On September 24, 2024, at the Hilton Garden Inn at 1160 W. Park Place in Milwaukee, WI, GBIG and Wikoff Color put together an outstanding event – Driving the Future of Packaging. Go to:www.greenbayinnovationgroup.com/events – packaging to sign up.
We are witnessing commercial printing companies expanding their focus to packaging, labels, and a wide variety of areas beyond traditional printing services. We had a group of us attend the Color Ink, Inc. in Sussex, WI open house for their 40-year celebration. Color Ink is a premier commercial printer evolving to meet the need of market demands! We witnessed the shift from their offset to digital capabilities which offer more flexibility and faster turnaround. We saw the integration of small and wide format printing for posters, displays, signage, point of purchase and other promotional products. With the growth of e-commerce, printing companies are now offering customized packaging solutions including branded products. Color Ink, Inc. has added capabilities in the corrugated and carton packaging with unique finishing capabilities, die cutting, enhancements with special coatings, and vibrant metallic foils.
Color Ink has added fulfillment services and print management services managing the entire process including inventory management and fulfillment. The diversification helps commercial printers stay competitive and relevant in the increasing digital world where traditional print demand is declining.
I traveled to Stanley, WI population 3,798 and Cornell, WI population 1,424. I met up with Byran Ramirez of American Dream, LLC. a recruiter of skilled employees from Mexico (See attachment). On my travels in Northern Wisconsin, I met up with companies in the 5P Industries that recommended Byran. We met in Green Bay, and I was impressed with him. His family moved to the USA 30 years ago and he is very connected to Mexico labor resources. In Mexico, the average wage in Manufacturing is $2.80 per hour or $21.00 per day with no benefits. We are witnessing China setting up factories in Mexico due to their low cost of labor and access to the American markets!
Bryan and I met at Film Tech LLC. in Stanley. Film Tech LLC. manufacturers high quality polyolefin films for your medical, industrial food, label, general packaging, and other custom applications for customers worldwide. Film Tech LLC. recently added new production capabilities. Film Tech LLC could not grow due to labor shortages. Today, over 50% of their employees are from Mexico due to the connections of Bryan Ramirez. We have seen that small towns cannot provide skilled employees and potential local employees do not want to work in manufacturing.
Anderson & Vreeland, Inc. (A&V), a leading manufacturer and distributor of flexographic printing supplies and equipment, proudly announces the appointment of Michelle Garza as Director of Strategic Accounts for their North America operations.
SANTA FE SPRINGS, Calif., Aug. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Anderson & Vreeland, Inc. (A&V), a leading manufacturer and distributor of flexographic printing supplies and equipment, proudly announces the appointment of Michelle Garza as Director of Strategic Accounts for their North America operations.
Michelle’s passion for nurturing success, cultivating relationships and drive to move projects forward while achieving operational excellence, make Garza the ideal choice for this role.
With a remarkable career spanning over 30 years in the flexographic and letterpress industry, Michelle brings a wealth of expertise in photopolymer solutions, specializing in the metal-deco can industry and tag & label market segments. Her most recent role involved leading operations for a global distributor, overseeing key accounts, and managing a talented team of 20 individuals.
Expressing her enthusiasm for the new role, Garza stated, “I love connecting with customers, building strong relationships, and crafting effective account strategies. People know me for my collaborative approach, honesty, integrity, and knack for handling complex challenges. Staying active in industry associations helps me keep a pulse on market trends, making me a better consultant for my clients. I’m really excited about this role because my values align with Anderson and Vreeland’s commitment to the industry. I want to be part of a company that’s making a real impact.”
In her new position, Garza will work towards strengthening relationships with A&V Account Managers and customers, strategizing to unearth new opportunities, and introducing innovative solutions, all while motivating teams to achieve their objectives. She will cultivate lasting relationships built on trust, integrity, and customer satisfaction, driving sales and fostering repeat business.
Andy Gillis, the Vice President and General Manager of A&V, highlighted her exceptional qualities, saying, “Michelle’s passion for nurturing success, cultivating relationships and drive to move projects forward while achieving operational excellence, make Garza the ideal choice for this role.”
Garza earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from San Diego State University and has a deep-seated passion for the industry, having been raised by a father who was a contributor to the newspaper industry since 1964. Residing in the San Diego area with her partner and three adult children, Michelle is an adventurous hiker and travel enthusiast, with a goal of exploring all 63 National Parks.
About Anderson & Vreeland, Inc.
Anderson & Vreeland, Inc. is a privately held company with over 60 years of experience in the flexographic printing industry. They are known for their innovative solutions and exceptional customer service. The company prides itself on identifying the most effective and advanced technologies in their portfolio and seamlessly integrating these solutions into their clients’ business.
For more information about Anderson & Vreeland, Inc. and their products and services, please visit their website at https://andvre.com/
Media Contact
Courtney Pazdra, Anderson & Vreeland, 2242531171, marketing@andvre.com, www.andvre.com
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 86 Stories and Links on the Internet below.
SUBJECT: DRIVING THE FUTURE OF PACKAGING and Understanding the Impact of Color, Embellishments, and Print on Modern Packaging Design presented by The Green Bay Innovation Group and Wikoff Color with six guest speakers.
DATE: September 24, 2024
PLACE: Hilton Garden Inn 1160 W. Park Place, Milwaukee, WI 53224
TIME: Check-In at 8:00 a.m. and speakers begin at 9:00 a.m. and end at 4:00 p.m. with lunch!
We ALL recognize the visual appeal of high-quality printing, packaging, enhancements to attract consumer’s attention and increase the likelihood of purchase. Enhanced packaging can elevate a brand’s perceived value, conveying a message of quality, luxury, sustainability based upon the design and the ability to print and convert the product.
Eco-friendly packaging options can appeal to environmentally conscious using recycled material and eco-friendly inks and coatings. Overall, printing and packaging will play a crucial role in the product market success by improving its aesthetic, functional, and Environmental attributes.
The Green Bay Innovation Group and Wikoff Color have brought together a group of experts to better understand all the processes!
NEENAH, Wis. (August 5, 2024) – Menasha Corporation announced today that Tina M. Seashore has been named Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer. Tina had been Vice President of Human Resources at Menasha Packaging Company, a subsidiary of Menasha Corporation, since 2022. Prior to joining Menasha Packaging Company, Tina held leadership roles in human resources at Oshkosh Corporation and Bemis Company, Inc. (now Amcor). She holds a BBA, and Executive MBA from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh.
About Menasha Corporation
Menasha Corporation is a leading corrugated and plastic packaging manufacturer and supply chain solutions provider. Comprised of two companies, Menasha Packaging Company and ORBIS Corporation. Menasha Corporation’s products and services are used by major food, beverage, consumer products, healthcare, pharmaceutical, heavy equipment, agriculture, industrial, and automotive 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 more than 7,800 employees in 100+ facilities in North America and Europe. For more information, visit menashacorporation.com
The University of Wisconsin-Platteville prides itself on providing students with hands-on, practical experiences to prepare them for the workforce. Industry partners in the tri state area and beyond play a crucial role in accomplishing this. These opportunities come in the form of co-ops, internships, community engagement projects, and course projects including Senior Design.
Projects completed in a Senior Design course pair a group of students with an industry partner to solve real problems or create new products. The projects are supervised by an industry advisor and UW-Platteville faculty. The students explore all aspects of the project including creativity, analysis, synthesis, project management, scheduling, time management, engineering ethics, communication, product safety and liability, copyrights and patents, economics, robust engineering, and more. Typical projects last one semester—15 weeks—although other options are available. This collaboration between the university and industry benefits all—giving students relevant, professional experience and industry partners the opportunity to help shape the skills of the next generation workforce.
BENEFITS
Collaboration on projects
Afresh perspective from students; the typical group size is three-five and students participate in initial discussion and reviews
Opportunity for lower-priority projects to be reviewed and developed
Low-risk option to develop projects
Potential to minimize the time commitment to oversee the project while retaining the ability to have input and approval
University collaboration
Increased exposure and brand awareness for your company
Opportunities to draw from the multidisciplinary knowledge base of UW-Platteville professors
Recruiting for co-ops and new hires
Develop professional relationships with the project group members who could have potential to continue work as employees
Give students exposure to company methods, standards, and products
Partnerships can lead to publicity throughout campus, potentially generating more applicants across all majors.
PROJECT SPONSORS
Presto
Plexus
Sub-Zero Wolf
MSA
BW Papersystems
Danfoss
Vortex
John Deere
BAPI
Startups
Entrepreneurs
Communities
DISCIPLINES
Mechanical engineering
Civil and environmental engineering Industrial engineering
Computer science and software engineering Engineering physics
Sustainability and renewable energy systems Interdisciplinary Design
Sophomore Design
Electrical Engineering
Business
Supply Chain
PROJECT TYPES
Concept development
Continuous improvement
Material flow and site layout
Infrastructure and municipality
Planning Automation
Research and development
FUNDING
Industry sponsors are requested to provide financial support for the projects through a donation. Donations are used to support academic programs. Examples include student travel, prototyping equipment and supplies, and other university resources. When available, university facilities and equipment will be used. Commitments from the university and industrial partner will be agreed upon prior to the start of the project.
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR
The best projects have an engaged mentor who will benefit from the work being performed. The scope of the project is important to establish such that the project can be completed within a semester. Projects must have a significant design component and require analysis of the problem. Ideally, students will be able to engage in hands-on tests, experiments, or prototyping. The project team will deliver its final presentation to a diverse audience of stakeholders at the end of the semester.
CONTACT John Fick | Corporate Relations | Office: 608.342.7528 | Mobile: 608.620.3425 fickj@uwplatt.edu
Robinson utilizes flexible manufacturing to ramp up production
Robinson offers a flexible approach to manufacturing when fulfilling customer requirements. Flexibility with facility layout, equipment layout, and modular tooling in manufacturing are utilized to support our customer needs. Aligning manufacturing resources to unique customer applications has proven to be positive for Robinson’s growth.
Modular tooling in manufacturing allows for a nimble approach to project development and production ramp-up. Having the ability to use standard components to erect a unique fixture for customer applications reduces lead times while maintaining tight tolerances.
“Our team can formulate a plan using modular tooling in manufacturing that supports the early phases of product development through production ramp up“ explains Jeff Kroening, Director of Sales for Robinson. “We are able to provide tight tolerance qualification units and consistently hold those tolerances during high volume production.”
Robust systems support modular tooling in manufacturing
We use modular tooling in manufacturing in a variety of production scenarios, including the fulfillment of integrated energy storage systems. Our project design specialists leverage sophisticated analysis to take customer designs from prototype to production.
This robust system ensures repeatability in production processes and consistency of output. Our flexible manufacturing model eliminates the variabilities that come with less robust processes and helps you maintain a competitive edge in your market.
“Modular tooling in manufacturing supports flexible manufacturing and allows us to minimize costs and maintain ISO-driven processes regardless of production volume,” Kroening says. “We utilize modular tooling in manufacturing with our preferred production partners, to achieve efficiency gains and maintain high levels of quality for the end product.”
About Robinson, Inc.
Robinson, Inc., is a single-source metal solutions provider based in De Pere, Wisconsin. Robinson offers design, manufacturing and production fabrication for a wide range of industries. The company employs nearly 600 people at three Wisconsin locations comprising 525,000 square feet of manufacturing space.
For more information about Robinson’s capabilities or to request a quote, please call (920) 494-7411, or visit https://robinsoninc.com.
Warren Packaging is a family-owned and operated company located in Ontario, California and has been in business since 1999. They provide custom labels, corrugated boxes, and folded cartons.
Owner and President Phil Warren, who after 30 years in the box and packaging industry, understood that a particular need was not being fulfilled by one company alone. Businesses of all sizes were forced to utilize multiple suppliers for their custom labels, corrugated boxes, and folded cartons. Phil decided to take on the challenge of making all these options available under one roof, and that roof became Warren Packaging. To help make his vision a reality, Phil brought in a team he knew would possess the same level of determination – his family.
Over the past several years, Warren Packaging has continuously increased facility size and capabilities to manage the growing volumes and demand, while developing new and innovative packaging for current and future customers. Phil says, “We believe that a great product deserves great packaging, and that is what we consistently strive to provide. We constantly continue to improve our facility and manufacturing practices in order to provide the highest quality labels, corrugated boxes, and folding cartons.”
In that spirit, Warren Packaging added the Domino N610i digital UV inkjet press in July 2021.
To discuss their label business, the growing demand for digital printing, and why they chose Domino, we caught up with the ‘next generation’ team at Warren Packaging. We were joined by Phil Warren Jr. (Vice President), Mike Dittenber (Vice President of Sales & Marketing), and Jose Ordaz (Digital Press Operator). Our visit was captured in this VIDEO: Warren Packaging & Domino.
The Big Three
Phil Warren Jr., begins, “What Warren offers is technology as we continue to move forward. We continue to invest in our equipment, and we can provide what a family business does provide… making sure you’re taking care of with the best quality equipment, as well as the best quality team. We are a label, box, and folding carton manufacturer. I’m third generation in this business. My grandfather was in corrugated. My father was in corrugated. We started the label company about 13 years ago, and then combined them all about 10 years ago. One of the big things that separates us from everybody else is what we call ‘the big three’. We do corrugated, folding carton, and labels. And we’re going to make sure that what you want, and your needs, are handled in a timely manner. And we’re also going to provide the same quality if not better, than what’s needed.”
“Digital is the way of the future”
Phil continues, “So, what we’ve done is invest in a lot of equipment and we continue to see that digital is the way of the future, because with digital I see that the younger generation can also stay in the business, and we can stay very much a part of the conversation as we move forward.”
Mike adds, “We originally got into digital printing on the corrugated side and then once we saw it come available on the label side, we saw that same opportunity.”
The Domino Effect
Mike continues, “When we started looking into digital equipment, we were looking for a partner that was going to grow with us. And Domino stood out to us. It was the best overall opportunity for us to partner with someone who could provide us with what we need as a manufacturer. It just expands our business so much more.”
Phil says, “When we did add the Domino, and one of the big factors of why we wanted Domino, was to move a lot of work from flexo to digital. With Domino, we’ve been able to do that… produce a thousand, maybe even 50,000 labels. And it also let us get into companies that we weren’t in before. For us, it’s been huge.”
Mike adds, “Having a Domino has definitely created opportunity for us, and filled the void between our previous capabilities and now what we’re able to offer to customers. We produce high quality product labels for a lot of different applications like bottles, clamshells, storage containers, boxes, bags…the list goes on and on. And to be able to have a piece of equipment that gives us that ability, and that customers can recognize the quality, it reassures us that we made a good decision in going with this equipment and working with Domino to achieve that for us.”
Making it Easy
Phil says, “Jose, who is my operator, had very little to no experience on equipment. We brought him in to run the digital, sent him for a week of training and he was ready to go. And he even came back and trained a couple people, as we keep growing and expanding that side of our business.”
Jose says, “I’ve been a press operator at Warren Packaging for three years and I’ve been working on the Domino for two. The easiest part of my job is operating the machine. It’s just a simple press with nothing complicated, which makes my coworkers think I don’t do much because I don’t move around or move any dials, and I keep my hands clean. The real secret is Domino makes it easy.”
The Domino Difference
Phil says, “So as far as the purchasing process of the Domino and what we dealt with, it was very hands on. They were here with us. They were making sure that we were taken care of as we moved forward, and it’s been a tremendous help. I knew that I bought a good machine, and I knew that I partnered with a good company. They’ve not only proved that to me, but to my people. And that’s the Domino difference.”
Mike adds, “From a sales and marketing perspective, I’m definitely glad that we got the Domino digital press. It’s given us capabilities that we’ve needed but didn’t have, and that just expands our business so much more.”
Phil concludes, “We are very much a relationship-based company, and we look for partners like Domino that are going to fit within that realm of what we do. And we are super excited to continue that relationship going into the future. Thanks, Domino.”
Domino is a leading manufacturer and distributor of digital printing and product identification solutions. Celebrating its 46th year in business, Domino is a global organization with world headquarters in the UK, and North America headquarters in Gurnee, IL. Domino has 25 subsidiaries, representation in over 120 countries, and over 3,000 employees worldwide. For more information on Domino digital printing, please visit dominodigitalprinting.com
One of the most significant recent changes to occur in the working world has been the entry of Generation Z into the workplace. With Gen Z coming into the fold, we now have five different generations working together for the first time in history – Traditionalists, Baby Boomers, Generation X, Millennials, and now, Generation Z as well. It’s common for companies in the paper industry to employ people from many of these generations at the same time.
People from different generations have very different values, communication styles, and ideas of what good leadership is. To put it in perspective, Traditionalists almost certainly had leading figures in their lives at some point that were born in the 1800s. Millennials and Generation Z might as well have grown up in a different world compared to their elder counterparts thanks to the level of technological development and integration that surrounded them as they grew up.
Getting someone a Millennial to work well with a Baby Boomer is already difficult, let alone a Gen Zer with a Traditionalist. So how do you get people to find common ground and work as a cohesive team?
Embrace the differences, exploit the similarities
People from different generations tend to have very distinctly different ideas about just about everything. Their values, their preferred communication styles, the things that feel natural and unnatural to them – everything.
These generational differences can be so strongly defined that people develop prejudices against other generations that prevent them from seeing the value in other ways of being. It’s famously common for Gen Zers to stereotype all Baby Boomers as being out of touch and behind the times. On the other side, it’s common for Baby Boomers to generalize all Gen Zers as lazy and entitled. When people express these prejudices directly or indirectly, it can make already massive barriers to communication even worse. As such, it’s important to start by encouraging people to understand and accept each other’s differences. Stereotypes and prejudices will never be productive or lead to anything except contempt. Teach your people how to kill off stigmas and stereotypes and just accept each other for who they are rather than judging them for who they assume them to be. This can be done by helping people understand each other’s individual dignity (what motivates them, what constitutes respect to them, what traits they carry etc.) regardless of their age.
Once you’ve made progress on the barrier of stigmas and stereotypes, you can move on to teaching people of different generations to connect based on what all of them have in common. There are certain things that members of every single generation can find common ground on, and which can be used as a basis for respectful interactions. Here are just a few examples of some things everyone wants, regardless of their age or background:
Recognition for the work they do
Clear and transparent communication
Seeing the positive effects of the work they do
Avoiding unhealthy and unnecessary conflict
Provide a variety of mentorship opportunities
Once people of different generations are able to speak to each other with a level of respect and without the presence of stigmas and stereotypes, they often find that they have a lot to learn from each other. For example, Baby Boomers, who have decades of experience in their career, can teach an up-and-coming Generation Zer a lot of knowledge and tips that only come from experience, and set up that budding leader to be as successful as possible in their future. In exchange, the Gen Zer could teach the Boomer exactly how to use a new company software or piece of technology that could help them streamline processes or create more efficiencies. Both parties can make each other’s lives easier and create value for their employer with this kind of interaction.
This process is called mutual mentorship, and it’s one of the best ways that people of different generations can not only connect with each other, but help each other in the process. Mutual mentorship can be undertaken in many different ways, but as with anything in leadership, the most effective way to go about it is to practice it consistently. To get the best results out of a mutual mentorship initiative, take the following actions:
Provide time for each of your team members to think up a list of topics that they would like to learn about from somebody of a different generation
Establish a regular cadence for team members of different generations to meet with each other and teach each other about a topic of their choice
Make these meetings a priority – allow team members to block off times in their schedules to complete them so that they don’t get constantly moved back or cancelled
People love to talk, especially about who they are and what they know. When you incentivize members of different generations to teach each other about what they know best, both participants in the conversation walk away fulfilled. The teacher gets to help someone understand something that will likely make their interactions smoother, and the learner has the opportunity to grow their skills and perspectives in a way that they wouldn’t normally be able to.
The bottom line
In order to create lasting peace and productivity in a multigenerational workplace, the simple fact of the matter is, respect must be paramount. As a leader, there are plenty of things that you can do to mediate conversations and bridge divides. You can teach people to credit each other for who they are, sponsor mutual mentorship opportunities, help people understand how those from other generations are wired, and more. But ultimately, people must make a conscious choice to find common ground, treat each other with honor and respect, and learn from each other. It’s a leader’s job to provide the incentives and opportunities that allow their team members to do that.
Green Bay Innovation Group
Bringing Green Bay Companies Together. Green Bay Innovation Group is committed to building an authentic networking experience where innovation can thrive.
