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April 20th, 2022 Newsletter
Month: April 2022
GBIG NEWS | 71 Stories and Links on the Internet 4/20/2022
GBIG News
Get links to the latest news, events, stories, and interviews from our 5P news sponsors. Our goal is to remind the decision makers in Wisconsin of the importance of our industry both historically, and more importantly, into the future.
Read the latest 71 Stories and Links on the Internet below.
Wisconsin
- Converters Expo April 26-27 Lambeau Field
- PCMC Launching our new Packaging Innovation Center with a tour and networking!
- Precision Roll Solutions: JOIN US FOR A FACTORY TOUR ON APRIL 27TH FROM 1:00 TO 5:00 PM. during Converters Expo.
- ePac based in Madison, WI to top $200m in sales in 2021
- Officials break ground on American Packaging Corp. facility in Cedar City with headquarters in Columbus, WI.
- Placon: Living sustainable is not something we do every day; it is our company vision
- ePac – Helping Brands of ALL Sizes based out of Madison, WI.
- The Future Of Work: Olga Mendez of American Packaging Corporation – Columbus, WI.
- Summit Packaging breaks ground on new 77M sf Racine Facility
- Examining Paper Shortages and Publishing Worker Unrest – Jim Fetherston CEO of Stevens Point based Worzalla
- WEDC: Workforce Innovation Grant Program
- WPC Led Coalition Hosts Economic Roundtable with U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce
- Evers’ Surplus Plan Would Deliver for Wisconsin Families and Businesses
- The Ancient Forest In Wisconsin That’s Right Out Of A Storybook
- Sprint Print Converts to Minuteman Press Franchise in Madison after 35 years in business.
- Paper Discovery Center in Application shifting to focus on science
- Great Lakes Impact Investment Platform projects reducing 3 million tons of carbon, saving more than 5 million gallons of water
- UW Madison: Member of Nelson Institute lab helps to map the world’s irrecoverable carbon
- Foxconn: Once vowed to be Eighth Wonder of the World, Foxconn survives as a spec development
- Unemployment rates increase demand for college students in Wisconsin
- After Foxconn’s pledges have failed to materialize, the former executive is hired by UW- Madison College of Engineering
- 3 BRILLIANT MINUTES: Paper from pollen
- UW Madison: New machine learning and data science option offers ECE undergraduates in-demand skills in Engineering
- Pulsar Engineering – GB Food trays
- UW-Oshkosh to heat campus building using food waste $339K grant will retrofit campus biodigester.
- UW Platteville students recognized at Research on plastics in the Rotunda
Industry
- Converters Continuous improvement: the great equalizer.
- Printing 5th largest manufacturing industry and Wisconsin is in trouble – NO PAPER
- Running in circles: How the paper industry is the epitome of the circular economy
- Amplify brings print finishing and embellishments to the forefront.
- Intertape Polymer Group.acquired in $2.68B deal
- Science says thinned forests are healthy forests
- Vanguard uncovered: Eco-Products president on creating fiber packaging without PFAS or regrettable substitutes
- MILLCRAFT: Keeping Ahead of Continuing Supply Chain Issues for PAPER in 2022
- Flexible Packaging circular economy: Industry targets mono materials amid inadequate recycling infrastructure
- Fighting Fade: How Long Will Color Last?
- Amcor develops compostable paper packaging for butter
- Sawdust-based biodegradable packaging can nourish aquatic life, researchers discover
- Forest don’t just reduce climate change – they can improve our mental and physical health as well
- Could the Pulp and Paper Industry Play a Role in Producing Bio-Products?
- Starbucks phasing out its iconic cups
- Michigan Tech on Cutting Edge of Cross Laminated Timber Technology
- CASA and INDA Welcome Introduction of WIPES Act in U.S. Senate
- Revival of the North American Book Market
- International Paper’s Mark Sutton Named Executive Papermaker of the Year
- Addressing the Challenges in the Paper Supply Chain
- After Making a Considerable Investment, What Is BillerudKorsnas Going to Do with Its Verso Mills?
- Paper Shortages: What’s Behind the Problem and What Can We do?
- Russian Invasion of Ukraine is Already Impacting the Global P&P Industry
- How Rising Containerboard Capacity Has Influenced Boxplant Investments
- Postal workers hope new law will stop the bleeding at the USPS
- Stora Enso launches recyclable fibre-based material for foodservice paper lids
- Midland Announces Strategic Acquisition of J. Schmid
- INDA Announces Six New Board Members and Officers
- Veritiv Agrees to Sell Its Canadian Operations to Imperial Dade
Converting
- New Guide: How To Modernize And Optimize Your Label Converting Business
- ABX Packaging Rhinelander, WI: See Video
- New Research Service to Track Label Production Workflow Trends
- Nichols Paper: A NEW ERA OF PRINTING AND CONVERTING
- Paper Converting by Norka, Inc.
- A trusted leader in flexographic, digital, die cutting, lamination and clean room manufacturing
- Walden is a leading Flexographic Printing & Converting company with a long trusted reputation
- Creative Converting is a leading source for any BRAND name products.
- Converted Products, Inc. Capabilities: Slitting, Rewinding, Hot Melt Laminating and Spool Winding
Sponsor
- The New North: Registration now open for Summit, June 9 at Lambeau Field
- FIRST BUSINESS Bank Quarterly Market Review Q1 2022
- Stratasys on volume production and additive manufacturing
- EMT World Class Manufacturing
- Shemesh to Showcase Enhanced Vertical Canister Wipes Stuffer Range
- Domino details VDP growth
- Robinson: Modular metal fabricators produce plug-and-play systems solutions
- MWES: Robotic Paint Line Tending Cell
- PCMC Tour and Networking Event from 2:00 – 4:00 on April 26
Florence, WI: 17th Annual SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY CONFERENCE: Scott Bowe Professor of Wood Products Presentation.
The Green Bay Innovation Group attended the 17th Annual Forestry Sustainable Conference in Florence, meeting up with Scott Bowe – UW Madison Wood Products.
Neway Packaging Corp. Continues its
Aggressive Growth and Expansion into New Markets
Solution-Oriented
The new De Pere, Wisconsin addition adds 28,000 square feet to the existing 8,000 square feet. This new space will allow for more customers to use the just-in-time delivery capabilities of Neway.
Neway Packaging prides themselves on being a solution-oriented partner. Whether you are starting a new business and need beautifully branded or stock packaging and low-cost equipment, to an established manufacturer looking to fully automate and re-brand your product, they have the expertise and experience to make their business partners goals a reality. Along with equipment specialists, they have a team of product and design consultants available to help you obtain the right packaging material at the right price for your application. The options in designing custom packaging is endless.
About Neway Packaging
Since 1977, Neway Packaging has been committed to partnering with our customers for mutual success and growth. We accomplish this by providing quality products, innovative solutions, excellent customer service, experienced equipment specialists, custom box and packaging solutions and a team of dedicated professionals.
MENASHA CORPORATION NAMES KIMBERLY UNDERHILL TO ITS BOARD OF DIRECTORS
NEWS RELEASE
Contact: Kristine Pavletich | Director of Corporate Communications | 920-751-1015
kristine.pavletich@menasha.com
NEENAH, Wis. (April 6, 2022) – Menasha Corporation announces the appointment of Kimberly Underhill to its board effective May 1, 2022. Underhill brings a wealth of strategic leadership experience in the consumer packaged goods industry. She recently retired from Kimberly-Clark Corporation following a 32-year career that culminated in the role of Group President of its largest business unit, Kimberly-Clark North America. Earlier in her Kimberly-Clark career, Underhill held various marketing, supply chain, and research and engineering positions before progressing to executive leadership roles that included Global President of Kimberly-Clark’s business-to-business unit and President of its European consumer business.
Underhill works with the Boston Consulting Group and also serves on the boards of Foot Locker, Inc. (NYSE:FL), and ThedaCare, a healthcare system headquartered in Neenah, Wis.
About Menasha Corporation Menasha Corporation is a leading corrugated and plastic packaging manufacturer and supply chain solutions provider specializing in retail merchandising packaging and displays, plastic reusable containers and pallets, protective packaging interiors, and packaging supply chain and fulfillment services. Menasha Corporation’s products and services are used by major food, beverage, consumer products, industrial/automotive, health and beauty, over-the-counter pharmaceutical, and electronics companies. Established in 1849, Menasha Corporation is one of America’s oldest privately held, family-owned manufacturing companies. Headquartered in Neenah, Wisconsin, the company employs approximately 6,400 employees in 120 facilities in North America and Europe. For more information, visit www.menashacorporation.com.
Industry 4.0
Date:
Tuesday, May 17, 2022
Event Timeline:
11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Boxed lunches and networking at 11:30 a.m., presentation at noon, followed by Q&A
Location:
Wipfli LLP
469 Security Blvd. Green Bay, WI 54313
Registration:
Greenbayinnovationgroup.com
by Thursday, May 13, 2022
For questions, please contact Sara Funk at 920.662.2862
Summary and Learning Objectives
Your production facility is a data gold mine and knowing the state of your operations in real-time empowers resources across the organization to make more informed, proactive decisions. Industry 4.0 promises to transform the way that manufacturers capture, transform, and visualize organizational data. Wipfli expert, Jake Rohrer, will share the various components of Industry 4.0 and how and why manufacturers are investing in this technology. Our presentation will cover the following:
- What is Industry 4.0?
- Applications of IIoT
- Financial benefits of Industry 4.0
- Setting your organization up for digital transformation
Jake Rohrer | Manager, Organizational Performance | Wipfli
Jake Rohrer is a Manager in Wipfli’s Organizational Performance team, specializing in the manufacturing industry. Working with manufacturers, he seeks to improve operational efficiency by assessing and optimizing. Jake is experienced working with teams across various business units to create synergies and galvanize positive business outcomes. His communication strategy of “seek to learn” allows him to pick up on the root cause of underperformance and tailor unique solutions to meet the needs of his clients.
Areas of Focus:
- Process improvement through technology applications
- Industrial Internet of Things (lloT)
- Technology adoption and change management
- Organizational strategy and planning
Wisconsin Manufacturers Exhibit in Miami
An Overview of the “IDEA Show”
By Susan Stansbury, Industry Consultant
It is no wonder that Wisconsin was well represented at the Idea Show in Miami March 28-30. The show highlights manufacturing in the nonwovens fabrics and associated industries. With Wisconsin being a major center of nonwovens and related products, plus equipment and supportive services, the show was a standout for the Wisconsin exhibitors.
With a total of more than 300 exhibitors, Wisconsin represented an impressive array of companies. Some of these I visited in Miami with headquarters or factories in Wisconsin included:
- 5K Fibres, Neenah WI
- Campbell Wrapper / Circle Packaging, DePere WI
- Converted Products, Milwaukee WI
- Curt G. Joa, Sheboygan Falls WI
- Kleen Test Products, Sheboygan WI
- Optima Packaging, Green Bay WI
- Paper Converting Machine, Green Bay WI
- Rebel Converting, Milwaukee WI
- Sellars Nonwovens, Milwaukee WI
- Suominen Nonwovens, Ashwaubenon WI
- Valley Grinding & Manufacturing, Green Bay WI
These companies make products such as wet wipes in configurations from baby wipes to cosmetic makeup removers. Others including Campbell Wrapper/Circle Packaging, Curt Joa (celebrating 90 years), Optima Packaging and Paper Converting Machine make equipment for manufacturers.
5K Fibres produces rolls of nonwovens used in masks with their valued filtering layer. Another supplier of nonwovens fabrics for wipes and similar uses is Suominen, with its Ashwaubenon factory (headquartered in Finland).
Converted Products converts roll goods with its precision slitting and winding and related processes to prepare rolls for further manufacturing. Kleen Test Products produces many brand name products for its contract partners, including wet wipes, dryer sheets, cosmetic pads and more. Sellars Nonwovens is “the power behind your brand” as manufacturer of substrates for absorbent, automotive, medical, packaging, tabletop, wipes and more.
Rebel Converting represents just one interesting story about these companies. With capacity to convert 2.1 billion square yards annually into wipes, Rebel Converting is a force in the coreless roll/canister wipes business. As a contract manufacturer, Rebel is partnering with its customers across retail, healthcare, and business-to-business segments—to maximize the opportunities that exist in today’s market.
Another standout is 5K Fibres with its unique technologies to reduce the amount of fabric and associated fibres needed to make a number of hygiene and related products. 5K Fibres can eliminate the need to use the number of layers usual for certain fabric media formerly added for strength. “With the inherent strength of the 5K nonwovens,” says CEO Douglas Brown, “we are focused on our core technology and some new patents around what we trademarked as the name ‘Spun-Blown®’ where we can make very strong fibers. “I determined that we would be able to make a fabric all in one layer. This potentially reduces processing and fabric costs.”
Many of these and other Wisconsin converting manufacturers work together supplying each other the fabric and paper rolls, the equipment, and supplies to make products that make their way to retail, medical, automotive and other national outlets.
GBIG NEWS MADISON TOUR
Reconnecting and Touring
I traveled to the Madison area to re-connect with a number of past acquaintances, touring a number of companies! I visited with Jake Weihert at American Packaging Corporation located in Columbus, WI.
APC has 1,212 total employees across the USA and generates $320.53 million. There are 11 companies in the American Packaging Corporation family. APC was established in 1902 as a family-owned business with only one major ownership change. APC has been recognized at a “Best of the BEST” Workplace for six consecutive years. APC is a leader in flexible packaging focused on the food, medical, personal care, pharmaceutical and a variety of other specialty items.
APC added Deforest, WI building a 170,000-sq-ft plant with two state of the art 10-unit robotic gravure printing presses and supporting finishing equipment. APC invested $50 million in the plant. APC celebrated a break ground on the APC newest facility in Cedar City, UT with a new 275,000-square-foot facility, bringing in more than 135 new, high pay jobs. The project in Cedar City is just the first of three planned phases.
I also met with Joel Schmidt, the General Manager at ePac in Middleton, WI, and he provided an outstanding tour of their facility. ePac began its operations in 2016 in Madison, WI. The new company is dedicated to the growing short-run multiple SKI, quick-turn flexible packaging market.
ePac is the first “Greenfield” flexible packaging company in North America based exclusively on a digital technology platform using the HP Indigo 20000.
ePac’s founders began with a mission to help local, small brands obtain big brand presence with great packaging. The platform also provides customers the opportunity to quickly roll out marketing promotions and eliminate excess inventory through print-on-demand services.
ePac currently has locations throughout the Unites States, Canada and worldwide expansions. ePac flexible Packaging is set to top $200 million in sales in 2021.
GBIG is planning a tour of Placon’s recycling facilities in Fitchburg, WI on Nov. 16, 2022, starting at 10am. Placon was founded in 1966 by Tom Mohs focusing on a plastics Thermoforming company servicing the food service and medical packaging markets. Placon has more than 1,000 employees with annual revenues topping $200 million.
Placon’s engineering and packaging solutions were way beyond the rest of the industry. The company was awarded the Wisconsin Governor’s Award for Waste Recycling! Placon became one of the first thermoforming companies in the food and consumer packaging industry to open a complete Recycling Facility for Post Consumer Bottles and Thermoforms called ecostar plastics!
Go to: www.placon.com/sustainability for more information!
April 6th, 2022 Newsletter
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GBIG NEWS | 72 Stories and Links on the Internet 04/6/22
GBIG News
Get links to the latest news, events, stories, and interviews from our 5P news sponsors. Our goal is to remind the decision makers in Wisconsin of the importance of our industry both historically, and more importantly, into the future.
Read the latest 72 Stories and Links on the Internet below.
Wisconsin
- Converters Expo April 26-27 Lambeau Field
- Barb Lamue: the Show with Barb LaMue of the NEW NORTH
- Chairman and CEO of GBP Receives TAPPI/PIMA 2022 Executive of the Year Award
- ND Paper Continues Transformation with Growth in Packaging Grades at Biron Division
- Chinese paper giant will up intake of OCC in Wisconsin
- Tommy Thompson: Stop apologizing, start bragging about UW System
- Gov. Evers Announces More Than $86 Million for Business Investments
- Green Bay Was Just Named One of the Best Places In The Country To Retire
- UW Green Bay: State-of-the-art Teaching Press moves into Brown County STEM Innovation
- Center
- Fox City Chamber Annual Dinner April 7, 2022
- Quad Reports 4Q, Full Year 2021 Results
- Toscotec to supply TT SYD Steel Yankee Dryer to Shawano Specialty Papers
- Void Opens First R&D and Compound Manufacturing Facility for Flexible Packaging with Less Plastic
- American Packaging wins 9 flexible packaging association achievement awards
- UW Madison engineers create method for improving 3D metal printing
- Gannett Closes Milwaukee Print Facility cost 181 employees
- GLGA News: UW Stout Announces Suspension of New Admissions to Graphic Communication Program
- Amcor builds on sustainability progress with science-based targets and commitments
- UW Oshkosh and Stout: Ranking of 60 Best Value Online Colleges & Universities for 2022
- Peshtigo residents grappling with PFAS pollution send petition to EPA for Superfund designation
- UW Stevens Point: College of Natural Resources is widely regarded as the nation’s leading natural resource program.
- WTC: Federal R&D investments has pathway forward – now what for Wisconsin?
- Drylock Offers Sustainable Disposable Underwear manufactured in Eau Claire, WI – the first CO2-neutral certified facility. in the US.
- The Packaging Company Helps Restaurants Strengthen Their Brands With Custom Food Paper
- Invasive insects could kill 1.4 million street trees by 2050 – Milwaukee
- Thysse Announces Changes to Leadership Structure
- Nature group aims to increase biodiversity with central Wisconsin purchase
Paper Industry
- Guangdog Paper in China new high-capacity fine paper machine start-up scheduled for 2022.
- UPM Optimistic About Reaching Agreement Soon with paperworkers Union in Finland
- UPM Extendes Strike again
- Shortage of Paper Causes Chaos Around the Globe
- Shortage of Printing Paper Endangers Rebound of Graphic Arts Industry Worldwide
- Bellerudkorsns and Viken Skog To Explore Possibilities For Joint Production Of Pulp
- Can a Label Shortage Bring Global Supply Chains to a Halt?
- What Does the Paper Shortage mean for American Manufacturers?
- Paper Shortage: Roundtable With Prominent Lawmaker on Capital Addresses Paper Shortage
- Paper, Climate Change and Common Sense
- Stora Enso Stops All Production and Sales in Russia
- Protech yourself against paper liner shortage problems with PET
- Ahlstrom-Munksjo launches Master Tape
- Despite Skyrocketing Inflation, US Forests Industry Expands
- Wood Chip Prices Soar in the Pacific Northwest
- Russia risks damaging alliances in China as wood sanctions cripple international trade
- Total U.S. Packaging Papers & Specialty Packaging Shipments Decrease two percent in February
- Coated Paper Market Size and Market Growth at 3.3%
- In My Opinion: Don’t mess with Paper recycling’s success
- Forest Products Sustainability Initiatives Making Headlines
- With conflicts abroad, logging at home need prioritization especially in WISCONSIN
Paper Expansions
- Pratt Industries announces $400 million investment in new recycled paper mill
- Graphic Packaging announced that it would invest $600 million on a new paper mill
- International Paper to Build State-of-Art Corrugated Packaging Plant in Atglen, PA.
- WesRock Announces Plans to Construct New Corrugated Box Facility in Pacific Northwest
- PCA plans $440 million project at Alabama mill
Sponsor
- PCMC Tour and Networking Event from 2:00 – 4:00 on April 26
- The New North: Registration now open for Summit, June 9 at Lambeau Field
- Cyber Protection and Risk Management – R & R Insurance
- FBB: Mission Critical: Nonprofits Surviving & Thriving In A Pandemic
- Rocket: Automate Your Packing Line
- Korber Sam Operational Solution provides operators with valuable virtual assistance
- Pixelle: Premium Opaque Papers
- Belmark: Adapting flexible packaging to a new manufacturing process.
- Vetaphone and MPS – A Long-Running Partnership
- Colorcraft: Our New econ sheeter 50″ for Larger Formats and Runs
- BPM Paper, Inc. new website
