AICC Members (CONT’D FROM PAGE 67)
Board Converting NEWS INTERNET DIRECTORY
nies – or 38 percent -- responded to questions about the kinds of impacts they are seeing in their businesses as the coronavirus pandemic spreads throughout North America. Just over half of those responding were machinery and equipment suppliers; 15 percent were raw material sup- pliers, meaning containerboard and/or sheets; 17 percent supplied consumables such as inks, adhesives, strapping, etc.; and 15 percent were suppliers of software or related business services. The initial effects of the coronavirus pandemic and its related societal and business restrictions appears to be in suppliers’ ability to visit customers directly. Fully 73 per- cent of those responding said they faced an inability to call on their customers directly due to vendor and visitor restrictions. This was followed by slowing of business or deferral of capital expenditures among boxmakers, and an increase in employee absences. Not all these impacts were nega- tive: “We’re having a record week of shipments across the printing spectrum,” wrote one member as his company’s customers responded to increased demand for corrugat- ed packaging products. Yet, a predominant theme in the comments received was uncertainty. “No forecast is possible,” wrote one mem- ber. Said another, “Customers are delaying decisions re- garding the purchase of equipment until they can deter- mine the length and scope of the impact of the virus on the economy, which is 100 percent understandable.” Asked to predict the negative impact on their business, 49 percent of associates replied, “Don’t know, too hard to tell.” AICC asked its supplier members what their customers are telling them about their business conditions. In an even split – 18 percent in each category – boxmakers reported both “slowing orders” and “increasing orders.” A larger percentage of 27 percent said that there was “no change” in their business. “It’s customer-dependent,” wrote one supplier. “Some orders are slowing; others increasing.” Another supplier said, “We’ve seen a drop in orders from some customers while others report panic buying from some of their end users.” For major capital equipment makers, deferral of box- makers’ 2020 capital projects is an immediate concern, but another reported a silver lining: “Good news is that we are seeing inquiries for business lost to China years ago. Bad news is we are seeing project ship dates getting pushed out.” As for their own companies’ responses to the coronavi- rus crisis, the principal actions taken thus far are to restrict travel of company employees and increased employee education about the virus and the prevention of its spread. Eighty five percent say they’ve taken these steps first in their companies. Asked to list additional steps, one suppli- er said, “We’re undertaking massive amounts of cleaning and basically at every opportunity trying to instill a mental- ity of ‘procedure in place of fear.’”
MITSUBISHI www.mhicorrugating.com
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries America, Corrugated Machinery Division, is one of the most respected providers of corrugat- ing and boxmaking solutions in North and Central America. Leading-edge technology such as the Steady StaterTM Cor- rugating System, and our individual wet and dry end ma- chines and control systems deliver highest productivity with low waste and environmental impact. Our EVOL boxmaking machines have become the world standard for operational simplicity, quality and dependability. Complemented with an extensive parts and service program, For 85 years the Ohio Blow Pipe company and its whol- ly owned subsidiary, Advanced Airsystems, have provided the corrugated and folding carton industries with systems and products to process scrap. We engineer, fabricate, in- stall, service, provide system audits, and offer a wide range of scrap systems, dust collection systems and products to include cyclones, under roof AIR-SCREEN™ systems, pit belt systems, CLEANAIR dust collectors, Mist-Clone™ dust control systems for vacuum feeds, material handling fans, ductwork, switch valves, airveyors, balers, shredders and OM Partners makes paper makers and packaging compa- nies more profitable and more efficient by optimizing their operations. By utilizing mathematical solvers and advanced technology, corrugated producers remark that their corru- gators and converting equipment run faster with less waste and higher on time delivery achievement within weeks after implementation. The OMP System consists of a comprehen- sive and fully integrated set of modules for order promising, forecasting, capacity planning, stock management, corru- gator optimization, production scheduling, transport plan- ning and automatic data collection. OHIO BLOW PIPE/ADVANCED AIRSYSTEMS www.obpairsystems.com dust briquetters. OM PARTNERS www.ompartners.com/corrugated
PAPER AND DUST PROS, INC. www.paperanddustpros.com
We custom design, install and service air conveyed scrap and dust collection systems. Our unique APS® is smaller, lighter, and more reliable than current cyclones. Contact us to learn how the APS® System can enhance your operation.
PROFERO SYSTEMS, INC. www.ProferoSystems.com
Profero Systems the leader in double facer heating and traction section conversions along with other performance enhancing products. Featuring products from Contact Bars and Compensating Rolls to New Glue Machines and Double Facers.
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March 30, 2020
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