov.
2.1892 2.1071
3.9
3.5 3.5
6.1
Shipping Days
Year
Month
Year-to-Date
2023 2022
19 19
250 251
SOURCE: Fibre Box Association
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.
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UNPARALLELED SPEED. UNRIVALED SUPPORT.
With a 99% on-time install record and some of the best service and support in the business, you can count on your crew from Haire Technical Group to keep your machine running at maximum capacity. And because they are located throughout the US, you can be assured that your service and support team will be there for the life of your machine.
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William Heintz Passes Away At 85 In Peotone, Illinois
loved being part of the farming community in Peotone. He was happiest there surrounded by family, friends, and his devoted dog. He cared deeply for others and despite his physical limitations in his later years, continued to con- nect with friends and family, forming deep friendships with those he knew. His circle was wide, and he will be missed for his wisdom, humor, and kindness toward all. He was an incredibly resilient man, but in sincere humility, found strength in his deep faith in God. Memorials to the Manteno Veterans Home, Peotone American Legion Post 392, or Immanuel United Church of Christ would be appreciated. Share a memory at www. feddehelfrichcrossfh.com . AF&PA Releases April Packaging Papers Report The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) re- leased the April 2024 Packaging Papers Monthly report. Total packaging papers and specialty packaging ship- ments increased 21 percent compared to April 2023. They were up 11 percent compared to the same 4 months of 2023. The operating rate for unbleached packaging pa- pers was 94 percent, up 15.8 points from April 2023 and up 4.2 points year-to-date. Shipments of bleached pack- aging papers was down 0.5 percent from the same month last year and down 2.3 percent year-to-date.
William Otto Heintz, 85, of Peotone, Illinois passed away on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, at his home on Poplar Grove Farm. Bill was highly regarded in the corrugated box industry working in business management for Container Corpo- ration of America and Ideal Box Company. He retired for
the second time as Chief Operating Officer at Dong Fang America/Haire Group. He also served as president of TAPPI. He was born on May 9, 1939, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, graduat- ed from Central Bucks High School in Doylestown, Pennsylvania and attended Mercersburg Academy in Mercersburg, Pennsylvania. He was
William Heintz
a graduate of Virginia Polytechnic Institute (Virginia Tech) in Blacksburg, Virginia, majoring in business and was a First Lieutenant in the Core Cadets. He married the late Susan June (Campbell) Heintz on June 23, 1962 and was a veteran of the US Army. He served as a captain during the Vietnam War in the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment (Black- horse Regiment). Bill loved the land, and having been raised on a farm,
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Cal Poly To Enhance Corrugated Packaging Curriculum With ICPF Donations The International Corrugated Packaging Foundation (ICPF) announced the completion of a multi-year donation to Cal Poly culminating in an enhanced corrugated packaging curriculum for Cal Poly Packaging Pro- gram students.
Customer Care Portal
Quality Management
TopGun
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Through the donation of multiple pieces of equipment, including a Sommerville screen disintegrator, TAPPI sheet press, TAPPI sheet former, digital speed dryer and more, Cal Poly will develop a new course (Funda- mentals of Paper Manufacturing, Packaging Sustainability) and enhance existing courses (Paper and Paperboard Packaging) through lectures and labs related to testing the repulpability and recyclability of old corrugated containers (OCC). The collective impact of these donations on several existing and new courses, as well as continued emphasis on Cal Poly’s deeply embedded Learn-by-Doing philosophy, will give corrugated packaging prominence in the Packaging Program at Cal Poly. “ICPF was delighted to fulfill this multi-year donation to Cal Poly,” said ICPF President Caitlin Salaverria. “The sustainable recycling laboratory will expand industry relevant education to students, and the enhanced corrugated packaging curriculum will aid in ICPF’s objective to increase industry exposure.” Dr. Joongmin Shin, Professor, Industrial Technology and Packaging, said that Cal Poly truly appreciates ICPF’s invaluable educational sup- port. “We’re thrilled to provide a high-quality laboratory for students to learn through hands-on experiences,” he said. Said Salaverria: “As an industry sponsored foundation, ICPF has worked for the last 30 years to advance student and faculty knowledge of the industry and to promote development of a highly trained work- force. We’ve provided over $13 million in donations of equipment and grants to universities and look forward to expanding our efforts over the coming years.” ICPF is supported by individual corrugated manufacturers and supply companies and is co-sponsored by AICC, The Independent Packaging Association, and Fibre Box Association. Visit careersincorrugated.com .
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Do More with Less APB is an automated and integrated plant planning system designed to help your schedulers do less manual work. By utilizing scheduling optimization technology, your planning department can focus on exceptions only. Visibility Enables Optimization Our intuitive scheduling solution features seamless, bidirectional data flows with core backend systems. Easy-to-Understand Dashboards Machine capacity charts provide graphical real-time information of the equipment’s backlog state and next available delivery dates. Improve Capacity through Automation Our proprietary algorithms leverage cutting edge automation to dynamically prioritize your most critical scheduling constraints. ADVANCED PLANNING BOARD
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AICC AI Xperience Steps Into The Future
The Perfect Combo Get Peak Performance From Your Equipment with Matched Component Sets
The AICC AI Xperience Conference, held from May 14-16 in Chicago, Illinois, concluded with resounding success. The event brought together industry leaders, experts, and enthusiasts to explore the transformative potential of arti- ficial intelligence in the packaging industry. Over 120 AICC members came together to walk into the future. Many were first-time attendees and part of the technical side of box plants. Overall, the audience was curious and engaged about the possibilities that AI can bring. The conference kicked off during a joint reception with the Chicago TAPPI Trade Fair. The subsequent days were packed with informative sessions, dynamic panel discus- sions, and key presentations from industry experts.
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 matches between the components that must work in tandem on your flexo 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 fill your most demanding orders by pairing your team with The ARChitects of Flexo . Contact ARC today to learn how these engineered matches of flexo folder gluer and die-cutter components (new or reconditioned) can help you achieve a more perfect union of production and profits.
The second day began with panel discussion on the im- portance of AI to AICC members, featuring insights from prominent figures such as Jeff Putt of DeLine Box & Dis- play, Greg Tucker of Bay Cities, Jim Hawton of Bay Cities, Gokul Gopakumar of SUN Automation Group, and David Wiens of BPS AI Software, moderated by AICC President Mike D’Angelo. The session answered questions about why AI is of interest to box makers and suppliers; the barri- ers to entry; and data generation and ownership. The sessions throughout the day covered a wide range of topics, including AI’s role in industry innovation and technology, the importance of data management and sys- tem integration, and the application of AI in reducing un- planned downtime during sessions led by Gokul Gopaku- mar, SUN Automation Group; Jan Geuens, OMP; and Erin Hollandsworth, Motionalysis, Inc. Attendees also learned about the concept of digital twins and how they can be used to optimize operations from Mohamed Azzouz of Royal Containers Ltd. The final day delved into AI’s role in, and need for, cy- bersecurity, emphasizing the balance between human and machine intelligence. Jim Hawton, Bay Cities, discussed cybersecurity and how to keep your data safe. Since AI demands huge amounts of data to be shared, this was a necessary component of the Xperience. CONTINUED ON PAGE 16
The ARChitects of Flexo
SINCE 1984
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AI Xperience (CONT’D FROM PAGE 14)
collaboration, ensuring they stay at the forefront of tech- nological advancements. For more information about AICC and upcoming events, visit www.AICCbox.org . PMMI Announces Emerson Support For The Amazing Packaging Race Emerson has reaffirmed its support for The Amazing Pack- aging Race at PACK EXPO International (Nov. 3-6; McCor- mick Place, Chicago), continuing a partnership of over a decade with show producer PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies. Laura Thompson, Vice President of Trade Shows at PMMI, emphasized the significance of education and workforce development. “PMMI is committed to engaging students and fostering their enthusiasm for our industry. The return of The Amaz- ing Packaging Race to Chicago this year underscores our dedication to this cause,” she said. The event, which sees student teams tackle challeng- es set by exhibitors across all four halls of the show floor, will culminate on November 6 with prize presentations to the top three teams. Each winning team member will be awarded $1,000, with second and third-place teams re- ceiving $500 and $250 per member, respectively.
Discussions covered the critical need for robust data man- agement and integration to ensure successful AI imple- mentation. Sean Arney, Motionalysis, Inc.; Peter Dobell, OMP; Colin Riggs, Rigorous Technology; Aleks Zlatic, ePro- ductivity Software; and Danna Nelson, Amtech Software with Tucker and D’Angelo moderating, came together for a panel discussion that helped attendees understand how to care for data. Sessions with David Wiens, BPS AI Software, also high- lighted the potential of Specialized Language Models (SLMs) in manufacturing and stressed the importance of continuous education and strong cybersecurity measures. Wiens helped attendees create custom AI personas and agents during the conference. The key takeaways from the conference underscored the significant growth and investment in AI across various industries. It was evident that AI can revolutionize design processes, predictive maintenance, and quality inspection in manufacturing. However, the importance of data securi- ty and protection was a recurring theme, highlighting the need for continuous education and adaptability to keep pace with technological advancements. The success of the AI Xperience marks a significant step towards harnessing the power of AI to drive industry growth and efficiency. AICC remains committed to sup- porting its members through education, innovation, and
CONTINUED ON PAGE 18
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PMMI Announces (CONT’D FROM PAGE 16)
Jim Pittas, President and CEO of PMMI, commended Emerson’s ongoing support, noting its pivotal role in sus- taining programs like The Amazing Packaging Race and contributing significantly to the PMMI Foundation. “Our partnership with Emerson is a source of immense pride, enabling us to collectively shape the industry's future,” Pit- tas remarked. Exhibitors interested in participating in the race can register with a participation fee of $600. All proceeds ben- efit the PMMI Foundation. For additional details, contact Kate Fiorianti, director, Workforce Development at PMMI, at (571) 287-4406 or kfiorianti@pmmi.org. Established in 1998, the PMMI Foundation champions packaging and processing education across the U.S. and Canada. It has disbursed over $3.8 million to strengthen the industry's workforce. The Amazing Packaging Race is one of several student activities featured at the show designed to attract the next generation of packaging and processing professionals. Additional programs include the PACK Challenge, a ma- chine-building competition among high school teams, and the Future Innovators Robotics Showcase. Registration is open for PACK EXPO International’s re- turn to McCormick Place, November 3-6 in Chicago. For further information and registration, visit packexpointer- national.com.
We’ve got our customers covered… …with our fiberglass backed, boltless, full double-wide blankets and an extensive inventory of corrugated parts needed by virtually every box plant in the country. The innovator of the original fiberglass-backed knuckle locking anvil cover, Stafford is the industry’s go-to source for everything corrugated. TM
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No Lights. No Camera. All Action.
Make a stronger, lighter and more sustainable corrugated blank using less glue by implementing a “brick” style pattern developed by Baumer hhs. This pattern creates a stronger bond using less glue. Our new all-electric PX 1000 applicators with over a billion cycle life can easily apply the pattern with clean cutoff and accurate placement. The PGD 1000 sensor is there to show your customer that every box was properly glued so you’ll never end up on some gag reel. You can be the star with The CorrBox solution from Baumer hhs.
PGD 1000 Monitoring Sensor • Measure the glue proximity to the edge of the tab and avoid squeeze-out so you deliver an accurately glued box every time. • The printing on the carton does not effect the hybrid sensor’s ability to read the bead. Black, white, plaid or polka dot, the sensor is not bothered, so neither are you. • No UV additives needed for detection saves you money, time and effort.
PX 1000 Cold Glue Applicator • Extremely fast and powerful closing force means no drips or tailing so your first box is a good box. • Strong armature activation easily handles viscosity fluctuations and will work with a large variety of adhesives. • Fast action coil means you can now stitch your beads at higher running speeds lowering adhesive consumption up to 70% and improving board output.
GLUE SAVINGS Activation Aktiv
Find more information on CorrBox at URL below or use the QR Code: https://shorturl.at/sACE0 Or contact us at: 937-886-3160 or email sales.usa@baumerhhs.com Baumer hhs 10570 Success Lane, Dayton, Ohio 45458
Savings
70%
Max Gap 4 mm
Koenig & Bauer Presents Products, Digital Solutions At Drupa 2024 Koenig & Bauer announced its appearance at drupa 2024 in Düsseldorf through June 7 where it is presenting its product portfolio and numerous digital innovations for print production and post-press finishing. The company focused on solutions for the packaging market – not only machinery, but also digital products. The central point of contact for access to the compre- hensive suite of digital products is the myKyana portal, which enables seamless interaction with all digital offers. Each of the digital products integrated into myKyana sup- ports Koenig & Bauer’s customers on their path to more efficiency and profitability. Kyana Connect establishes the fundamental infrastructure for consistent data exchanges and real-time data analysis. The performance dashboards are designed to make it easier for users to analyze their key production figures. To be able to handle jobs in record time in the dynamic environment of a modern printshop, immediate support in case of any questions or problems is decisive. This neces- sity was the driver behind development of the generative artificial intelligence Kyana Assist – one of the highlights of this year’s fair presentations. In addition to live demonstrations, print companies and brand owners visiting Koenig & Bauer’s booth heard nu-
merous keynotes and panel discussions on business mod- els for the printing world of tomorrow. One highlight is the daily live show, Connected Packag- ing, presented by Sandra Wagner, Vice President for Dig- italization at Koenig & Bauer. The presentation introduc- es a platform based on Google cloud technology where brand owners can store digital information to individualize, personalize and enrich their printed packaging, alongside detailed product and manufacturing specifications. The accompanying app for end consumers acts as a bridge between analogue packaging and the digital world, and by making comprehensive product information available to the consumer by way of augmented reality, enhances the shopping experience. Visitors to the 4,000 sqm Koenig & Bauer stand at drupa 2024 in Düsseldorf experience an end-to-end packaging workflow with offset, digital and flexo printing and finishing.
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PCMC Holds Two Open Houses At Packaging Innovation Center Green Bay, Wisconsin based Paper Converting Machine Company (PCMC), part of BW Converting Solutions, re- cently held two free information-packed open houses at its state-of-the-art Packaging Innovation Center in Green Bay. More than 160 people attended the three-day event April 23-25 which focused on digital printing for flexible packaging as well as digital and flexo printing for the fold- ing carton industry. “We were very pleased with the turnout and quality of information we were able to provide the industry,” said Rodney Pennings, PCMC’s Director of Sales-Print. “The spirit of the Packaging Innovation Center and our Power Packs educational video series is to serve as a resource
for print and packaging industry information, demos, trials, and training along with research and development oppor- tunities.” A wealth of market and trend data, industry analysis, and
best practice information was provided by guest speakers from across the globe in- cluding Dr. Sean Smyth, industry consul- tant and analyst; Jason Thelander of Mem- jet; Alison Keane of the Flexible Packaging Association; Dennis Gignac of BW Paper- systems; Sean Hampson and Keith Grimm of Hybrid; Eric Nelson of Xitron; and Mary Schilling of Schilling Inkjet Consulting. In addition to guest speakers, PCMC provid- ed up close and personal demonstrations of two exciting new presses. Attendees were able to see the ION hy- brid press live in action. The ION turns tra- ditional analog presses into digital hybrid printing platforms, providing the ability to produce larger digital runs cost competi- tively. “It is designed to handle up to 400 feet per minute with web widths of 36, 42 and 52 inches for paper, film and folding carton.” said Windell McGill, PCMC ION Launch Manager. There was also a press-side demo of the high-production, 59 inch wide, 10+2 color Fusion CI folding carton press. “The Fusion has great energy and time-saving features like automatic drum cleaning and automatic impression set- ting,” said Mike Shaw, PCMC Regional Sales Manager. Scott Derouin, PCMC Regional Sales Manager, added that the Fusion reduces energy usage through low-power-con- sumption components, design and opera- tion. “It offers fast changeovers and lower ink usage,” Derouin said. “The Fusion low- ers operating costs and provides a quick return on investment and those benefits increase significantly when moving from sheet-fed to web-fed production.”
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Bay Cities (CONT’D FROM PAGE 1)
enhanced safety, improved efficiency and productivity, increased customization, human-machine collaboration, and more meaningful work. “The biggest thing we’re going to have to do is produce more smaller items, quicker, better, faster, and cheaper, that are individually built for our customers.”
“We wanted to realize how we could do things better, faster, cheaper without killing ourselves. Because under- standing data is a tremendous orchestration of people and discipline and process and procedures. If you think about a machine and all of the processes on a machine, a ma- chine has millions and millions of millions of pieces of data flying out of it at any second. So how do we capture that data? And that’s what I became very, very intrigued with: understanding how to capture that data, spread that data from the very, very basis bottom of our machinery, and uti- lize that data all the way to the ring at register.” Defining Industry 1.0 as the advent of the factory sys- tem and implementation of steam technology, 2.0 as the introduction of the internal combustion engine and elec- tricity, 3.0 as the shift from analog to digital electronics and the rise of computers and the Internet, 4.0 as the introduc- tion to big data, analytics, virtual reality, digital twins and cloud computing, and 5.0 as human/machine connection and the introduction of AI and robotics, Tucker sees the corrugated industry as currently straddling 4.0 and 5.0. “The beautiful thing about 5.0 is we’re now allowing human interaction with machines,” he said. “We’re now al- lowing the introduction to AI and to robotics. It’s a very exciting time for business if we adopt it, understand it, and utilize it. It is going to be the future.” Tucker sees many benefits of Industry 5.0, including
Tucker says the industry can anticipate huge techno- logical leaps in terms of prefeeders and takeoff systems, as well as AI feedback-based scheduling, which he refers to as the Holy Grail in corrugated production. A data analytics stack refers to the combination of tech- nologies and tools used to gather, process, store, analyze, and visualize data. “At the very bottom of the data stack,” said Tucker, “is what is called the PLCs or Programma- ble Logic Controller. The PLCs are the brains of your ma- CONTINUED ON PAGE 26
PRINTCHEK REPRESENTS A NEW FRONTIER IN PRINT QUALITY ASSURANCE FOR THE CORRUGATED CARDBOARD INDUSTRY PrintChek uses a series of line scan cameras to capture an image of each sheet across its entire span before being die-cut. Every sheet's size, rotation, and print quality are then compared to your set “golden standard” to identify defects as small as 2mm like skew, spots, hickeys, smears, color deviation, missing print, and more. Using PrintChek in conjunction with MeasurementChek allows you to remotely monitor production and quality statistics which you can then export via Excel for statistical analysis.
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Bay Cities (CONT’D FROM PAGE 24)
chines. They are telling your machines to go up, down, left, right, move quicker, slow down. The SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) area is where your machines are measuring ways not to overheat or fail. “Those supervisory acquisitions of data allow you to see that a machine is ready to go down. The next thing is MES (Manufacturing Execution System), which is the manufacturing and supervisory area of your business. That allows you to understand scheduling, to understand manipulations of the timing going into your manufacturing systems. “Above that in the data stack is ERP (Enterprise Re- source Planning), which is the sales data coming in, the history of what happened in your administration, what hap- pened in the manufacturing base. How did you do? What
did you do? And how did everything work? “Finally, at the top, is the Cloud, which is the server where all this data goes.” It is very common, Tucker noted, for these stacks to be disconnected with different companies servicing different
areas of the stack without communicat- ing with one another. For efficiency, and to have true data accessibility, the stacks must be connected. “When we connect this stack, we have free flowing information up and down that stack,” he said. “And what we want to do is mark data using MQTT (Message Queuing Telemetry Transport, a lightweight mes- saging protocol) into what’s called a uni- fied namespace. “That’s almost like a library with a Dew- ey decimal system of data, so that we can bring that data up and down that stack and use it at a moment’s notice in real-time. Just think of the power of that. We can get real-time data up and down that stack at a moment’s notice without having to go through an MES (manufacturing execution system), without having to go through an ERP system. It’s flying at a millisecond no- tice. “In a real scenario, in a large climate area — a giant business — this is really what a connected stack can do,” he con- tinued. “Utilizing your data everywhere, up and down, all around. You get data easily, you get it quickly, you get it addressed, you get it shared, you optimize your operation, and you improve your decision making because you get your data now. The ben- efits of a connected stack are improved data accessibility, real-time data analysis, increased agility, and enhanced customer experience.” Once all this data is collected, the chal- lenge becomes its storage. A data lake is a vast pool of raw data, the purpose of which
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CONTINUED ON PAGE 28
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Bay Cities (CONT’D FROM PAGE 26)
Machine operators become owners of the process; they can see if they are running at speed and hitting con- tribution. They are incentivized to run at speed. Additionally, digital twins (virtual representations of an object or system designed to reflect a physical object ac- curately) become easier, which allows for predictive main- tenance and elimination of downtime. Tucker feels the most important consideration and agent of change will be the ability for clients to access a converter’s system direct- ly, without any interactions with salespeople or any other company representatives. As for the major roadblocks to advancement, Tucker feels the most crucial is that of security. “When you’re opening up these databases using edge equipment, using MQTT, which is a very, very loose soft- ware system, if you’re not clamped down and secure, it’s very easily stolen. It’s very easily hacked. “Also, what about you screwing something up, pulling read-out, read-in information into that PLC and ruining your piece of equipment? “And how many different pieces of equipment do we have in our facilities and where are they all made? Some in Korea, some in China, some in Bulgaria, some in South America, some parts made in one country and assembled in another. “These are the challenges that we’re running into, but they’ll be overcome. Bay Cities is getting it done.” CONTINUED ON PAGE 30
is to store all forms of structured and unstructured data at any scale. Unlike a data warehouse, which stores data in a structured manner, the data in a data lake is kept in its natural raw state, without the need to first structure or transform it.
Suppliers of data lakes include huge players such as IBM, Oracle, Google Cloud, Azure and AWS, but smaller companies, such as Databricks, Cloudera and Snowflake (which recently had one of the largest IPOs in history) are growing fast. The decision for Bay Cities to use a data lake revolves around the central premise of having access to real-time data to make immediate decisions based upon being able to see what is happening across the company’s whole enterprise.
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