BoardConverting Serving the North American Corrugated and Folding Carton Industries for 37 years July 26, 2021 VOL. 37, NO. 28
Pulver Packaging Sees Growth With Machinery Investments BY JACKIE SCHULTZ The sustained growth of Pulver Packaging has largely been driven by a combination of strategic capital investments and lessons learned from economic downturns. Patrick Pulver, President, recalls the impact of the first recession in 2001 after the 9/11 attacks. “That was a blow and then seven years later we got hit again with the 2008 recession. You remember those things and what you had to do to change your way of doing business in order to survive.”
Graphic Packaging Acquires AR Packaging For $1.45B Atlanta, Georgia based Graphic Packaging reported that it has signed a definitive agree- ment with CVC Capital Partners Fund to ac- quire AR Packaging for approximately $1.45 billion in cash. AR Packaging is one of Europe’s sec- ond-largest producers of fiber-based con- sumer packaging. The group offers a unique range of packaging solutions from its special- ized plants. Added value is created to its cus- tomers through its broad product offering and deep knowledge of carton-based and flexible packaging. Graphic Packaging, which operates glob- ally and is one of the largest producers of folding cartons and paper-based foodservice products in the United States, holds strong market positions in coated recycled paper- board, coated unbleached Kraft, and solid bleached sulfate paperboard. Founded in 1981, CVC is a private equity and investment advisory firm with a network of 23 offices throughout Europe, Asia, and the United States, with approximately $118 billion of assets under management. The combination enhances Graphic Pack-
Pulver’s grandfather, Lyle Howard, started the business as Lyle How- ard Company in 1958. Patrick has been the owner since 2000. In 2005 he changed the name to Pulver Packaging and began initiating new processes and adding production lines to drive efficiency and growth. Based in the Chicago suburb of Elk Grove, Illinois, the company spe- cializes in quick turnaround of short to medium run folding cartons. Serving this niche market is another factor in the company’s growth, according to Pulver. “We can produce folding cartons in a week. We’re serving markets that other people don’t want to bother with. We have no problem issuing a $2,000 invoice.” Primary markets vary from food and cosmetics to industrial packaging. Investments over the last eight years have included two Bobst Vi- sioncut 106 Autoplaten diecutters, a Signature 110 folder-gluer and a DGM Smartfold folder-gluer. The newest Visioncut, installed in 2019, is the company’s first diecutter with in-line blanking. “That has been a godsend for us,” Pulver says. “Before that we were doing all hand CONTINUED ON PAGE 24 Dawn and Patrick Pulver, owners of Pulver Packaging in Elk Grove, Illinois.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 5
WHAT’S INSIDE
6 FBA Shipments Jump In June 8 There’s Still Time To Register For SuperCorrExpo 2021 30 Neenah Paper To Close Box WI Plant, 100 Impacted 46 Avoiding The FIve Biggest LinkedIn Blunders
T H A C K E R I N D U S T R I A L S E R V I C E C O M P A N Y
O P E R A T O R T R A I N I N G T A I L O R E D T O Y O U R G O A L S Before any training star ts, we need to know your goals. We’ l l help you identi f y them, customize them, measure them and help achieve the expectations set by your team. Our intensive training wi l l encompass two ful l days at your faci l ity for al l par ticipants, during the week or on a weekend. Al l you need is a room for training your group and the machine you want to train on.
O U R T E A M
Our Training team consists of three corrugated industry exper ts with nearly 100 years of combined experience. Their backgrounds are in both integrated and independent companies with roles ranging from Machine Operator to Director of Operations. Making them more than qual i f ied to tackle any machine and training issue. Cal l today to learn how your team can benef it from the industry ’s premier training program.
www. thacker i ndus t r i a l . com (682) 552 5852 For more Information:
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C u r r e n t O p e r a t o r E x p e r i e n c e
S T E P 1
M a c h i n e t y p e G o a l s / E x p e c t a t i o n s
I s s u e s
Q U E S T I O N N A I R E
P l a n 2 d a y s w i t h i n y o u r s c h e d u l e
S T E P 2
1 d a y c l a s s r o o m a n d 1 d a y a t m a c h i n e
S C H E D U L E
1 - B o x S e t u p C a l i b r a t i o n T o o l i n g
S T E P 3
T R A I N I N G
T r o u b l e s h o o t i n g
Calling Profero Systems just another equipment supplier is like calling the Tour just a bike ride. Profero Systems
Proven unsurpassed customer service over the long run, commitment to our customers is second to none!
Add value to your Corrugating Process, be the go-to Company for your customers.
DON’T GET LEFT BEHIND!
www.ProferoSystems.com
704-923-0990
PO BOX 950 DALLAS, NC 28034
4
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July 26, 2021
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
26# Semi-Chem. Medium
$1005.00-1010.00 $1020.00-1030.00 $1020.00-1030.00 $1020.00-1030.00 $1050.00-1060.00 $1023.00-1032.00
Short Ton Del. Short Ton Del. Short Ton Del. Short Ton Del. Short Ton Del. Short Ton Del.
$940.00-990.00 $955.00-975.00 $955.00-975.00 $955.00-975.00 $975.00-995.00 $958.00-978.00
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
$970.00
$960.00 $995.00
$1,015.00
Graphic Packaging (CONT’D FROM PAGE 1 )
aging’s global scale, innovation capabilities, and value proposition for customers throughout Europe and border- ing regions. With a broad set of industry-leading packag- ing solutions, design expertise, and expanded geographic reach, the combined company will be uniquely positioned to capture continued organic growth opportunities across existing and new global customers and markets. “AR Packaging is a leader in the attractive and growing market for sustainable packaging in Europe,” said Michael Doss, Graphic Packaging’s President and CEO. “Acquir- ing AR Packaging will result in significant value creation opportunities for our customers, our employees, and our stockholders as we bring together two leading providers of fiber-based consumer packaging solutions with long histories of innovation and creative packaging design. “I am proud of the progress we have made in estab- lishing a clear strategy and building AR Packaging into a respected provider of packaging solutions,” said AR Pack- aging’s President and CEO, Harald Schulz. “Graphic Pack- aging’s shared approach to customer service and deep focus on providing innovative, sustainable solutions close- ly aligns with how we operate our own business, making them an ideal partner. The ability to leverage beneficial value chain integration, from paperboard manufacturing to carton converting, provides increased possibilities to offer sustainably optimized solutions to our customers.”
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FBA: Shipments Jump In June
Box Shipments ( U.S. Corrugated Product Shipments) Industry Shipments In Billions of Square Feet Month June 2021
According to the Fibre Box Association (FBA), industry shipments of corrugated products increased 4.6 percent, from 34.395 bsf in June of 2020 to 35.963 bsf in June of 2021. Average-week shipments also increased 4.6 per- cent, from 7.8817 bsf in 2020 to 7.817 bsf in 2021. Ship- ments rose to 6.8 percent year-to-date over 2020’s rate. Containerboard consumption increased 4.5 percent, from 2.8182 million tons in June of 2020 to 2.9450 mil- lion tons in June of 2021. Consumption increased 6.1 per- cent year-to-date over 2020, from 13.3029 million tons to 14.1095 million tons. Containerboard inventory at corruga- tor plants increased 5.4 percent from June 2020 to June 2021. Weeks of supply increased from 2.9 to 3.1. According to AF&PA statistics, total containerboard production in June increased nine percent compared to June 2020. It was up five percent when compared to the same six months of 2020. June 2021 production of con- tainerboard for export decreased 15 percent compared to the same month last year; it was down 25 percent year-to- date; the containerboard operating rate was 92.7 percent, up 1.4 points from June 2020 and up 1.4 points year-to- date. Mill inventories of containerboard at the end of June decreased 74,000 short tons from the previous month and were down 76,000 short tons compared to June 2020.
Year
Actual
Percent Change Avg Week Percent Change
2021 2020
35.963 34.395
4.6
8.173 7.817
4.6
Industry Total
Year-to Date
June 2021
Year
Actual
Percent Change Avg Week Percent Change
2021 2020
208.632 196.828
6.0
8.279 7.749
6.8
Industry Total
Containerboard Consumption (Thousands of Tons)
Year
Month
Percent Change Year-to-Date Percent Change
2021 2020
2.9450 2.8182
4.5
14.1095 13.3029
6.1
Container Board Inventory - Corrugator Plants (Thousands of Tons)
Corrugator Plants Only
Date
Percent Change Weeks of Supply
Percent Change
Jun. May
2.1046 1.9962
5.4
3.1 2.9
6.9
Shipping Days
Year
Month
Year-to-Date
2021 2020
22 22
126 127
SOURCE: Fibre Box Association
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July 26, 2021
40 ft of paper travel from preheater to hot plates 3 seconds of heat, glue and bonding 1 chance to get it right! the ZONE
Design & Production
Chicago Electric offers 10 technology solutions to control ‘the Zone’ CORRUGATOR Sectoral preheating plate
Our sectoral preheating plates provide direct heat by means of a double steam circuit, allowing for efficient heating in hard-to-access locations, as well as to act as a steam shower to open the paper’s fibre, making it receptive to absorbing the heat and the glue.
This translates into increased speed and improved quality of the cardboard sheet finish.
The system’s main advantages are as follows:
• The plate may only be used to heat, only to humidify, or both options at the same time. • The plate is sectored, which allows for applying humidity to the sections. • It provides temperature in previously inaccessible locations and near the location needed. • It compensates the loss of temperature dissipated due to distance, speed or limitations of the exiting preheaters. • Quick transferring of heat to the paper. • The combination of the hot plate and steam shower allows for providing heat even to the hardest papers to heat. • Does not dry out the paper. • Possibility of operating as a humidifier and pre-conditioner. • Maintains and improves the fibre’s elasticity. • Acts according to the operator’s needs. • Facilitates the paper’s hygroscopy to absorb the glue and improve rubberising.
CONTROLLABILITY
1. Wrap Arm - Position & Temperature 2. Preheater Direct Drive
DOUBLEBACKER IMPROVEMENT
3. Steam Plate 4. Contact Roll 5. Glue Machine Direct Drive Touch Productivity Issue—Glue Unit Many glue units run with a rider roll or a guiding bar system. The rider roll with paper gap allows a precise glue application, but requires frequent Contact Roll
PRODUCTIVITY
C/ Orfeó Català 13-15 · 08440 Cardedeu (Barcelona) telf: +34 93 846 01 06 · comercial@al-gar.com WWW.AL-GAR.COM
DOUBLEBACKER IMPROVEMENT
calibrations and settings. Bar systems avoid this, but compensate this with the risk of exces- sive glue application. The system contains many wearing parts. Solution The contact roll combines the ad antage of both systems and ensures minimum contact between board and applicator roll. The system uses small pneumatic cylinders in order to achieve a “soft touch.”
6. Gap Control 7. Curved Plate 8. Roller Shoe Press When it comes to a short-term increas of web tension, spring loaded systems with shoes or airpressure activated system have problems in compensating these. The system is lifted for a short time. This may result in de-lamination and in the ‘double kiss’ effect. Solution For a defined and exact bonding point of the web fiv weight rollers will be installed usually over the first flat hotplate of the heating section. The rolls are mounted into a frame, which is actuated by means of two pneumatic cylinders. P oductivity Issu —Double Kiss Bonding
PRODUCTIVITY
PRODUCTIVITY
DOUBLEBACKER IMPROVEMENT
Roller Shoe
DOUBLEBACKER IMPROVEMENT
9. Thin Wall Hot Plates 10. Pressure System Benefits —Exact glue application due to defined contact of applicator roll to web. Web is in contact to less flute tips compared to bar systems. • High precision glue application • Less moisture applied to web —No wear of shoes and springs —No adjustment of shoes or paper gap —Uniform glue application over entire w orking width for all flutes by use of pneumatic cylinders instead of springs — Less contamination by paper dust and glue remains —No jam of board because of web breaks caused by splice joints going through 630-784-0800 Benefits —Rollers secure exact defined first point of contact of liner and single-faced board - No double kiss —Frame design avoids unintended lifting of roller shoe (compared to spring or air loaded systems) - No double kiss —Pressure can be increased or released for special grades or products 490 Tower Blvd., Carol Stream, IL Contact Chicago Electric to GET IT RIGHT 630-784-0800 info@chicagoelectric.com chicagoelectric.com Solution The ProPress system ensures an optimum heat transfer to the board. It offers a wide range of set- tings. The loadi g pressure can be varied, the number of shoes can be lifted in accordance t the line speed. The outer shoes can be lifted in accordance to the paper width. The shoe bars will be delivered pre-assembled for a short installation time. —Liftable for easy paper infeed and for cleaning of the machine —Position adjustable in paper direction to avoid grooves in hotplate Press Productivity Issue—Poor Heat Transfer Rollers are usually limiting the heat transfer, since they often have contact mainly on the edges of the plates due to wear or bent plates. They also cause often loss of caliper and bearing need to be replaced frequently. Airpressure actuated systems can only supply a limited pressure and have com- pared to shoe systems a closed surface. Pressure Shoe
Plate vity Issue—Poor Heat Control l hotplates are slow to react to pressure due to high steam volume and massive y also have high heat radiation and heat profile. Worn plates can damage crease edge crush.
Thin-Wall Hot Plates
t by peripheral drilled hot plates. anufactured out of special wear and nt steel, through which a continuous is drilled, with one inlet and one outlet. ecured by a massive steel frame.
CORR24usa.com
ance from steam to paper surface results in fast heat flow
There’s Still Time To Register For SuperCorrExpo 2021
• Pete Watson, President & CEO, Greif, Inc. on Monday, August 9, at 9:45 a.m. • Richard Boyd, Co-Founder and CEO of Tanjo, Inc. on Monday, August 9, at 10:45 a.m. • Duncan Wardle, a 25-year senior executive veteran of The Walt Disney Company and now an award winning “design thinking and innovation consultant” on Tues- day, August 10, at 9:45 a.m. • Elizabeth McCormick, U.S. Army Retired Black Hawk Helicopter Pilot on Wednesday, August 11, at 8:00 a.m. • David Sewell, CEO, WestRock on Wednesday, August 11, at 10:50 a.m. • Jim Morris, Athlete, Author, Teacher and Inspiration for the movie “The Rookie” on Thursday, August 12, at 10:15 a.m. Make your plans to attend SuperCorrExpo 2021. Vis- it www.supercorrexpo.org and register today for one of the flexible options designed to accommodate a variety of schedules and budgets. In addition, TAPPI has also opened registration for the TAPPI Best Practices on the Corrugator Course taking place Saturday and Sunday, August 7 and 8, prior to Su- perCorrExpo. Visit www.supercorrexpo.org/BESTCORR for more details about the course schedule, including CEUs avail- able and registration fees. Additional discounted rates are available for individuals and groups of three or more peo- ple from the same company.
The corrugated industry’s most anticipated event of the year, SuperCorrExpo 2021 (SCE), takes place live, August 8-12, at the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) in Orlando, Florida. This is your premiere chance to experi- ence the cutting-edge equipment and technology innova- tions first-hand under one roof with technical sessions, live machinery, the first-ever Box Manufacturing Olympics on display, continuing education courses, dynamic keynote speakers and exclusive relationship-building and network- ing opportunities. Organized by TAPPI and AICC, SuperCorrExpo is con- sidered one of the most influential packaging shows in the Western Hemisphere featuring working machinery on the exhibit floor, over 240 exhibitors featuring product demon- strations and hands-on activities highlighting some of the industry’s leading suppliers. Each day, the conference fea- tures different keynote speakers and innovative technical programming in the morning and one-of-a-kind relation- ship building events in the evening, including an exclusive, family-friendly event at Universal’s Islands of Adventure – for SCE attendees only – on Tuesday evening. This year, six dynamic keynote speakers offer global perspectives that complement the Conference experi- ence. An attendee highlight, speakers include:
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July 26, 2021
FOR PEAK PERFORMANCE TURN TO THE CORRUGATOR STEAM SYSTEM EXPERTS
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Nation’s First Packaging EPR Bill Signed Into Law In Maine According to a report in Resource Recycling , Governor Janet Mills of Maine has signed legislation establishing ex- tended producer responsibility for packaging materials in the state. It’s the first bill of its kind to become law in the U.S. Legislative Document 1541, which establishes EPR for certain packaging products spanning virtually all material types, was approved by both the state House of Repre- sentatives and Senate in June. On July 12, Gov. Janet Mills signed the bill into law, under which packaging producers will be financially responsible for funding recycling of their products. The legislation was sponsored by state Rep. Ni- cole Grohoski and is titled “an act to support and improve municipal recycling programs and save taxpayer money.”
In a statement July 13, Grohoski commented on the im- plications for local governments and citizens in the state. “This new law assures every Maine community that help with recycling and lowering the property tax burden is on the way,” she said. “It’s time for packaging producers to take responsibility for their waste stream in the Pine Tree State, as they do in more than 40 other countries and re- gions worldwide.” The bill excludes some packaging applications, includ- ing beverage containers (Maine has a container deposit program), long-term storage materials, paint containers and other assorted materials. But the bulk of consumer product packaging is covered under the bill. Environmental advocates quickly praised Mills’ signing of the Maine EPR bill. Environment Maine issued a release describing the bill as a “groundbreaking waste reduction law.” The Product Stewardship Institute also praised the move, with CEO Scott Cassel stating the bill will set Maine
“on a path to a stable recycling system.” Packaging stakeholder associations pre- viously expressed concerns with the Maine proposal. On July 2, AMERIPEN said Maine law- makers had “passed a flawed piece of leg- islation” and urged the governor to veto the bill. The American Forest & Paper Associa- tion (AF&PA) similarly called on the gover- nor to reject the proposal, stating that the bill has “direct consequences for Maine’s businesses and manufacturers” including the paper industry. Maine’s House Demo- cratic Office issued a release on the signing, noting that the state Department of Environ- mental Protection will kick off a rulemaking process on or before December 31, 2023, on how the program will operate. “The program, run by a stewardship or- ganization contracted by the Maine Depart- ment of Environmental Protection (DEP), will use producer payments to cover the oper- ational costs for the program, pay fees and to make investments in education and infra- structure to reduce future packaging waste in Maine,” the release stated. Similar EPR initiatives are in place in Eu- ropean and in some Canadian provinces. The approach has gained more support in the U.S in the wake of China’s National Sword campaign, which significantly upset the economics of municipal recycling. Numerous packaging EPR proposals were introduced in the U.S. this year, but the Maine proposal and a bill in Oregon were the only pieces of legislation to clear both legislative chambers in their respective states. The Oregon bill is currently awaiting a signature from that state’s governor.
BALEMASTER: 75 YEARS STRONG — 1946 - 2021 —
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(219) 663-4525 | www.balemaster.com MAKING YOUR BALING PROCESS MORE PROFITABLE.
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July 26, 2021
AICC To Offer Specialty Hazmat Training At 2021 SuperCorrExpo AICC, The Independent Packaging Association, is offering Hazmat Packaging: Roles and Responsibilities Under the HMR and the Production & Maintenance Forum at Super- CorrExpo, August 10-11, in Orlando, Florida Most box makers face the situation routinely: custom- ers want them to supply “hazmat packaging” [4G, 11G, 50G boxes]; and these are good business opportunities often securing large or high margin accounts, but the HMR are complex and tangential to your core business expertise. What are your responsibilities under the HMR? Your customers’? What exactly does your government expect of you? How do we get this right? What are the risks? This seminar focuses on three categories of specific regulatory issues surrounding the roles of the box fabri- cator under the HMR for the tasks the routinely performed on behalf of their hazmat customers and is designed to help answer the questions above including strategies for compliance with the least internal friction. Registration for the seminar is $795. Attendees can also get a discount on SuperCorrExpo registration. More information about the program can be found at www.Su- perCorrExpo.org . For questions, contact Taryn Pyle at (703) 836-2422 or tpyle@aiccbox.org.
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12
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July 26, 2021 CCS HlfPgBCN.indd 1
New Research: How Does Stacking Impact BCT? BY MARY DRAIN
More research has been completed by the Fibre Box Association (FBA) Technical Committee that can help refine design targets for today’s box
customers. This is the second recent research project completed by the committee that ana- lyzes current data for assessing the Environmen- tal Factors used by package designers industry wide. FBA first published environmental factors in the mid-1990s in the Fibre Box Handbook. The data facilitating the factors was generated de-
Mary Drain
cades before and had not been updated until these projects, though the industry’s manufacturing materials and systems has undeniably evolved. The published environmental factors consider moisture in the form of relative humidity (RH); unitization or pallet configurations; load-stacking; and excessive handling – some of what we now call “the single parcel delivery system” or omni-channel delivery. The environmental factors established multipliers, or safety factors. These safety factors help designers determine how strong a package needs to be, based on the actual load it must support in the transport and storage environments it is expected to protect against. The first research project, completed in 2019, looked at the impact of RH under load on modern containerboard converted in today’s box plants. This new research project examined the impact of stacking pat- tern on top to bottom box compression (BCT). The study was performed at Rochester Institute of Technology by the RIT Packaging Science De- partment. Under the mentorship of the FBA Technical committee, they investigated columnar aligned, interlocked, and aligned-interlocked hy- brid stacking patterns compared to single box BCT. The study used 19.5-inch by 12-inch by 13-inch C-Flute, single wall RSC samples with two different board grades (32 ECT and 44 ECT). All the stacking patterns were tested using the 2 – otherwise identical case designs. 10 individual Box Compression Tests were performed for each board grade and five pallet load compression tests were performed for each board grade and pallet pattern variation. All boxes were setup and flaps were hotmelt glued. Later they were pre-conditioned and conditioned according to TAPPI T 402. Individu- al cases were removed from the conditioned atmosphere, pallet loads were built directly on the base plate of the compression tester, and test- ing, TAPPI T804, was performed asap in lab ambient conditions. Boxes in stacking pattern tests were filled to approximately 45 lb. gross weight (bagged road-salt with plywood spreaders.) The originally published factors showed a compression loss of 0-8 percent for columnar aligned, and 40-60 percent loss for interlocked. Re- sults from this study showed compression loss associated with aligned stacking exceeded the current values in the Fibre Box Handbook, and data was consistent with current values for interlocked stacking pattern BCT vs. single box BCT. Based on the data gathered through the project, potential compres- sion loss for columnar aligned is 12-20 percent. Interlocked units had 49-54 percent loss. The hybrid samples (not in the Handbook, yet) had 45-49 percent loss.
Cosmo DeNicola Chairman, Amtech Software
Packaging ERP Algorithmic Scheduling Web-Based Access Online Customer Portals
Paperless Workflows Mobile Sales Systems Digital Signage Production Monitoring Mobile Logistics Management Analytics & Reporting Cloud Hosting IT Management Services Cyber Security Management
600 + Plants 60,000 Users North America Latin America
CONTINUED ON PAGE 16
14
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July 26, 2021
STOP GUESSING.
WE KNOW THE ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS...
WHAT IF?
Get Answers-Be Proactive. • There’s a board increase or decrease? • My volume goes up or down? • I lost my largest customer? • My MIX changed ? • I bought a new machine? • I sold more sheets? • My labor costs go up 5%? • I added OT or another shift?
With Amtech’s NEW AUTOMATED PERFORMANCE COSTING To Learn More or Schedule a Demo Darren Artillio: dartillio@amtechsoftware.com 215.639.9540 www.amtechsoftware.com/accurate-costing
New Research (CONT’D FROM PAGE 14)
ThePerfectCombo Get PeakPerformance FromYour Equipment withMatched Component Sets
FBA recently held a free webinar for members on the new research. Members of the FBA Technical Research Sub-Committee, Jerry Loza of Packaging Corporation of America and Steven Johnson of WestRock, did a wonder- ful job providing an overview of the project, sharing find- ings and explaining how the data can be used. I would en- courage all FBA members to watch the archived webinar at www.fibrebox.org . Mary Drain is the Director of Technical Services at Fibre Box Association (FBA). Reach her at mdrain@fibrebox.org.
ARC International Installs New Fibertronic Engraver
Charlotte, North Carolina based ARC International has in- vested in a 5.5 meter (18-foot) laser engraver, which fea- tures the latest technology available in today’s anilox roll markets. The new Fibertronic Control System features the very latest in optical fibres to connect all parts of the laser engraving system. This Fibertronic control system contains all the key electronic and software components necessary to integrate four graphical data input channels. Unlike other lasers in the North American market today, the Fibertronic input channels provide a unique consisten- cy of up to four lasers, with each laser typically creating four to five beams. This means a four laser system can consistently operate with up to 20 beams (polygraphic en- graving). Each beam removes a small amount of material so multiple beams can be programmed to engrave each cell with higher tolerances. This gives the flexo printer much cleaner and sharper images. For more information, visit booth 2123 at SuperCorrEx- po or visit www.ARCInternational.com . ARC International Announces New Appointments To Support Growth ARC International has announced that Brian Jacob, of Ja- cob Flexographic Services, has agreed to become ARC’s Northeast regional technical representative. Jacob has
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 exo folder gluers and die-cutters: • Anilox Rollers and Ink Chambers
• Anilox andWiper Rollers • Feed and Pull Rollers • Glue andMeter 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. Meet us at
had extensive experience in the anilox roller/sleeve and flexo indus- tries since beginning his career in 1977. He’s been a workshop chair- man for the FTA, and an awards judge for TAPPI, AICC and FTA. ARC has also confirmed that Ri- cardo Leon will assume the role of
Booth #2123
Brian Jacob
Director of Sales for its West, Southwest, Northwest and Mexico regions. Leon’s team includes Kim Shoemak- er (West Coast Service Manager), Shane Osborne (West Coast Technical Support), Chris Pugh (Mexico Technical Support) and Blanca Corona (Director of Communications).
The ARChitects of exo
ARCInternational.com 800-526-4569
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Pregis Invests $80M In New Film Extrusion Faclity In SC
making significant, positive contributions to people and society. The facility will create 120 new jobs for workers in the Greenville, South Carolina, area and is expected to be operational in September. TricorBraun Appoints Bergethon Senior VP, General Counsel St. Louis, Missouri based TricorBraun, a global packaging leader, has appointed Susan Bergethon Senior Vice Presi-
Deerfield, Illinois based Pregis, a global manufacturer of protective packaging, has announced an $80 million in- vestment in a new, state-of-the-art blown film extrusion fa- cility in Anderson, South Carolina. Headed by industry veterans, the 168,000-square-foot facility will feature multiple newly-installed lines that will be producing the latest engineered films that can be used downstream to manufacture performance-oriented, pack- aging solutions for food, CPG and medical device applica- tions. The plant will also include a world-class film labora- tory to develop and test materials. “We believe that this new facility will be the most tech- nologically-advanced extrusion facility in North America. The facility has been staffed with technology and market leaders who are focused on developing extruded films that have been engineered to meet market-driven perfor- mance requirements,” said Kevin Baudhuin, President and Chief Executive Officer, Pregis. In keeping with Pregis’ previously announced 2K30 en- vironmental goals, the Anderson facility will also feature the latest in energy-efficiency in manufacturing and other plant functions. Pregis’ objective is to run its businesses in the most sustainable manner possible, so that it improves its carbon footprint, reduces environmental impact, while
dent and General Counsel, effective immediately. Reporting to President and CEO Court Carruthers, Bergeth- on leads TricorBraun’s legal function and oversees the company’s ESG practice. Bergethon’s appointment marks TricorBraun’s first in-house General Counsel.
Susan Bergethon
“Susan’s deep in-house legal and management expe- rience will be key as we continue to carry out our aggres- sive growth strategy,” said Carruthers. “Her experience in acquisitions and commercial contracting will help guide our efforts as we serve our customers and continue to build the best place for the best people in packaging.” Bergethon joins TricorBraun from Georgia-Pacific, where she served as Chief Counsel for the company’s largest business division.
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AND YOU THOUGHT THE SQ4 TANDEM WAS INNOVATIVE... SuperCorrExpo, Aug 8-12, Booth #1331
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Study: Surge In Online Grocery Sales To Impact Fresh Produce Box Market Suppliers of fresh produce corrugated boxes and other types of produce packaging will see lasting benefits from the surge in online grocery delivery and pickup orders seen during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new Freedonia Group analysis. Not only are consumers who used online services to buy produce for the first time during the pandemic more likely to use them again going forward, growth in e-com- merce sales of fresh produce is expected to accelerate sharply through 2024 (albeit from a small base) due to: • Improving technology, especially in same-day delivery services • The presence of large purveyors such as Amazon • A populace that prizes convenience but also wants to avoid processed food As e-commerce sales of produce grow, there will be a need for standardized packaging that maintains brand quality through the shipping process but that also stream- lines distribution. However, selling fresh produce online has many challenges, including higher logistics require- ments, shorter delivery times, and the need for controlled temperatures and atmospheres to ensure very perishable produce remains of high quality. Visit www.freedoniagroup.com to order the report.
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TAPPI To Offer Essential Training On Corrugator Best Practices TAPPI has opened registration for the TAPPI Best Practic- es on the Corrugator Course taking place Saturday and Sunday, August 7 and 8, prior to SuperCorrExpo 2021 in Orlando, Florida. This two-day training is expressly de- signed to strengthen attendees’ understanding of each el- ement in the complex corrugating process, which can lead to higher productivity and profitability, better quality and reduced waste and downtime. TAPPI’s Best Practices on the Corrugator Course is of- fered for anyone working on corrugators as well as cor- rugator operators, box plant supervisors, production man- agers, engineers, technical service managers, consultants and sales support. The panel of instructors collaborated to design a course curriculum that focuses on: • The basics of how each component in the corrugator system works • How to run each component with optimum settings for peak performance • The critical properties of raw materials vital for produc- ing quality board • How to adopt the Centerline Process to achieve prod- uct consistency • Causes of excessive waste and how to measure and eliminate it
Instructors encourage attendees to bring product sam- ples with them, their individual challenges and questions. In many cases, attendees will learn additional information from listening to answers provided from others in the room. After this course, attendees should be able to: • Describe the elements of the corrugating process • Troubleshoot the most common operational problems • Recognize critical properties of paperboard, starch ad- hesive and how to control warp • Describe the centerline conditions for running the cor- rugator • Explain how to control stop time and keep it to a min- imum • Describe how to be compliant with quality and reach maximum speed of the corrugator • Explain the importance of training/cross training the crew and motivating the team to become a high per- formance team. Visit www.supercorrexpo.org/BESTCORR for more details about the course schedule, including CEUs avail- able and registration fees. Additional discounted rates are available for individuals and groups of three or more peo- ple from the same company. Through information exchange, events, trusted content and networking opportunities, TAPPI helps members ele- vate their performance by providing solutions that lead to better, faster and more cost-effective ways of doing busi- ness.
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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Pulver Packaging (CONT’D FROM PAGE 1 )
involved. We learned how to do this back to 2008 when things tightened up and people started wearing more hats. We found we were capable of doing more if we are efficient and focused.” The changes made to in-house processes has result- ed in improvements in productivity and profitability across
stripping. This new diecutter enables us to do both con- ventional diecutting and blanking without losing any time in the changeover. It’s super-efficient to operate in both worlds – blanking and unblanking. We gained efficiency in makeready time and faster press speeds. We run con- stantly at 7,000 to 8,000 sheets per hour now as opposed to 5,000 sheets per hour previously.” Another investment was the purchase of the building next door. For almost 20 years Pulver Packaging operated out of two buildings located across the street from each other. The plan is to connect the main facility with the new building, which now houses the finishing department and includes three folder-gluers, a Kohmann window patcher, CAD and design. A Komori LS640C six-color press with aqueous coating is located in the main building. The press is running about 60 hours a week Market Differentiation In the past 10 years Pulver Packaging has averaged 10 percent annual growth. The new technology is driving this growth, but the real secret sauce is the company’s pro- cesses. “Our processes are efficient and lean. If you do an analysis of annual sales and the number of employees, we are very efficient,” Pulver says. The details of how he achieves these efficiencies are a “trade secret” and a market differentiator, he says. “These efficiencies are based on our purchasing and the people
Patrick Pulver with new Bobst Visioncut Die Cutter.
the entire operation. “It’s not just about saving money. There are a lot of corners you can cut financially. You cut overhead but that doesn’t make you more money. What makes you more money is being busy. You’ve got to sell folding cartons. By becoming efficient there is opportunity to increase productivity. Now you’re making money.” The
CONTINUED ON PAGE 26
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Pulver Packaging (CONT’D FROM PAGE 24)
Booth # 2011
company uses proprietary software systems developed in-house to achieve these goals. Another market differentiator is the quick turnaround of orders through the short run folding carton program. If a carton blank fits into the short run sizing parameters of
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28-inches by 40-inches, there are no cutting die or print- ing plate charges. “If company A B C wants 500 autobot- tom cartons printed four-color process and XYZ company wants 500 autobottoms that are a slightly different config- uration, if we can get them both on that same sheet we’ll run a combination run,” Pulver explains. He says they receive anywhere from five to 20 orders a day that qualify for a combination run. “There is always a way to combine these runs and make that short run cus- tomer happy.”
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Cutting dies are sourced exclusively from Johnson Steel Rule Die and printing plates are made in house. On A Personal Note Pulver says he never intended to join the family busi- ness. He was a sixth generation professional musician touring the country, but then he met his wife, Dawn, and decided to settle down and “get a real job.” In December of 2019, almost immediately after he signed the purchase order for the new Bobst blanker, the new gluer, and a CONTINUED ON PAGE 28
Unico, LLC P.O. Box 05053725, Nicholson Road Franksville, WI 53126-0505 For More information
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Pulver Packaging (CONT’D FROM PAGE 26)
the plan, she was going to beat this. She went from stage 4 inoperable lung cancer to six months later we have an opportunity to do surgery to six months after that having no evidence of disease, that’s nothing shy of a miracle.” Regarding the business, the focus is on continued growth and nurturing the next generation. There are sev- eral family members, including Pulver’s two daughters, one of whom is studying business management, and sev- eral nieces and nephews, who might have interest in join- ing the company. He sees no headwinds. “The future looks great. I think we’re getting to a point where this pandemic is going to be behind us. I’m really excited.” At the onset of the pandem- ic Pulver Packaging was one of 40 firms from 20 coun- tries that created an organization called “Fiber Shield” to create single-use, disposable face shields in response to COVID-19 and the global shortage of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for medical professionals. “It was a great time to use our talent to help out hospitals and front line workers that were screaming for more face shields and couldn’t get them. That was a feel good thing to do our part while we had some downtime.” As far as opportunities for growth, “They are around every corner,” he says. “Just walk up and down the grocery aisles and those are the opportunities to grow. There is a saying, ‘When you’re in the valley looking up, everything looks so big. And when you’re at the peak looking down everything looks so small.’ I really like being in the valley.”
new building, Dawn was diagnosed with cancer, and then COVID hit. After several surgeries, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy, she is currently in a stage called NED — no evidence of disease. Pulver says her strength has been an
inspiration and a driving factor in the business’s success. “She’s a fighter. She has this personality of never giv- ing up. The second after we signed those contracts she got the diagnosis. We talked and she told me to stick with Patrick Pulver’s grandfather, Lyle Howard, started the business as Lyle Howard Company in 1958.
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