BoardConverting Serving the North American Corrugated and Folding Carton Industries for 40 years December 23, 2024 VOL. 40, NO. 52
The Linpac Legacy, Part Two: Partnerships & Friendships BY LEN PRAZYCH The following is Part Two in our expansive feature on the remarkable Linpac Legacy. Linpac was a subsidiary of Linpac Group Limited, which was founded in 1959 in Lincolnshire, England as Lincolnshire Packag- ing to produce paper packaging for local fresh food producers. We continue the article here with retired corrugated industry veteran, Rich- ard Goldberg, who shared the importance of Linpac’s partnerships. The Fosber Connection Goldberg made it a point to recognize his relationship with Fosber and with Carlo Silvestri , who was one of the two owners of Fosber in
Precision Roll Solutions Acquires ARC International Green Bay, Wisconsin based Precision Roll Solutions (PRS), a provider of precision engi- neered process rolls and custom equipment, announces the acquisition of ARC Interna- tional, an expert in engraving solutions and coatings for the flexographic and corrugated industries based in Charlotte, North Carolina. PRS said the strategic acquisition under- scores its commitment to its valued custom- ers by adding manufacturing capabilities and space, as well as decades of specialized expertise. By integrating ARC International’s technologies and experience solving chal- lenges in the corrugating and flexograph- ic packaging industries, PRS aims to offer a more comprehensive range of roll-to-roll solutions to meet the evolving manufacturing landscape across multiple industries. PRS said enhanced benefits include: • Expanded product portfolio, now including ARC International’s specialized engraving and coatings technologies • Improved customer service with faster turnaround times/comprehensive support • End-to-end solutions from a single, trusted partner CONTINUED ON PAGE 3
Italy in the 1970s and ‘80s and whose relationship will be forever linked with the Linpac legacy, which continues today with Jeff Pallini , the cur- rent president of Fosber America, who Goldberg met in 1990. “Carlo believed in people, he believed in customer service, he be- lieved that the customer had to be at the forefront of everything,” Pal- lini said. “His mentality around culture was exactly the same as that of Evan Cornish and Bob Lang: you’ve got to believe in your people and you must nourish and grow them. Carlo believed we should let the customer and the market tell us what to do. We should not be hung up on the fact that we’re the smartest people in the room. Sometimes the customer wants less than we're developing. It can be something that’s simpler and not as complicated as what we were working on, but ulti- CONTINUED ON PAGE 20 The second Linpac sheet feeder in the United States was at the facility at 7205 Cessna Drive in Greensboro, North Carolina.
WHAT’S INSIDE
6 x x 8 x x 12 x x 26 x x 5 Veritiv Acquires Arjay Company
ICPF Donates Two Cobots To UW-Stout Packaging Program Koenig & Bauer Announces Management Changes
16 Vanguard Partners With
Mac Papers And Packaging
EVERYTHING CORRUGATED UNDER
Congratulations, Charlie! The Employee Owners of SUN Automation want to thank Charlie Hodges of Hood Container for all his contributions to the Corrugated Industry and wish him an enjoyable and healthy retirement!
EVERYTHING CORRUGATED UNDER
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Mike Foran, President of ARC International, said: “At ARC International, our team has always been the corner- stone of our success, and we are thrilled to embark on this next chapter as part of Precision Roll Solutions. Togeth- er, we will bring our customers even greater innovation, along with enhanced support tools tailored to their needs.
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 42# Kraft liner 26# Semi-Chem. Medium $ 900.00-925. 00 $ 825. 00 -$850.00 U.S. Average 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 $970.00 $960.00 West $1,015.00 $995.00 REGION
PRS Acquires (CONT’D FROM PAGE 1)
• Access to research and development capabilities • Broader geographic coverage “We are thrilled to welcome ARC International to the PRS family. This partnership not only creates new op- portunities for growth and innovation but also allows us to participate more fully in our customers’ businesses,” said Justin Glass, Chief Executive Officer of Precision Roll Solutions. “By combining our expertise, resources, and customer relationships, we are well-positioned to deliver unparalleled value to our clients and solidify our position as the leader in precision roll solutions for the corrugated packaging industry and beyond.”
As the flexographic and corrugated industries evolve, this partnership equips us with the resources to stay custom- er-focused while planning for a sustainable and successful future.” Foran added: “This collaboration presents an incred- ible opportunity to deliver expanded product offerings and innovative solutions to our customers. We are excited about the road ahead and look forward to contributing as part of the Precision Roll Solutions team.” PRS said it remains dedicated to maintaining the high standards of quality and service that both companies are known for as they work towards a seamless integration.
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From The Publisher’s Desk This is our 52nd issue of 2024 — the usual number of weeks in a calendar year. Though we were set to have a 53rd issue on December 30, we have decided not to
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publish so we could give our staff a well-deserved week off to relax and enjoy the holiday with their families. A weeklong hiatus is difficult to ar- range with a weekly publication and a compressed production schedule, so we opted to take advantage of the rare situation having already ful- filled our 52-week commitment.
Len Prazych
Board Converting News will return with our batteries recharged with an issue on January 6, 2025, and ready to celebrate our 40th year as the corrugated and folding carton industry’s weekly source of the latest news and in- formation. We look forward to bringing you the Converter Outlook, where industry leaders share their insights, plans and predictions for the coming year. We will follow that with our always popular Supplier Reports, in which our loy- al advertisers share news of their products and services for 2025. As always, there is NO CHARGE for what is essen- tially hundreds of dollars’ worth of free advertising, which we do as our way of thanking our advertisers for their loyal support. We look forward to working with you in 2025 and wish you health, happiness and prosperity in the new year! — Len Prazych, Publisher/President Veritiv Operating Company Acquires Arjay Company Atlanta, Georgia based Veritiv Operating Company, a specialty packaging distributor, announced that it has ac- quired Arjay Company, including substantially all assets of PPE Sales, LLC, a distributor of packaging solutions serv- ing customers in Long Island and the Greater Metropol- itan New York area. The transaction represents the fifth acquisition of 2024 for Veritiv under the leadership of Sal Abbate, Veritiv’s Chief Executive Officer. “This acquisition is another investment in building on our industry-leading packaging distribution capabilities and national footprint by strengthening our geographic reach,” said Sal Abbate, Chief Executive Officer of Veritiv. “Arjay Company brings to Veritiv a significant and well-es- tablished customer base in Long Island, New York – an area previously challenging to serve from our Northeast locations. Acquiring these types of businesses enables us to expand our national platform to better serve custom- ers by combining the strength and scale of Veritiv with the entrepreneurial spirit of these well-run family businesses.” Ronald Kahane, President of Arjay Company, said their team has a 45-year history of serving businesses in the Long Island and Greater Metropolitan New York area with
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Veritiv Acquires (CONT’D FROM PAGE 5)
our suppliers, and our employees. Our complementary vi- sions, strategies and core values make this partnership a natural fit. The addition of OPS to Veritiv’s packaging dis- tribution platform will provide an even more compelling customer offering and significant value creation potential.” In addition to OPS, Veritiv said that recent acquisitions of Vivabox Solutions, AmeriPac, and PAX Global under- score its dedication to enhancing its design to delivery capabilities in the specialty packaging distribution sector. Greif To Raise Containerboard Prices On January 1 Delaware, Ohio based Greif announced its plans to im- plement containerboard price increases of $70/ton on linerboard and $100/ton on medium, according to press reports. Greif is among the latest of the largest packaging manufacturers planning new year price increases starting January 1. Chief Financial Officer Larry Hilsheimer made the an- nouncement during a call with investors earlier this month saying that the current demand supports the increase. Other companies intending to raise prices in 2025 in- clude Packaging Corporation of America, International Pa- per, Georgia-Pacific and Smurfit Westrock. Analysts attribute the price increases largely to elevat- ed OCC costs.
an unwavering dedication to first-class service. “Joining Veritiv enables us to leverage their established commer- cial infrastructure, packaging procurement and distribu- tion expertise, and enhanced design and testing capabili- ties to better serve our customers.” Veritiv also announced it has completed its acquisition of Orora Packaging Solutions (OPS) after announcing in September that it had entered into a binding agreement with Orora to acquire their North American packaging and distribution business Orora Packaging Solutions. “The completion of this acquisition is the next step in enhancing the value we are able to deliver to customers,” Abbate said. “Together, Veritiv and OPS will leverage our shared commitment to innovation, sustainability, and ex- ceptional customer experiences, to offer an even wider range of specialty packaging products and value-added solutions. Our unparalleled size and scale position us to best meet our customers’ most complex supply chain needs. We look forward to welcoming OPS’ nearly 3,000 talented employees, loyal customers, and trusted suppli- ers, and collaborating as one unified team to continue de- livering innovative and sustainable products and services to our customers today – and into the future.” Kelly Barlow, President of OPS, said their team is ex- cited for the opportunities ahead to partner with Veritiv. “I am confident we will be better together for our customers,
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ICPF Donates Two Cobots To UW-Stout Packaging Program
The International Corrugated Packaging Foundation (ICPF) recently completed a donation through ICPF’s University Awards program to the University of Wiscon- sin-Stout’s (UW-Stout) Packaging Program, equipping the packaging lab with two cobots made by Universal Robots. The donation advances UW-Stout’s commitment to utilize state-of-the-art tools, advanced technology, and lab instruments to enhance students’ hands-on learning experience and prepare them for future careers in the packaging industry. The cobots will be used to pick up and load prima- ry packaging into secondary or tertiary packaging, cor- rugated boxes, as well as for palletizing, loading cases to pallets, and de-palletizing. Packaging students will get a deeper insight into corrugated packaging than before, as UW-Stout’s packaging lab now enables students to master all aspects of developing, producing, testing, and shipping corrugated packaging. ICPF President, Caitlin Salaverria said, “ICPF was de- lighted to provide this donation to UW-Stout. Equipment automation, machine learning and artificial intelligence are evolving and being used in fresh ways to revolu- tionize operations in the corrugated packaging industry. Through this donation, students will graduate with new
knowledge and skills that can impact our industry.” “We are thrilled to receive these state-of-the-art cobots from ICPF, which will greatly enhance our Packaging Ma- chinery class and other higher-level classes”, said Min De- gruson, PH.D., Associate Professor and Program Director in Packaging at UW-Stout. CONTINUED ON PAGE 10
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Hood Container Appoints Alan Clark As President/COO
ICPF Donates (CONT’D FROM PAGE 8)
“This donation ensures our students gain hands-on experience with cutting-edge packaging automation tech- nology, preparing them to excel in the dynamic and evolv- ing packaging industry.” “As an industry sponsored foundation, ICPF has worked for the last 40 years to advance student and faculty knowl- edge of the industry and to promote development of a highly trained workforce. We’ve provided over $13 million in donations of equipment and grants to universities and look forward to expanding our efforts over the coming years,” said Salaverria. ICPF is an independent, non-profit corporation co-spon- sored by AICC, The Independent Packaging Association, and the Fibre Box Association. For more information, con- tact Salaverria at csalaverria@icpfbox.org.
Atlanta, Georgia based Hood Container announced the appointment of Alan Clark as the new President and Chief Operating Officer, effective January 1, 2025. Clark suc- ceeds Charlie Hodges, who will retire after a nearly 50- year career in the pulp and paper business and the last 12 years as the founding President of Hood Container. Prior to Hood Container, Hodges built his career with compa- nies such as Union Camp Corporation, Georgia Pacific Corporation, Port Townsend Paper Company. “Alan has an impressive record of performance since joining Hood Container in October 2023, as well as lead- ing important companies in the past such as Jackson Paper and Harper Love,” Hodges said. “I am confident that Alan’s
focused approach to problem identifica- tion, precise execution of solutions, as well as a driving desire for achieving success through the engagement of colleagues in continuous improvement endeavors will continue the strong performance and growth of the company.” As President and COO, Alan will focus on continuing Hood’s journey towards commercial excellence, operational effi- ciency, and enhancing our culture. “I joined Hood Container at an exciting time,” said Alan. “I look forward to contin- ue working with the talented team here to build on the company’s strong foundation and success.” Hood Container Corporation is a whol- ly owned subsidiary of Hood Companies, Inc. Hood Companies is a privately owned, closely held holding company and is the parent to operating subsidiaries involved in the manufacture and distribution of wood products, building and construc- tion materials and flexible and corrugat- ed packaging products throughout North America. In July, Hood Container announced that it had entered into an agreement to buy the packaging assets of Independent II in Louisville, Kentucky. Independent II’s as- sets complement Hood Container’s foot- print and create greater converting capac- ity for Hood Container in the increasingly important Kentucky and Ohio region. Hood Container operates locations in 17 states. The company also owns and op- erates linerboard, medium, and multiwall paper manufacturing operations in New Johnsonville, Tennessee, and St. Francis- ville, Louisiana.
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Koenig & Bauer Announces Management Succession
Markus Weiss was selected as the successor and will take up his position as Managing Director/CEO of Koenig & Bauer Sheetfed AG & Co. KG on February 1. “Markus Weiss is a strong, international leader who has built up an excellent network over the past almost 20 years and brings enormous experience in our industry. I am particularly pleased about this because our customers are very important to me,” Sammeck said. Koenig & Bauer is one of the only manufacturers that
Würzburg, Germany based Koenig & Bauer announced the approaching retirement of Ralf Sammeck, CEO of Koenig & Bauer Sheetfed, Member of the Executive Board and CDO of Koenig & Bauer AG, at the end of June 2025. In 2000,
Ralf Sammeck began his career as Sales Director and Authorized Sig- natory at Koenig & Bauer and be- came CEO & President of Koenig & Bauer North America in 2002. In his role as CEO, he is responsible for the Sheetfed segment and later also for the tasks of the CDO. Under his leadership, the market share tripled,
can print on almost all substrates using almost all technologies. By using the synergies between these processes, Koenig & Bauer delivers solutions that are tailored to the indi- vidual needs of its customers.
“Offset printing will remain the leading technology in packaging and commercial printing in the long term, complemented by innovative solutions in the pre- press and post press areas. “At the same time, digital printing is becoming increas- ingly important. The optimal combination of both technol- ogies opens up new growth opportunities for our custom- ers and shows that their joint use will shape the future of the printing industry. I am delighted to be able to contrib- ute my knowledge and experience in this exciting field to the leading packaging manufacturer with a great team,” Weiss said. Markus Weiss
Ralf Sammeck
and the product portfolio was expanded to include pre- press software and post press machines as well as digi- tal printing – supported by digital solutions for the entire workflow process and digital service products (Kyana). “Ralf Sammeck has succeeded in continuously estab- lishing the Sheetfed segment as a complete solution pro- vider and expanding market leadership in the packaging sector. In doing so, he has positioned the division for the future. With his instinct for customers and markets, he is a role model for the sales team worldwide,” said Andreas Pleßke, CEO of Koenig & Bauer.
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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EnCore Modules:
Paperboard Packaging Council Announces New Board Of Directors
The Paperboard Packaging Council (PPC) announced its 2024-2025 Board of Directors, a dynamic group of industry leaders dedicated to shaping the future of the paperboard packaging industry. These accom- plished professionals, with their breadth of expertise and forward-think- ing vision, will steer PPC’s mission to advance innovation, champion sus- tainability, and strengthen the industry’s workforce. At the forefront is PPC’s Executive Committee, chaired by Stephen Scherger of Graphic Packaging International. Scherger is joined by Vice Chair Hilda Murray of TPC Printing & Packaging, Treasurer Laura Brodie of Pusterla US, Inc., and Secretary Brian Janki of PaperWorks Industries. Complementing this powerhouse leadership team are Members-At- Large Lisa Pruett of RRD Packaging Solutions, Sam Shoemaker of Smurf- it Westrock, and Eric Malnove of Malnove Packaging, each bringing in- valuable experience and perspective to PPC’s strategic initiatives. PPC is grateful for the continued dedication of several directors ex- tending their board seats, offering unwavering guidance and invaluable expertise, including Kerry Brown of Curtis Packaging, Darryl Carlson of
Customer Care Portal
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Royal Paper Box, Jean-Christophe DuChamp of Autajon Packaging, Rob- ert Feeser of Mill Rock Packaging, Eric Frank of Koenig & Bauer (US/ CA), Galen Killam of Great Northern Corporation, John Lackner of Col- bert Packaging, Laura Parlagreco of Astro Box, Kenneth Petty of Indiana Carton Company, Dan Rodenbush of Oliver, Inc., Emma Roehlke of FM Howell & Company, Sarah Skinner of Ingersoll Paper Box, David Taylor of Tavo Packaging, Stacy Warneke of Warneke Paper Box, and Joel Zaas of BoxIt Corporation. Their steadfast commitment is a cornerstone of our ongoing success. PPC also proudly welcomes an accomplished group of new direc- tors. These industry leaders—Tommy Conner of Accord Carton Compa- ny, Corey Gustafson of JohnsByrne Company, Roy Hibbs of Southern Champion Tray, and Madison Keyser of Utah Paper Box—join a board steadfastly dedicated to driving growth, innovation, and success across the paperboard packaging sector. Working together, their commitment ensures that PPC’s goals remain closely aligned with the evolving needs of its members and the broader industry. “Our industry benefits from the dedication and expertise of our Board of Directors and Executive Committee,” said Emily Leonczyk, Executive Director and VP of PPC. “Their ability to ask thoughtful, challenging CONTINUED ON PAGE 16 PPC’s 2024-2025 Board of Directors at PPC’s Fall Meeting & Leadership Conference in Atlanta last September.
Partner Integrations:
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PPC Announces (CONT’D FROM PAGE 14)
Jim Peterson, COO and Founding Partner of Vanguard Digital, said they are very excited to partner with Mac Pa- pers and Packaging. “Vanguard Digital was founded by a small group of individuals with the goal of offering best- in-class solutions to print service providers, backed by
questions and engage deeply in critical issues like sustain- ability, innovation, and workforce development drives our collective progress. Together, we are creating meaningful change and securing a brighter future for the paperboard packaging industry.” Vanguard Digital Partners With Mac Papers And Packaging Lawrenceville, Georgia based Vanguard Digital an- nounced a partnership with Mac Papers and Packaging, one of the largest wholesale distributors in the Southeast. With almost 60 years of experience, Mac Papers brings extensive reach and experience to their customer base. “Aligning with the best equipment manufacturers is a top priority for Mac Papers & Packaging,” said Chris Jones, Vice President of Mac Papers & Packaging. “We want to ensure our valued customers remain on the leading edge of print production and technology.” For this reason, Jones said that Vanguard Digital was a great fit for Mac Paper’s portfolio. “They’ve won the Pinna- cle Product award for eight straight years which is a testa- ment to their innovation and quality. We also share similar values around customer service, technical support, and educational training.
expertise and unparalleled customer service. In addition to aligned values and business goals, Mac Papers started very much the same, and we are confident this partnership will honor the origins of each brand, and the commitments we offer our customers,” Peterson said. Jones said the partnership is an exciting conclusion to the year and promises new opportunities in 2025. “I’m ex- cited to see what we can accomplish together by focus- ing on the issues our customers are facing and coming up with creative solutions to foster growth and efficiency.”
Do you need printed sheets? We have your answer.. Introducing Heartland’s ColorCorr. This is “flexo-printing in the round”. On our corrugator we can print up to 109” wide. The advantage is that we can print the equivalent of ½ roll at a time and not be required to keep several rolls of very expensive preprinted paper on the floor. Much less waste and risk. In continual print mode, we use either laser-engraved rubber rolls or solid rubber rolls to print a “flood coat” or a repeating pattern. If we are printing a repeating pattern, we can run a two-color design on the paper. Customers have found that running sheets we print can allow them to run a lighter-grade due to reduced caliper loss, and in some cases eliminate one or more machine passes.
For more information contact: Charlie Freeman | 816-500-8889 | cfreeman@heartlandsheets.com Tim Kramer | 816-841-8317 | color@heartlandsheets.com
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Ho days HAPPY TO YOU AND YOURS
May you and your family enjoy a holiday filled with warmth and cheer, and a happy, safe, and prosperous New Year.
Warmest Holiday wishes from all of us at the Geo. M. Martin Company.
CREATIVE SYSTEMS & SOLUTIONS SINCE 1929
Alliance Machine Systems Launches The RAVEN
Spokane Valley, Washington based Alliance Machine Sys- tems International announced the launch of RAVEN, a new robotic palletizing system designed for 50-inch Flexo ma- chines addressing the need for newer automation capa- bilities in a more compact form factor than other robotic palletizers. The RAVEN automatically builds units from bundled material, offering a variety of common stacking patterns. Individual or doubled bundles are grasped by the EOAT (end-of-arm-tooling) and positioned in the desired pat- tern onto the floor conveyor. The machine inserts both tie
sheets and bottom sheets, and an automated squaring system ensures that each layer is perfectly aligned. Once the stack is complete, it exits, and the robot begins the next stack. This automated no-pit process provides high- speed continuous bundle stacking without operator in- tervention and sets up automatically, providing operators with more time for quality control. The RAVEN provides the same uniform, high-quality units that Alliance is known for with its RAPTOR series ro- botic palletizers, while offering a more convenient com- pact form factor. Available immediately, the RAVEN will be showcased through live factory viewings in January 2025. Interested parties can schedule demonstrations and ob- tain additional information by visiting alliancellc.com/sales or contacting their nearest sales manager. “Our sales team sees great potential for the RAVEN,” said Andy Olson, Sales Director of North America. “We’re confident that this system will provide significant value to our customers. Our engineering team worked hard to provide a solution that customers have expressed a need for. The more we understand our customers’ challenges and goals, the more effectively we can respond to their needs and create real value for them and for our fellow team members.” Marius Batrin, the President of Alliance, said: “We con- tinue to be the industry leader with the reputation for con- stant focus on innovation and quality and this new product offering from Alliance demonstrates our track record.”
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Gluing on Specialty Folder Gluers is Our Specialty
Sustainability initiatives are changing the packaging landscape and Baumer hhs is ready to help you meet those challenges. Our PX1000 cold glue applicator coupled with the new ULT 400 XL are the pair to get it done. The PX1000 runs the widest ranges of non-contact cold glues and the ULT 400 XL verifies the glue dot or bead is in the right place without the aid of UV tracers, no matter the variety of board or thicknesses. Get your corrugated board onboard with Baumer hhs and let us show you how special you are to us.
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The Linpac Legacy (CONT’D FROM PAGE 1)
ly and later, the United States. Synchro has evolved a lot since then, but it’s essentially the same code and the same product it was back then.”
mately it meets the customer’s needs.” Pallini cited the Compact as one of the first machines Fosber ever developed. It was an automated triplex, which at the time was considered futuristic technology. Custom-
ers agreed and said yes, it was indeed very innovative but it was also too complicated, too expensive and the cost of own- ership was too high. They just wanted something that could be set up automatically to elim- inate some of the labor. “We basically automated the track list, called it a Compact 1 and it sold like crazy,” said Pallini.
Carlo Silvestri
“Linpac helped drive us through that process. Without that relationship, I don't know where we would be today. It all came from listening to our customer and giving them what they really needed, not what we thought they needed.” In fact, it was Fosber’s early relationship with Linpac that resulted in the development and evolution of Syn- chro, Fosber’s world-renowned complete corrugated and process control package. As Pallini remembered it, “Richie Goldberg introduced us to Escada, a UK based compa- ny with the expertise to develop a platform that allowed Fosber to develop the technology on its machines in Ita-
Added Pallini, “In Linpac, Fosber partnered with the people and the company that became a true partner. We shared our thoughts and tried new ideas and we were both willing to put ‘skin in the game’ in order to come out on the other end with a better product. Back then, Fosber didn't have a lot of money, nor did we have a lot of people, but without the help of key people like Richie and Linpac, CONTINUED ON PAGE 22 Linpac’s first Fosber corrugator was installed in its Greens- boro, North Carolina facility.
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The Linpac Legacy (CONT’D FROM PAGE 20)
Robbie Parsons started with Linpac in 1981 after picking up a Greensboro newspaper and seeing a help wanted ad for a company that needed a corrugator crew. “I was in the corrugator business for a few years, got out of it and was
there's no way Fosber would be where it is today.” “Yes, great companies come from great culture,” noted Goldberg. “Carlo and Jeff nurtured it at Fosber and Evan,
working for another company when I saw the ad,” he said. “I was a maintenance technician and was ready for a change and figured that if this company had a corrugator, they’re going to need somebody to work on it. When I started with Linpac, we were rebuilding a corruga- tor piecemeal in a warehouse about three miles from where
Bob and Nigel nurtured it at Lin- pac. They allowed us to build a culture that was truly focused on people. In today’s world, there doesn’t seem to be a lot of that anymore.” This relation- ship led to Linpac and Fosber agreeing to build the first Fos- ber corrugator in the world and install it in Greensboro. Richie, along with the Greensboro
Robbie Parsons
Jeff Pallini
the plant was going to open and I thought, ‘Well, this is go- ing to be pretty good. If this company was just in the sheet feeder business, it's going to be really simple, you know, a corrugator, a couple forklifts and a clamp truck. Easy, right?’ Next thing I know we’re busy as hell and providing next day deliveries and I realized I’d gotten into quite a fast-paced business and not the slower business I thought it was going to be.” In 1984, Parsons became the lead maintenance man, in 1986 was promoted to maintenance manager, and in 2003 became production manager in Greensboro. He was a key figure in putting in the first Fosber corrugator CONTINUED ON PAGE 24
team and 26 young men from Fosber Italy, spent 90 days on the project, while overcoming all the challenges a new- ly-designed machine and evolving technology presented. This firmly became the basis for Fosber to become a world leader in corrugtors.” “As I’ve told my four children, one of whom is in the industry, the corrugated industry is a great one and you can make a great living in it, but more importantly, you can make a real difference in people’s lives and you can make some great lifelong friends who eventually become your second family, people with whom you share births and weddings and funerals.” said Pallini.
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Seasons Greetings from all of us at Board Converting News
Wishing you and yours a safe, healthy, and prosperous 202 5 !
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The Linpac Legacy (CONT’D FROM PAGE 22)
in Greensboro, among the other remarkable things he has done throughout his 27-year career with Linpac and the companies that acquired it. “We were all such a family in Greensboro, which was why it hurt so much when Greif “Other than me, the only other employee who came from the UK was Tim,” said Nigel of the loveable Tim Ling- ard. “I met Tim when I was working for Linpac in England and he was a sales rep for a box company in Lincolnshire and requested to come to America. He reminded me of a miniature version of the English actor Dudley Moore, only funnier. He was about five-foot-two and weighed probably 90 pounds soaking wet, but his heart was huge and he was known for, well, being outrageous. He talked himself out of so many DUIs you wouldn’t have believed it! Tim also gave me what he called the ultimate pick-up line: You go up to a woman in a bar and ask her, ‘Have you ever slept with an Englishman?’ When the woman replies ‘no,’ you ask, ‘Well, would you like to?’” Cole Patrick was “fortunate enough” to find his way through college and graduated in 1982 before interview- ing with Lingard. “To say the least, it was a very interest- ing interview with someone who was ‘fresh off the boat,’ as they say,” said Patrick. “Anyway, we hit it off well and finally closed the plant.” And Then There’s Tim
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The Linpac Legacy (CONT’D FROM PAGE 24)
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I was thrilled to death to have the opportunity to go on the road as a sales rep. Little did I know Tim had a major training program I had to undergo, if only in his own mind! From day one, I learned everything from making starch all the way through the dry end of the corrugator, which took about four months. Then I went to the office to learn what the customer service staff and scheduling group was all about before gradually finding my way out to the field. Tim really did teach me a lot and trained me well and we were ultimately very successful. I was blessed to get the job right out of college and more blessed to be around Tim and all the other great folks at Linpac.” Lingard was also passionate about customer service. He listened to his customers repeatedly saying it was taking three, four, five or even six days for a typical delivery from one of their integrated suppliers. “Tim thought that if we could cut delivery times to three days, then two, custom- ers would begin calling and wanting the ‘hot stuff’ the very next day,” said Patrick. “He was right and I think that was a major accelerator for the way sheet feeders, and certainly Linpac, did business and one of the main reasons we were so successful.” Nigel Roe agreed, emphasizing the fact that Linpac was one of the first, if not the first independent sheet feeder to enter a market in which it fought with the integrated mon- sters and most of time, won the fight. Lingard, who came to Greensboro as sales manager and ended up as general manager of the company, was a big part of the success of RichieWare and all three sheet feeders. Sadly, Lingard passed away about three years ago after being sick with multiple myeloma for several years. “He was beloved by all of our customers – and maybe not so beloved by some Linpac management because he did do things that were a little, um, shall I say, unorthodox – but Tim’s heart was truly in the right place,” said Roe, who was duly recognized by Cole Patrick: “I would like to be- stow the highest of honors upon Nigel. I consider him the founder who brought this group along and continued to keep us on the right course. He was the one who started the facilities and the one who did all the jobs and did the ‘grunt work’ that had to be done. I truly appreciate what he did for me personally and for Linpac as a whole.” C. Wayne Long was in the box business for 20 years with Container Corporation of America. “I was hired by Bob in 1986 to manage the Dallas sheet feeder,” Long re- membered. “It was a new experience for me because as Bob said when he hired me, ‘This will be the closest you ever come to running your own business without owning it.’ And he was right. Cole Patrick
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The Linpac Legacy (CONT’D FROM PAGE 26)
“One time early in my career, I told Bob that I needed to talk to the human resource department because I had
a problem with one of the em- ployees. Bob said, ‘Wayne, we don't have a human resource department. You and Nigel are our human resource de- partment!’ When I asked about talking to our attorney, he said we didn’t have one and that I should go find one in the Yel- low Pages! It was quite a rude awakening for me.”
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Long continued, “Linpac really did care for their peo- ple. Instead of reducing staff by half every time business slowed down, we guaranteed the guys in the plant they would get paid for 40 hours a week, no matter how little work we had. Then I put it on Cole’s ass and mine to go out and sell enough business to keep our employees busy for 40 hours a week. It made a big difference to them be- cause they could feel secure in getting a paycheck every week and it really put the pressure on Cole and me to make sure that we sold enough business to keep the plant going. As I remember, it worked out pretty well.”
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From left, Bob Lang, Nigel Roe and Tim Lingard.
Long also applauded Linpac’s ability to make decisions quickly. “There wasn't any of this ‘let me write a report’ or ‘you need to get this study done’ like they were doing at the integrateds, where it often took months to make a single simple decision.” Long also remembered trying to “sell” Mr. Cornish on making e-flute because the market didn’t have it. “I felt it would be a great opportunity for us, so I sat down with him
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The Linpac Legacy (CONT’D FROM PAGE 28)
Board Converting NEWS INTERNET DIRECTORY
and explained my idea and he just listened to me and just nodded his head. He didn't say yes and he didn’t say no. Within two days, I get a call from Bob Lang, the president of the company at the time, who said, ‘Well, Mr. Cornish didn't like that idea of putting an old piece of crap on the back end of his brand new $16 million corrugator, but he decided he did like the idea of having e-flute, so he or- dered a new MHI single face machine! That's how quickly things could be done at Linpac. It was a great place to work.” “Capital was never an issue at Linpac,” added Shane Keigley. “We were constantly investing in the newest and best and fastest equipment. Linpac became known in the industry for it. We started with old equipment and we built it up the company with new and then we would have it running with RichieWare, which really set us up for a lot of success because we were able to integrate quickly with the computer side of things, which had never been done before.” The Linpac Mill Linpac didn't own any mills in the UK but with the many “firsts” the company was achieving in the US, it made the decision to take that “step into the unknown” and build a greenfield paper mill in Cowpens, South Carolina, on a pig slop farm owned by a farmer named Price.
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Advantzware provides a comprehensive system to address the business management needs of the independent box business, as well as the ERP requirements of full scale pack- aging plants and integrated companies. With modules for estimating, scheduling, production, inventory and account- ing, this scalable system supports companies that produce corrugated boxes, folding cartons, point of purchase dis- plays, assembled partitions, and paperboard products. AIR CONVEYING CORPORATION www.accfilter.com Air Conveying Corporation is a leader in the industry of Pneumatic Conveying Systems and has been in business since 1968. As an equipment manufacturer rather than sim- ply a sales organization, we have complete control over the quality of material and products which make up your pro- posed system. Our equipment is found in printing, folding carton and corrugated plants throughout the world. We've been designing, manufacturing and engineering pneumatic conveying systems since 1984. We partner with our customers to ensure they operate efficiently and guar- antee our systems meet or exceed their specifications. ASDI specializes in full pull-through systems trim separators, and NFPA compliant systems with full electronic controls. AMTECH SOFTWARE www.amtechsoftware.com AIR SYSTEMS DESIGN, INC. www.airsystemsdesign.com Amtech offers the industry’s most innovative and com- prehensive corrugated and packaging ERP, integrated scheduling software, and engineered automation technol- ogy. For over 30 years, Amtech has kept our customers competitive in an ever-changing economy with customer digital storefronts and workflows, business intelligence, automated scheduling for corrugators, converting and shipping, proactive roll stock and inventory management. APEX INTERNATIONAL www.apexinternational.com World’s largest Anilox and Glue & Metering roll manufac- turer, providing the widest selection of corrugated engrav- ings and complementary services. Anilox engraving options available from our North American manufacturing facility include elongated 75°, 60°, 45°, plus Apex’s patented GTT technology. Glue rolls are produced with Hardened Stain- less Steel and a max TIR of 10 µ for Single, Double Facers.
“I remember joining Bob in trying to convince Mr. Price to move his pigs so we could build our mill,” said Gold- berg. “He finally gave in, we bought him out and he let us do whatever we wanted if we named the road after him. That’s how the mill came to be built on Price Farm Road. It was so Mr. Price could have his family legacy.” The mill included a Valmet paper system with a Black Clawson refinery system, which was modern equipment at the time, but Linpac employees still had to learn how to
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