Board Converting News, December 20, 2021

BoardConverting Serving the North American Corrugated and Folding Carton Industries for 37 years December 20, 2021 VOL. 37, NO. 51

Year In Review, Part I: Grief And Optimism Propel Industry Ahead BY LEN PRAZYCH As the year 2021 draws to a close, Board Converting News once again recaps the “year that was” in the North American corrugated and fold- ing carton industries. Among the more than usual articles of acquisi- tions -- usually of a larger independent acquiring a smaller one - BCN

Liberty Packaging Acquires Alois Box Co. In Chicago Minneapolis, Minnesota based Liberty Diver- sified International (LDI) has announced its ac- quisition of Alois Box Company of Chicago, Il- linois. The acquisition marks the accelerating growth of the Liberty Packaging business unit within the LDI family of companies. Alois Box is a strong player in the corru- gated packaging market in the Chicago area. The company has manufactured corrugated boxes, die cuts, and displays since 1953. The Alois Box employees will become part of the Liberty Packaging team. According to Mike Fiterman, LDI’s Chair- man and CEO, “This acquisition of Alois Box is part of our growth strategy focused on serving customers with speed, efficiency and quality.” Fiterman also said Alois Box Co. and its brands will become part of LDI’s Liberty Pack- aging group, North Region. David Jones and other existing senior employees will continue to staff key management positions in the com- pany. “As part of Liberty Packaging, we will con- tinue to deliver exceptional customer service,” said Jones. “Time and again, we have proven to be the go-to supplier for our customers.”

has published a unusually large number of obituaries, eight in the first four months of 2021 alone. The subsiding and strengthening waves of Covid-19 and subsequent variants notwithstanding, one would be jus- tified in feeling waves of sadness and grief and of not knowing when the next one will come crashing ashore. We shall not only survive but prosper, as evidenced by the record-breaking box making and machin- ery-building performances of our industry’s heroes described here. JANUARY • EEOC Presents Mandatory Vaccine Guidelines : As the largest in- oculation effort in human history kicked off in December, the EEOC provided guidance on mandatory employee vaccinations. • Bob Lantz Retires From Fosber After 40 Years : Fosber America announced that Bob Lantz, the company’s Midwest Regional Sales Manager, retired effective December 31, 2020. • MHIA Names Kikumoto VP Sales, North America : The Corrugating Machinery Division of Hunt Valley, Maryland based Mitsubishi Heavy Industries America (MHIA), a supplier of corrugating and box-mak- CONTINUED ON PAGE 24

CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

WHAT’S INSIDE

6 x x 8 x x 12 x x 26 x x 4 IP To Build New Corrugated Packaging Plant In PA 6 Pratt Industries Break Ground On $400M Recycled Mill In KY 8 ICPF: Begin Recruiting Student Interns And Graduates Now 12 A.G. Stacker Celebrates 25 Yrs. Of Innovation In Corrugated

Machinery and Handling for the Corrugated Board Industry

Machinery and Handling for the Corrugated Board Industry

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

P E R F O R M A N C E D E L I V E R E D • HEAVY, DENSE BALES • RELIABLE AUTOMATIC TIER • LOW OPERATING COST PER TON AMERICAN BALER TAKES PERFORMANCE TO NEW HEIGHTS! 800.843.7512 AmericanBaler.com I N T E G R I T Y I Q U A L I T Y I R E L I A B I L I T Y I VA L U E

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

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December 20, 2021

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Liberty Packaging Acquires (CONT’D FROM PAGE 1 )

Core Competency

“Our industry is changing,” added Fiterman. “This ac- quisition will help us deliver on our commitment to cus- tomers for increasingly demanding corrugated solutions, including sustainability, right-weighting and retail-ready packaging.” As both companies are privately held, the purchase price was not disclosed. IP To Build New Corrugated Packaging Plant PA Memphis, Tennessee based International Paper (IP) last week announced it will build a state-of-the-art corrugated packaging plant in Atglen, in southeast Pennsylvania. The facility will employ approximately 150 team members. “We are excited to expand our footprint and continue serving our customers with the highest level of safety, quality, operational excellence and customer service,” said Greg Wanta, Senior Vice President, North American Con- tainer. The facility will allow International Paper to expand its Industrial Packaging footprint in the northeastern United States. Construction is set to begin in the first quarter of 2022 and the company expects the plant to be fully oper- ational in the first quarter of 2023.

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© Blower Application Company, Inc., Germantown, WI 2020

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December 20, 2021

A Century of Innovation In Every Machine Celebrating 100 Years: 1920-2020

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IBIS 2-minute run-to-run times and total product flexibility @ 15K/HR

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Pratt Industries Breaks Ground On $400M Recycled Mill In Kentucky Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear joined three Pratt Industry executives at a groundbreaking ceremony last week for the $400 million, 320-employee recycled paper mill com- plex Pratt Industries will build in Henderson, Kentucky. In addition to Beshear, special guests from Pratt Indus- tries/Visy included Global Executive Chairman Anthony Pratt, Global CEO Brian McPheely and Gary Byrd, Presi- dent of Pratt Holdings, which is the parent company for all of Pratt’s interests in the United States. Pratt said last summer it would first construct a state- of-the-art, 450,000-square-foot paper mill that will man- ufacture 100 percent recycled products and will employ approximately 120 people. At the time, the company said construction of the mill would begin in March 2022 and be

completed by fall 2023. The company said it would later construct a 700,000-square-foot corrugator plant to pro- duce corrugated sheet and boxes, including pizza boxes and packaging for major distributors and big box stores, using paper sourced from the new paper mill. The corru- gator plant will employ 200 people. The corrugator facility is expected to be completed by the end of 2026 and employ approximately 200 people once fully operational. Pratt Industries said the jobs will pay wages averaging nearly $30 per hour. Counting benefits, it said compen- sation with average $39 per hour. Company leaders also expect the project to require 700 construction workers over the coming years. Gov. Beshear has called Pratt the biggest economic development announcement in West- ern Kentucky in 25 years. Pratt is America’s 5th largest corrugated packaging company and the world’s largest, privately-held 100 per-

cent recycled paper and packaging com- pany, with more than 10,000 highly-skilled, green-collar employees. ICPF’s Holiday Weekend In NY Fundraiser A Success ICPF wishes to thank the 2021 registrants and sponsors for making ICPF’s 2021 Holi- day Weekend in New York, which was anoth- er “sellout.” Established in 2007, the 13 annu- al New York events have combined for a net return of over $1.6 million to support ICPF in working with universities and students. The December 10-12, 2021 weekend event sponsors included BW Papersystems, Fosber America, Greif Inc., Kiwiplan, Pratt Industries, and the WestRock Corporation. Corporate registrants and financial sup- porters included Akers Packaging Service, Arden Software, Balemaster, Bobst North America, Buckeye Corrugated, Inc., BW Pa- persystems, EAM-Mosca, EFI, Fosber Ameri- ca, Green Bay Packaging, Goepfert Maschin- en, Greif Inc., GT Hall Investments LLC, Hood Container Corp., Kiwiplan, Kruger, Pratt In- dustries, Schwarz Partners, Signode, Smurfit Kappa, Sumter Packaging, Testing Machines Inc., WestRock Corp., AICC and FBA. ICPF also wishes to thank Smurfit Kappa for promotional designs and materials as well Board Converting News , AICC & FBA, Container-Board.com, Corrugated Today , NV Publications, PPI Publications and RISI for providing promotional assistance through- out the year. Mark your calendar for ICPF’s next Holiday Weekend in New York, which is scheduled for December 9-11, 2022.

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December 20, 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 n higher plate surface temperature

Benefits

ICPF: Begin Recruiting Student Interns And Graduates Now

Box Shipments ( U.S. Corrugated Product Shipments) Industry Shipments In Billions of Square Feet Month September 2021

This past year, over 1,000 packaging engineering, sales, business, packaging & graphic design, chemical engineer- ing, supply chain management, mechanical engineering, industrial engineering and related upcoming graduates and students demonstrated their interest in corrugated packaging careers by posting their resumes in ICPF’s re- sume bank. These initiatives, which included participation by doz- ens of ICPF Corporate Partners, led to record recruiting in 2021, exceeding the annual average of 120 student in- terns and graduates recruited through ICPF resources by 25 percent. It appears the 2022 recruiting cycle will be even more active with over 250 students already posting resumes on ICPF’s career portal in anticipation of apply- ing to 2022 openings. For those firms seeking applicants for current entry level openings, there are December 2021 graduates still available, as well. Now is the time for ICPF Corporate Partners to post summer internships and openings for upcoming 2022 graduates on ICPF’s career portal. If your firm is an ICPF Corporate Partner, your HR team can post student intern- ships and entry level openings for new graduates for free by visiting ICPF’s Career Portal at www.careersincorru- gated.org or by e-mailing info@icpfbox.org.

Year

Actual

Percent Change Avg Week Percent Change

2021 2020

34.261 34.901

-1.8

8.157 8.310

-1.8

Industry Total

Year-to Date

September 2021

Year

Actual

Percent Change Avg Week Percent Change

2021 2020

312.632 300.767

3.9

8.227 7.873

4.5

Industry Total

Containerboard Consumption (Thousands of Tons)

Year

Month

Percent Change Year-to-Date Percent Change

2021 2020

2.7786 2.8459

-2.4

25.4959 24.5672

3.8

Container Board Inventory - Corrugator Plants (Thousands of Tons)

Corrugator Plants Only

Date

Percent Change Weeks of Supply

Percent Change

Sept.

2.312

3.8

3.5 3.4

2.9

Aug

2.2272

Shipping Days

Year

Month

Year-to-Date

2021 2020

21 21

190 191

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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December 20, 2021

Amtech Software Announces Subscription Pricing Options

Fort Washington, Pennsylvania based Amtech Software has announced subscription pricing for its ScoreKeeper Production Monitoring Solution. ScoreKeeper combines digital signage, real-time busi- ness intelligence, and reliable production monitoring into a powerful platform providing production management and operators with the data they need to increase effi- ciency and improve crew motivation. “Subscription pricing allows our customers to convert what would normally be a capital expense into an oper- ating expense, which can be friendlier to cash flow,” said Michael DeNicola, Director of Customer Engagement at Amtech Software. “ScoreKeeper has been widely imple- mented by both Amtech and non-Amtech users across North America, Europe, and Latin America. Seamless inte- gration into any system combined with immediate, mean- ingful data is making a difference. We have customers who are experiencing upwards of 30 percent increase in efficiency in as little as thirty days after implementation.” To learn more about the Power of ScoreKeeper, visit www.amtechautomation.com or email: mdenicola@am- techsoftware.com. Amtech is the backbone of more than 600 manufacturing plants and is proud to offer a business system that is both innovative and comprehensive.

Board Converting News is read by more independent and integrated decision-makers in the corrugated and folding carton industries than any other weekly publication. LEVERAGE YOUR REACH. Expansive Reach

Len Prazych at 518-366-9017 prazych@nvpublications.com

Turnkey Scrap Conveyance and Baling Solutions

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Kolbus Hycorr understands that quality is a reflection of the great care that takes place throughout the entire manufacturing process. From the time we pour the first casting until the equipment is prepared for shipment, our manufacturing team owns every step to maintain strict quality control. Our customers can rest easy knowing that their equipment has been built with great attention to detail. FOCUS ON QUALITY

KOLBUS America Inc. 216-931-5100 sales@kolbus.com

A.G. Stacker Celebrates 25 Years Of Corrugated Industry Innovation

The year 2021 marks the 25th anniversary for Weyers Cave, Virginia based A.G. Stacker, a custom manufacturer and innovator of corrugated material handling equipment. Founded in 1996 by Clarence and Helen Allen, A.G. Stacker was created with a commitment to innovation that remains alive to this day.

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

700+ Plants 60,000 Users North America Latin America Europe

A History of Innovation | 1996 – 2021 A.G. Stacker began as a full-service rigging company for custom plant moves, installations and redesigns. After years in the corrugated industry, the Allens gravitated towards innovation in rotary die cutter stackers and were inspired to pursue new, patent-seeking designs to improve the pro- ductivity, safety and longevity of this sector. With the first piece of original A.G. equipment released in 2000, the founders began selling and retrofit- ting stackers with A.G. equipment and upgrades. In 2007, the XRI Stacker came to market and has served as a proven stacker design that A.G. con- tinues to build on to this day. In 2008, A.G. received its first, of now 21, patents and currently has multiple patents pending with the USPTO. As the spirit of innovation con- tinued to increase throughout the years, so did A.G.’s product offerings, with the addition of the X12 Pitless Lift Conveyor and the Bundle Conveyor System in 2012. In 2016, the G3 Stacker entered the market, building on the X12 platform and adding divert and separate, sample quality rejection and servo-driven tamper patented technologies to A.G.’s equipment lines. With the appointment of Joe Wunder as President in 2017, A.G. shifted their innovation internally and put an emphasis on people, processes, and technology. This sparked a full digital transformation whereby all A.G.’s operations, engineering, service and production are connected and avail- able, any time and any where. By 2020, A.G. had developed multiple digital technologies, including augmented reality service options, a mobile application, a virtual reality factory environment, digital twin technologies and other internal process- es. This set the stage for the new eSERIES equipment line - A.G.’s fully electric, fully integrated systems including the eBREAK Bundle Breaker and eZF Load Former, which was unveiled first at SuperCorrExpo in 2021. At the event, A.G. celebrated their 25th anniversary with partners and A.G. Stacker co-founders, Helen and Clarence Allen, at the A.G. manufacturing facility in Weyers Cave, Virginia.

  

CONTINUED ON PAGE 14

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December 20, 2021

“We can help you protect, adapt, and optimize with our proven, agile solutions.”

Cosmo DeNicola Chairman, Amtech Software

URGENT NEEDS

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Give us a call at: 215.639.9540 Reach out to: sales@amtechsoftware.com www.amtechsoftware.com

A.G. Stacker Celebrates (CONT’D FROM PAGE 12)

made it this far without them and we are incredibly thank- ful for the positive attitudes and creativity they bring to work every day. If you want to achieve 25 years of consis- tent growth and innovation, it’s all about investing in your people and the technology that makes their job easier.” “Thank you to our valued customers,” added co-found- er Clarence Allen. “Often, it is customer collaboration and feedback that has sparked the many innovations at A.G. and we’re so thankful for their openness and input. To- gether, we can continue to create systems and technology that converters truly want and need, for the next 25 years and beyond.“ Joe Wunder, President of A.G., stated, “It’s amazing to see how far A.G. has come over the past 25 years and

customers with cake and drinks at their booth, as well as holding a party at their Weyers Cave, Virginia facility for employees, vendors, and family. 25 Years Of Achievements In the past quarter century, A.G. has accomplished many notable achievements, including but not limited to the following: • 21 Patents Issued with 10+ Patents Pending • UL-508A Certification • TUV Rheinland Certification • A Feature on Fox Business News’ Manufacturing Mar- vels Segment • An In-House Digital Innovations Lab equipped with dig- ital twin, AR and VR technology • 3 Digital Twin Assets and Counting A Note From A.G. Leadership “The key to our success these past 25 years is our people,” said Helen Allen, Co-Founder of A.G. Stacker. “Our engineers continue to test the limits and bring new ideas to the table. Our production staff are some of the best welders, electricians and mechanics in the country and strive for excellence in their work. Our administration staff is eager to find new ways to improve efficiency and accuracy in our processes and procedures. And our sales representatives do an incredible job communicating the value of A.G.’s systems to our customers. We couldn’t have

I’m honored to be a part of it. Our team is extremely passion- ate about what they do, and it shows. With the new digital transformation, the eSERIES equipment line and more inno- vations on the horizon, I have no doubt that A.G. will be lead- ing the market in stacker and full

Joe Wunder

line solutions for many years to come. Thank you to all of our valued customers, our awesome employees and our quality vendors and partners for helping us get to where we are today. The best is yet to come!” Visit agstacker.com for more information.

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PACK EXPO East 2022 To Bring Packaging Solutions To East Coast With 400 exhibitors at the Pennsylvania Convention Cen- ter, PACK EXPO East 2022 (March 21-23, Philadelphia) attendees will get the best of both worlds—the ability to see a comprehensive range of packaging and processing technologies yet still have time for personal, productive discussions with suppliers. The biennial event, produced by PMMI, The Associa- tion for Packaging and Processing Technologies, provides professionals from the consumer packaged goods (CPG) and life sciences rich Northeast corridor a convenient and rewarding opportunity to explore the latest packaging and processing technology in person, connect with suppliers and find applicable solutions in a changing marketplace. “Technology and machinery solutions have changed a

lot in the two years since PACK EXPO East 2020,” said Laura Thompson, Vice President, Trade Shows, PMMI. “Our return to Philadelphia is the ideal chance for busy professionals to bring entire project teams by car or train, to see the latest solutions in person.” Attendees and exhibitors alike will have access to some must-see highlights at this year’s show: The Forum at PACK EXPO (Booth 1026) will feature free, interactive 45-minute open sessions on the latest in- dustry trends by the OpX Leadership Network, Institute of Packaging Professionals, Contract Packagers Association and PMMI Business Intelligence, followed by small group discussions and Q&A sessions. In the center of the action, the free, 30-minute seminars on the Innovation Stage (Booth 2226) offer ample oppor- tunity for attendees to learn about breakthrough technolo- gies, innovative applications and proven approaches from the experts themselves.

Packaging & Processing Women’s Leader- ship Network (PPWLN) Reception: The Pack- aging & Processing Women’s Leadership Network serves to recruit, retain and advance women in packaging and processing. PPWLN invites all interested industry professionals to a networking reception on Tuesday, March 22, starting at 3:00 p.m. after the show floor clos- es, at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Young Professionals Reception: Hosted by PMMI’s Emerging Leaders Network, young professionals in packaging and processing can learn more about the industry and how to get involved with the Emerging Leaders Net- work at this free reception on Monday, March 21, 5:00 -7:30 p.m. The Workforce Development Pavilion is the one-stop shop for resources to strength- en your current workforce and grow the exist- ing workforce. Learn about PMMI U offerings, including popular training workshops. PMMI Partner Schools will present mechatronics, packaging and processing offerings, and at- tendees and exhibitors can meet students in- terested in careers in the industry. Association Partner Pavilion: This pavilion houses leading associations dedicated to ad- vancing the packaging and processing indus- try, offering significant resources, insights and expertise all in one central location. Participat- ing associations already confirmed include the Reusable Packaging Association (RPA), Institute of Packaging Professionals, the Con- tract Packaging Association, Flexible Packag- ing Association, OMAC – Organization for Ma- chine Automation & Control, the Foundation For Supply Chain Solutions (F4SS) with many more to come. Visit www.packexpoeast.com for more.

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December 20, 2021

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PPEC Highlights 2021 Achievements, Goals BY RACHEL KAGAN

important commentary about how media articles about pa- per-based packaging must recognize the environmental attributes of our products. We are also involved in the creation of PPEC’s new in- fographic to help explain our industry’s circular economy approach to managing paper-based packaging, which are continually collected and recycled, allowing them to be remade into new paper packaging products again and again. And finally, creating and posting our ongoing blog posts about Sustainable Forest Management, Providing Clarity on The Ottawa Citizen’s Cardboard Recycling Article, and an Ontario Blue Box Update, amongst others. Looking ahead to 2022, we are hoping to accomplish even more, and will continue to work to promote the en- vironmental sustainability success story of the Canadian paper-based packaging industry. PPEC represents over 90 percent of the Canadian paper packaging industry on environmental issues. The council was founded by four separate sectors of the in- dustry (packaging mills and converters) back in 1990, al- lowing them to work together and speak with one voice rather than several. Its Board of Directors is representative of the four different sectors and the council operates on a consensus basis. Thanks again for your support and best wishes for a happy, healthy, and safe holiday season from all of us at PPEC. Visit ppec-paper.com for more information.

Thank you for supporting PPEC and our mission to pro- mote the Canadian paper-based packaging industry’s environmental sustainability story. Some of the highlights of our work over the past year include the re- lease of PPEC’s exclusive 2020 Re- cycled Content Survey, which shows the average recycled content used to make paper-based packaging prod- ucts in Canada has increased to 82 percent, an excellent result that shows recycled content is a key component of our industry’s circular economy. In addition, PPEC continuing to advocate for fairness in legislated paper packaging recycling and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programs across Canada, participating in government consultations, preparing sub- missions, and monitoring provinces considering new EPR programs. We are also participating in a successful national media campaign to raise awareness about PPEC and promote the environmental sustainability of our industry. In terms of media exposure, PPEC is being featured in the trade publication, Recycling Product News for PPEC’s Rachel Kagan

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Graphic Packaging Int’l Announces Grand Innovation Challenge Winners Consumers are demanding sustainable packaging solu- tions. They want a future where the take-make-waste sys- tem is eliminated. To meet that challenge head-on, brands must respond by creating packaging that not only comes from renewable resources, but that is also recyclable or compostable. At Graphic Packaging International, we take that sen- timent seriously by implementing measurable action to meet consumer demand. By enabling our customers to achieve their sustainability goals, we are committed to of- fering consumer packaging that has minimal impact on the environment. As such, we are passionate about creating a more sustainable future and we know that innovation and creativity is needed to deliver on our commitment. With this in mind, we created our ‘Grand Innovation Challenge’ to engage all our employees in our innovation process. With over 24,000 employees, Graphic Packaging has a huge pool of creativity – individuals whose work revolves around fiber-based packaging every day. We knew that they could be a great source of ideas to drive our innova- tion pipeline, developing fresh thinking to help us delight our customers. We are proud to share that we received many ideas in the challenge, coming from a wide range of functions

across the organization and from around the globe. It was great to see the enthusiasm that our colleagues brought to the process. The competition was judged by a cross-functional pan- el, who were particularly pleased to see some of the ideas submitted were related to concepts that were already in the Graphic Packaging innovation pipeline. Great minds think alike! We are happy to announce that the 2021 Graphic Pack- aging Grand Challenge winners are: First Place – 3-way tie: • David Mann, Pacific, Missouri • Joshua Vieyra, Kendallville, Indiana • Eugenio Traballano, Concord, New Hampshire Second Place – 2-way tie • Alyssa Denney, St. Paul, Minnesota • Rebecca Turner, Winsford, UK Honorable Mention In addition to the first and second place winning en- tries, an Honorable Mention award was given to Brandais Markey from the Graphic Packaging Omaha, Nebraska, facility. This was awarded for her outstanding concept pre- sentation. Graphic Packaging International’s history extends more than 100 years, as numerous legacy companies have joined forces to create an ever-evolving corporation. We have over 90 facilities worldwide and more than 19,000 employees. Visit graphicpkg.com for more information.

Let’s Tell Our Recycling Story

Investment, Jobs Created, Tons Produced

Rick Van Horne, Director of Creative Marketing srvan614@me.com Corrugated Supplies Corp. LLC

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Mark Andy Print Products Moves To New Lean Warehouse St. Louis, Missouri based Mark Andy Print Products, the supplies and consumables division for Mark Andy Inc., has announced its relocation from Des Plaines, Illinois to Earth City, Missouri. The move is part of a long-term strategy to be closer to Mark Andy’s global headquarters, located in Chesterfield, Missouri, and in a central location that facili- tates logistics and supply chain management, while meet- ing customers’ and vendors’ needs for efficient operations and quick response shipping. “There are many benefits of relocating to St. Louis, such as the synergies of sharing resources with Mark Andy headquarters, located just fifteen minutes away,” said Dave Telken, Vice-President Mark Andy Print Prod- ucts. “In addition, we are now in a central location that can reach out customers faster. We can ship to South Texas, the East Coast, and Denver in two days.” However, according to Telken, “The most significant advantage is that Mark Andy Print Products now benefits from a lean warehouse design. In an effort to continue to offer our customers the most competitive pricing in the market, we must control and minimize our operating costs. We chose to implement lean principles to help us minimize operational costs that will be reflected in the final price to our customers.”

Serving the North American Corrugated and Folding Carton Industries Since 1985

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Year In Review: Part 1 (CONT’D FROM PAGE 1 )

• ICPF Launches Inaugural Virtual Student/Executive Dialogue Dinner : In response to the coronavirus pan- demic, ICPF has taken its ongoing Student /Executive Dialogue Dinner Series to a virtual platform. The first ICPF virtual dialogue dinner was conducted on Decem- ber 16, 2020. • Huston Patterson Invests In K&B Press : HP has invest- ed in a new 8-color Koenig & Bauer Rapida 164. HP’s management team, led by Tonya Kowa-Morelli, saw the potential of being the only one among its competitors with this large-format configuration. • North American Graphics And Packaging Names Kirkpatrick CEO : North American Graphics and Pack- aging recently named industry veteran Brett Kirkpat- rick, as CEO. • Merrill Schiffman, Founder Of Global Equipment, Dies At 88 : Merrill C. Schiffman of Phoenix, Arizona, passed away at age 88. • Signode Introduces Automatic Squaring Bundler Sys- tem : Glenview, Illinois based Signode has introduced its latest innovation for the corrugated industry, the SIG- VCS TANDEM Automatic Bundler System. • C&M Conveyor, OBP Announce New Midwestern Representation : Brett Jaffe announced that Gilbert Buescher is retiring. To cover the Midwest region (IL, WI, MN, ND, SD, NE, IA), Jaffe announced the addition of Corrugated Solutions as area representation. CONTINUED ON PAGE 26

BCN(US)202109(o)(出血5mm).pdf 1 2021/9/7 下午 03:50:46 • 3D Corrugated Moves Operations From OH To KY : 3D Corrugated is beginning 2021 with a new location and new ownership in Covington, Kentucky. ing machinery, has announced the assignment of Hi- royuki Kikumoto as new VP, Sales for North America, • American Packaging Corp. To Expand In KS : South Hutchinson, Kansas based American Packaging Corpo- ration, a division of Lawrence Paper Company, recently announced a 100,000-square-foot expansion to its cur- rent facility in South Hutchinson. • Ross Ausburn, Co-Founder Of SMC Packaging Group, Dies At 88 : Ross Buford Ausburn, co-founder of SMC Packaging Group, formerly Southern Missouri Contain- er, passed away on Saturday, December 26. He was 88 years old. • Fosber Announces New Sales Manager: Green Bay, Wisconsin based Fosber America, Inc. has announced that Joe Slattery has accepted the position of Midwest Regional Sales Manager that was recently vacated by the retirement of Bob Lantz. • Tiruña Celebrates 100 Years : In 2021, Tiruña cele- brates its 100th anniversary. To mark the celebration and following the recent acquisition by Fosber Group, Tiruña has unveiled a new logo. The fresh look also incorporates branding of Fosber Group, signifying the strength of the expanded group of companies.

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Year In Review: Part 1 (CONT’D FROM PAGE 24)

• DS Smith Partners With Wakefield Biochar To Use Mill Waste As Soil Replenishment: Farmers stand to get tons of soil additives converted from wood waste once headed to landfills, thanks to a partnership be- tween DS Smith and soil producer Wakefield Biochar. • RusCorr Celebrates Record-Breaking Shift With BHS 110-Inch Corrugator : RusCorr’s second shift corrugator crew set a new 8-hour record averaging 57,720 FPH (962 FPM) with zero down time. • The Paige Company Installs JB ColorDry Dryers : The Paige Company, based in Elmwood Park, NJ, installed a full complement of JB Machinery Color Dry XL3000 IR dryers on its new 66-inch by 113-inch 5-color, 2-over-3 inside/out G-Graphix rotary die cutter. • IP, Cascades Announce Board Price Increases : IP announced a $60/ton domestic linerboard and medi- um price increase and Kingsey Falls, Quebec, Canada based Cascades announced increases of $60/ton for linerboard and $70/ton for medium.

FEBRUARY • IP To Invest $52.2 Million In Bogalusa Mill In LA : Inter- national Paper (IP) has announced plans to invest up to $52.2 million in capital to increase the efficiency of its mill in Bogalusa, Louisiana. • GBP To Acquire Third Dimension Inc. : Green Bay, Wis- consin based Green Bay Packaging Inc. (GBP) is plan- ning an expansion with its acquisition of Third Dimen- sion Inc. • Greif, PCA Announce Price Increases : Delaware, Ohio based Greif, Inc. announced that it is implement- ing price increases on its paperboard and container- board products. A $50/ton price increase for all grades of URB, a $70/ton price increase on recycled and semi-chemical medium, and a $60/ton increase on re- cycled linerboard, effective March 4, 2021.

• SUN Automation Group Enters Partner- ship With PARA Srl: Glen Arm, Maryland based SUN Automation Group (SUN), has announced that it has entered into an ex- clusive strategic partnership agreement with the Italian material handling compa- ny, PARA Srl. Effective February 2021. • Hugh Cameron Dies At 90 : Cameron, the former owner of Cameron Contain- ers in Toronto, a charter member of AICC, founder of AICC Canada and Past Presi- dent of AICC International, passed away in December at the age of 90. • Advantage Corrugated & Packaging Invests In Third Machine From Kolbus : The Hopkins, Minnesota manufacturer and distributor of boxes continued its ex- pansion and growth with a third machine from Kolbus America in three years. • PPEC’s Mullinder Retires, Kagan Named New Executive Director: The Paper and Paperboard Packaging Environmental Council (PPEC) has announced the ap- pointment of Rachel Kagan as its new Executive Director, effective February 1. Kagan will take over for the retiring John Mullinder, who has filled the role since PPEC’s inception 30 years ago. MARCH • Mill Rock Packaging Partners Acquires All Packaging Co. : New York, NY based Mill Rock Capital, a private investment firm, announced that it has acquired All Packaging Company, a specialty paper packaging company focused on various consumer end markets.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 28

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Year In Review: Part 1 (CONT’D FROM PAGE 26)

GmbH in Weiherhammer, Germany, passed away on February 1, 2021. He was 80 years old. • MHIA Corrugating Machinery Grows EVOL Augment- ed Reality Program : The Corrugating Machinery Divi- sion of Hunt Valley, Maryland based Mitsubishi Heavy Industries America (MHIA) announced the expansion of EVOL AR, its industry-first Remote Assistance Aug- mented Reality Program. • Acme Corrugated Box Co. To Expand In PA : Hatboro, Pennsylvania based Acme, a 103-year-old independent box manufacturer, has broken ground on an expansion of its existing 250,000-square-foot facility in Hatboro. • The BoxMaker Breaks Ground On New Plant In AR : The BoxMaker has broken ground on a new produc- tion plant in Lowell, AR, as part of a multi-million-dol- lar investment to address growing demand across the country for digitally produced packaging and displays. • Brunton’s ConneXion Wins 2020 Best Digital Exhibi- tion Award : ConneXion, the packaging industry com- munity launched by Brunton Business Publications Ltd last summer, was named winner of Best Digital Exhibi- tion 2020. • GBP Begins Production At New Recycled Paper Mill : Green Bay Packaging Inc. (GBP) announced that the first reel of paper was produced at its new paper mill on March 11, 2021. This milestone comes two and a half years after breaking ground.

• NV Matriarch Jacqueline Vilardi Dies At 87 In NJ: Jacqueline M. Vilardi, 87, passed away on Friday, Feb- ruary 19, 2021, in New Jersey. She was predeceased by her husband Theodore “Ted” Vilardi, founder and publisher of NV Publications, in 2013. More recently, in 2018 she was predeceased by her son, Thomas “Tom” Vilardi, President and Publisher of NV Publications, and Board Converting News. • Alpha Packaging Invests In Baysek : Alpha Packag- ing, Inc. reported that it has invested in a C-170 fully automatic rotary anvil flatbed diecutter from Baysek Machines. The diecutter can cut, strip, count and stack up to 60,000 pieces per hour or 1800 sheets per hour. • SUN Automation Group Introduces Helios AI/Ma- chine Learning Platform : SUN Automation Group an- nounced the launch of Helios, the new AI and Machine Learning platform tailored specifically to the corrugat- ed converting industry. • Michael D. Brunton Dies At 73 In UK : Dan Brunton announced with the deepest regret that his father, Mi- chael David Brunton, suffered a massive stroke and never recovered. He passed away on Wednesday, March 3, at 73 years old. • Edmund Bradatsch, Formerly Of BHS, Dies At 80 : Ed- mund Bradatsch, who with Paul Engel laid the founda- tion for BHS Corrugated Maschinen-und Anlagenbau

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