FMN | January 21st, 2019

ICG Patriarchs Reflect On Industry Evolution

A HEALTHY PLAN FOR BUILDING PROFITS

The Independent Carton Group (ICG), an associa- tion of 17 independently owned and operated fold- ing car ton manufacturer s, counts among its patriarchs four men who have given a lifetime of contributions to the industry. With careers originat- ing in the 1950s and 1960s, and continued ties to the industry today, Andy Willie, Bob Zumbiel, Charlie Hirsh and Jay Dee have all witnessed decades of in- dustry evolution.There are likely few individuals who have been around this industry longer. “Folding cartons have become easier to produce,”said

Andy Willie, noting that the technology-driven presses on the market today are a far cry from the ones he climbed inside to repair in his early days at Curtis Pack- aging.Willie joined the Sandy Hook, Connecticut, man- ufacturer in 1959 and spent 32 years there, including 10 years as co-owner and general manager. As the technology has evolved, so too has the work of the press operator.“You still need good people, but their roles are different. It’s more technical, less me- chanical,” saidWillie. Despite the more technical, and seemingly more in- teresting, nature of the work, Bob Zumbiel said it’s hard to find good people.“It’s not enough to just find people.You have to find the ones who will stay,” said Zumbiel, whose career began in the maintenance de- partment of his family’s folding carton business in 1955. Zumbiel only recently retired after more than 60 years at Zumbiel Packaging, 40 of which he spent serv- ing as President of the Hebron, Kentucky, converter. “The quality is better today, and equipment is faster and easier to use,” said Dee, who ran the printing de- partment and sales of Dee Packaging Solutions, Chester, Pennsylvania, then served as President for 15 years before retiring in 2016.“It’s very exciting to get new equipment.” ( Left to right ) Bob Zumbiel, Andy Willie, and Charlie Hirsh. ( Inset ) Jay Dee.

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The ARChitects of Flexo

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