Green Bay Innovation Group
GBIG News

Grace Label grows ‘Field of Dreams’ with Domino N730i

Team Grace

Grace Label was the first label converter in North America to add the NEW Domino N730i digital UV inkjet label press to their business. Installed in 2023, the N730i provides 1200 dpi printing at 230 ft/min. 7-Color CMYKOV+W covering 92% of the Pantone range, and white prints 76% opacity at speed. Already a Domino customer with the 600 dpi N610i installed in 2019, Grace Label’s business grew tremendously the next few years and they needed to add additional capacity. A visit to Labelexpo Americas 2022 was all it took. It was their first glimpse of the N730i, and they decided at the trade show they wanted that press. Now, having both the N610i and N730i in their arsenal, they call it their ‘Field of Dreams’ with these two presses, and their business continues to grow.

We caught up with the team at Grace Label to learn more about their company and their growth utilizing digital printing. We were joined by Steve Grace (president), sons Kyle Grace (operations manager) and Ethan Grace (digital press operator), as well as Lou Thurston (account executive), Mark Brooks (account executive), Amy Bogle (customer service representative), and John Watsabaugh (digital press operator).

Our visit was captured in this VIDEO: Grace Label & Domino

From humble beginnings, continuing to grow

Steve begins, “We’re located in Des Moines, Iowa. We’re a a medium-sized flexo and digital label printer started by my father in 1974. It started with 11 employees. Now, three generations later, we continue to grow. Being located in the Midwest, we work a lot in the food and beverage industries and we’re proud to remain independent after all these years. Although we’re not that big of a company, we have the capabilities of anybody out in the market. And our best thing we do here is that we take care of customers and we want to be able to stand toe to toe with any of the big guys and give them that higher sense of attention, that higher sense of importance to say hey, ‘we can fill your needs across the board’ and that’s the reason we got into digital in the first place.”

The addition of the NEW Domino N730i

Grace products

So, what does the Grace Label team think of the new Domino N730i? It was interesting to hear their responses, as it was evident that each person’s view is largely based on their role within the company.

Ethan begins, “For me personally, what’s exciting about having one of the first N730i presses in the world, is we get to watch the development and evolution of digital printing technology in real time.”

Lou says, “It has really upped our game here at Grace Label. Being in the digital game on our Domino N610i, we really had a solid workhorse delivering super results. It just made it a lot easier when Steve went looking for that second press to go right back to Domino. And with the N730i, we’ve got something that nobody else is delivering today and we couldn’t be more excited to take that to the marketplace.”

Mark adds, “From a sales perspective, Grace Label has the ability to make sure we’ve got our customers covered in any way, shape, or form. With Domino’s partnership, we’ve already had a great press. With the addition of the N730i, we’re able to enter the pharmaceutical and nutraceutical market. On top of that, we’ve got even quicker turnarounds and higher press speeds.”

Kyle says, “When it comes to scheduling, I’ve got flexo, and I’ve got the N730i, and I’ve got the N610i. And it’s really nice between the N730i and the N610i to have that flexibility between the two and I know I’m going to get great quality. And our nutraceuticals that really require that fine text works just a little bit better over on our N730i. It has been a game changer for us in that regard, and I’m getting orders out the door in a timely fashion.”

Steve provided an example of how it is a differentiator for their business. “We have a customer that required a really nice crisp white on a clear label. They had to go through their press three times to achieve the opacity that they wanted. Domino was able to do this label in one pass. So, we can sit down with a customer and just say ‘hey, we can fill your needs across the board’.”

John concludes, “The N730i runs color across the web very nicely, especially with very small graphics, very small type. You can see type that doesn’t even look like type, and when you put a magnifier on it, you can read it. It does a beautiful job.”

Is there a ‘Domino difference’?

Steve begins, “Yes, there is a Domino difference. They do what they say they’re going to do. They help us out when we need help and anytime we’ve had a problem, it’s been solved and that’s why we decided to reinvest in Domino again.”

Mark says, “The Domino difference really is capability. It’s offering us to be very confident with our customers in our abilities to graphically meet their needs.”

Amy comments, “For me, the Domino difference truly is the quality that comes off of the press, as well as how quickly we can get the labels turned around.”

Lou adds, “The Domino difference for Grace Label is robust, high quality, high speed, quick to market with huge support from Domino. They’re not just a vendor, they’re a true business partner.”

Steve sums it up. “Domino is a great partner, and it’s nice to have somebody that’s got the technology and the service and the people that you can rely on to help you get through the next phase. With the additional capabilities of the N730i, there was really no other choice to be made.”

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

Quad Plus: The importance of Professional Engineering Services.

The Importance of Professional Engineering Services in Customized System Solutions

3 people sitting at a table

In today’s economic climate, maintaining profit margins while meeting the demanding needs of your customers is a tricky puzzle to complete. Improving the technological profile of your operations can provide the key to improving efficiency and gaining a competitive edge.
Still, investing in new technology isn’t without risks. Professional engineering services help anticipate and mitigate these risks while maximizing the return on your investment.

What are Professional Engineering Services?

Professional engineering includes all the activities involved in designing, developing, optimizing, and maintaining systems and infrastructures. Engineers use a variety of technical, scientific, and mathematical principles along with expertise in industry standards and regulations to solve the complex problems that arise.
Professional engineers typically specialize in sectors such as mechanical and piping, civil and structural, and electrical and controls, and they work in every industry.

Engineering Higher Returns

Along with ensuring proper installation and operation of your equipment, professional engineers bring various benefits to every project. More than an additional cost, engineers often reduce the overall expense of major projects by avoiding costly errors, compatibility issues, and problems with regulations and compliance.

Professional engineers also keep costs down through the following:

  • Improved Efficiency: Optimized processes, increased production, and reduced downtime.
  • Enhanced Quality: Expert insights and solutions improve product quality, safety, and performance.
  • Technology and Innovation: Experience with advanced tools and software leads to innovative solutions.
  • Flexibility and Scalability: Customized solutions can be scaled depending on your needs and requirements.
Professional Engineers in Action

When the City of Chicago’s South Water Purification Plant needed a carefully coordinated retrofit for their pump systems, the Quad Plus engineers were up to the task. The primary challenge we faced was that the plant could not be shut down for any length of time.

Instead, we had to complete one system transformation every six weeks for nine systems originally installed in the late 1940s. Our engineers worked with the equipment supplier to design one package supporting a range of field currents. That way, one system could handle all motors, and all spare parts would be interchangeable.

We achieved our objective of a total retrofit with no shutdowns and streamlined and simplified the system so it no longer suffered from delays and downtime.

Planning for Success

Professional engineering means visualizing your industrial projects to anticipate and solve problems before they arise during installation and startup. For expertise in mechanical, piping, electrical, civil, and structural engineering for projects large and small, contact Jim at jwoulf@quadplus.com or call (920) 515-4155.

Quad Plus
1266 Home Ave Menasha WI 54952
www.quadplus.com

Sales Contact
Jim Woulf
(920) 515-4155
jwoulf@quadplus.com

Outdoor Air Pollution in Wisconsin: Fine Particulate Matter

By Ashley Knobeloch, BSN, RN1; Megan Christenson, MS,
MPH1; Elaina Andreychak, MPH1; Jenny Camponeschi, MS1;
Carrie Tomasallo, PhD, MPH1
1Wisconsin Environmental Public Health Tracking Program,
Wisconsin Department of Health Services

Cloud of pollution in the sky

SUMMARY — Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is an air pollutant that causes heart and lung disease and can lead to premature death, especially in infants, people over 65 years of age, and people with cardiovascular or respiratory disease. In Wisconsin, people of color tend to face higher rates of exposure to PM2.5 as compared to people who are white. There is no safe level of exposure to PM2.5. Although Wisconsin’s PM2.5 rates have decreased over the last 20 years, it is still important to take steps to reduce exposure. Recommendations to reduce harm caused by PM2.5 include policy development and taking individual precautions to reduce personal exposure.

BACKGROUND

Air pollution is a worldwide environmental health threat that is associated with 7 million premature deaths annually.1 A variety of health conditions are associated with air pollution, including heart disease, heart attacks, stroke, and lung cancer, as well as acute and chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma. Research has shown that lower levels of air pollution are linked with better short- and long-term cardiovascular and respiratory health.2

Particulate matter (PM) is one harmful component of outdoor air pollution. PM is composed of a mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets of organic and inorganic substances such as ammonia, black carbon, mineral dust, nitrates, sodium chloride, sulfate, and water. There are two key types of particulate matter: PM10 and PM2.5. Inhalable coarse particles (PM10) result from wind-blown dust (for example, dust from unpaved roadways and dust creating industries).3 Fine particles (PM2.5) are most commonly created by chemical reactions of other air pollutants from sources such as power plants, automobiles, and industries. Forest fires and wood stoves also create PM2.5 pollution.

The hazardous effects of particulate matter impact more people than any other pollutant.2 PM2.5 is particularly dangerous because these particles are so small that after they are inhaled, they can travel through the lung barrier and enter the bloodstream, leading to additional health-damaging effects. See Figure 1 for size comparisons between fine beach sand, human hair, PM10, and PM2.5. Long-term exposure to particulate matter has been linked to a higher risk of developing heart and lung disease, lung cancer, diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and other dementias.4 Long- and short-term exposure also increase the risk of premature death in infants, people over 65 years, and people with heart or lung disease.4 In Wisconsin, it is estimated that in the year 2012, 16.5% of deaths of individuals over 14 years of age were attributable to PM2.5 pollution—the 9th highest state rate in the United States.5

PM2.5 has been linked to health impacts even at very low concentrations, and no safe level of exposure has been determined.2 The safest approach to protect public health is to achieve the lowest concentrations of PM2.5 possible. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets primary and secondary standards for particulate matter in the United States.6 Primary standards are created to protect public health, including the health of individuals who are at increased risk from air pollution, such as children, older individuals, as well as those with asthma and/or heart disease. Secondary standards are created to protect public welfare and the environment. The current EPA primary standard for PM2.5 is 12 μg/m3 (annual mean, averaged over three years). The current EPA secondary standard for PM2.5 is 15 μg/m3 (annual mean, averaged over three years).

WISCONSIN PM2.5 DATA

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services’ Environmental Public Health Tracking Program provides data on PM2.5 levels in Wisconsin within the program’s data portal. These data are available to the public and are regularly updated. The portal provides historical data from counties with air monitors and modeled data from counties without monitors. The modeled data come from the EPA’s Downscaler (DS) model, which uses the Community Multi-scale Air Quality (CMAQ) modeling system to provide PM2.5 concentration estimates for areas without monitors. To learn more about this, see our Air Quality Data Details. Figure 2 displays data from the portal, which shows a trend of decreasing PM2.5 annual average concentration in Wisconsin from 2002 to 2018.

PM 25 Figure 1
FIGURE 1. Particulate matter size comparison

PM2.5 concentrations in Wisconsin have decreased by over 35% since the early 2000’s.8 From 2006–2008, several Wisconsin counties were not in compliance with federal PM2.5 standards, as shown in Figure 3. Currently, all Wisconsin counties are in compliance with federal PM2.5 standards. This improvement is the result of a variety of federal and state laws and control programs which have significantly reduced pollutant emissions. One law that has significantly reduced Wisconsin’s PM2.5 rates is the Clean Air Act. The Clean Air Act is a federal law which led to the creation of a variety of state and federal environmental protection programs to improve air quality in the United States. From 2002 to 2017, many air-polluting emissions have decreased substantially. This includes reductions in air pollutants which create PM2.5, 9 such as an 89% reduction in sulfur dioxide (SO2), a 63% reduction in emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx), as well as a 58% reduction in volatile organic compounds (VOCs).8

PM 2.5 Figure 2
FIGURE 2. PM2.5 (μg/m3): Annual Average Concentration (Monitor + Modeled Data), 2002, 2010, and 20187
PM 2.5 Figure 3
FIGURE 3. Trends in 24-hour PM2.5 Design Values in Wisconsin, 2001–20198*

*Note: The dark purple line shows the mean design value (a statistic that describes air quality status compared to national standards), the light gray lines show trends for each monitor, and the purple shaded area shows the range of values observed. The dotted line represents the national standard, which decreased in 2006.

DISPROPORTIONATE PM2.5 EXPOSURE FOR PEOPLE OF COLOR IN WISCONSIN

Throughout the United States, people of color are exposed to disproportionately high levels of PM2.5.10 This trend is consistent across states, urban and rural areas, and income levels. In the United States, people of color have 25% higher rates of exposure to PM2.5, on average, compared with people who are white.10 In Wisconsin, people of color have 34% higher rates of exposure to PM2.5, on average, compared with people who are white.10

DHS’ Environmental Public Health Tracking portal shows overlap between the counties with the highest yearly average PM2.5 concentration and the counties with the highest percentage of people who are Black/African American (including those of Hispanic ethnicity), people who are Asian/Pacific Islander (including those of Hispanic ethnicity), and Hispanic individuals. In fact, the eight counties with the highest annual average concentration of PM2.5 include four of the five counties with the highest percentage of Black/African American residents (Milwaukee, Racine, Dane, and Rock counties), two of the five counties with the highest percentage of Asian/Pacific Islander residents (Dane and Milwaukee counties), and four of the five counties with the highest percentage of Hispanic residents (Milwaukee, Racine, Walworth, and Rock counties). See Figures 4 and 5 for visualizations of these data.

PM 2.5 figure 4
FIGURE 4. PM2.5 (μg/m3): Annual Average Concentration (Monitor + Modeled Data), 20187
PM 2.5 figure 5
FIGURE 5. Percent of Population by Demographic Group, 20187

RECOMMENDATIONS

For Individuals:

Individuals can take the following steps to protect
themselves from indoor particulate matter:

  • Keep living quarters clean.11
  • Don’t smoke.11
  • Vent fuel-fired combustion appliances (including furnaces, stoves, and heaters) to the outdoors.12
  • Use an exhaust fan vented to the outdoors while cooking.12
  • Ensure that woodstoves are properly sized, certified to meet EPA emission standards, and that doors to the woodstove close tightly.12 Review the EPA’s Burn Wise website for more information on burning wood safely.
  • Ensure annual inspection, cleaning, and tune-up of central heating systems.12
  • Change filters on air cleaners and central heating and cooling systems according to manufacturer’s instructions.12

Use a reliable source such as AirNow.gov to track daily PM2.5 levels in your area. When outdoor particulate matter levels are extremely high, take additional steps to protect yourself and your family:

  • Limit physical activity. Avoid activities that cause you to breathe faster or more deeply.11
  • Stay indoors in an area with clean air.11 If you live in an area with high levels of particulate matter, consider purchasing an air cleaner. Review the EPA’s Guide to Air Cleaners in the Home to learn more about air cleaners. If you cannot afford an air cleaner, consider going somewhere that has air filtration (such as a friend’s house) when air pollution levels are high.
  • Take the following additional steps to reduce air pollution in your home when outdoor particulate matter levels are high:
    • Avoid burning anything, including wood, gas logs, candles, and incense.11
    • Avoid vacuuming unless your vacuum has a HEPA filter.11
    • Open windows and air out your home after outdoor air quality improves.11

For Policymakers:

Policy development is the best way to reduce particulate matter. Due to ongoing trends involving disproportionate PM2.5 exposure among people of color in Wisconsin, it is critical that policymakers consider health equity in all policy decisions pertaining to PM2.5. Policies that have been successful in reducing particulate matter include setting and enforcing standards for toxic air emissions,13 as well as addressing the following:

  • Transportation: Prioritize eco-friendly means of transportation, including rapid urban transit, rail travel, walking, and cycling. Shift towards low-emissions vehicles, low-emissions fuels (including fuels with reduced sulfur content), and cleaner heavy-duty diesel vehicles.2
  • Energy: Ensure access to affordable clean energy solutions. Increase use of low-emissions fuels and renewable combustion-free power sources such as wind, solar, and hydropower.2
  • Industry: Encourage clean technologies which reduce smokestack emissions. Improve management of agricultural and urban waste.2
CONCLUSION

There is no safe level of exposure to PM2.5. PM2.5 penetrates the lung barrier and can enter the bloodstream. Long-term exposure increases the risk of developing heart and lung disease, lung cancer, diabetes, and dementia. Exposure (including short-term exposure) is also linked to premature death in infants, people over 65 years of age, and individuals with cardiovascular or respiratory disease. Following a nationwide trend of disproportionate PM2.5 exposure, people of color in Wisconsin face disproportionately high rates of exposure to PM2.5 compared with white individuals in Wisconsin. While Wisconsin’s PM2.5 levels have decreased in recent years, it is still important to take steps to reduce exposure since even low concentrations of PM2.5 can cause harmful health effects.

REFERENCES

  • 1World Health Organization. Air Pollution: Impact. 2022. https://www.who.int/
  • health-topics/air-pollution#tab=tab_2. Accessed July 6, 2022.
  • 2World Health Organization. Ambient (outdoor) air pollution. September 2021. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/ambient-(outdoor)-air-
  • quality-and-health. Accessed July 22, 2022.
  • 3United States Environmental Protection Agency. Particulate Matter (PM) Basics. 2021. https://www.epa.gov/pm-pollution/particulate-matter-pm-basics.
  • Accessed July 6, 2022.
  • 4American Lung Association. State of the Air 2022: Health Impact of Air Pollution. 2022. https://www.lung.org/research/sota/health-risks. Accessed July 11, 2022.
  • 5Vohra K, Vodonos A, Schwartz J, Marais E, Sulprizio M, Mickley L. Global Mortality from Outdoor Fine Particle Pollution Generated by Fossil Fuel Combustion: Results from GEOS-Chem. April 2021. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2021.110754. Accessed July 6, 2022.
  • 6United States Environmental Protection Agency. EPA Retains Air Quality Standards for Particle Pollution (Particulate Matter). December 2020. https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2020-04/documents/fact_sheet_pm_naaqs_proposal.pdf. Accessed July 6, 2022.
  • 7CDC National Environmental Public Health Tracking Network. Data Explorer. 2018. (https://ephtracking.cdc.gov/DataExplorer/. Accessed July 6, 2022.
  • 8Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. 2020 Wisconsin Air Quality Trends
  • Report: Data from 2001-2019. October 2020. https://widnr.widen.net/view/
  • pdf/07lemijpnt/AM583.pdf?t.download=true. Accessed July 6, 2022.
  • 9United States Environmental Protection Agency. Evaluating the Contribution of PM2.5 Precursor Gases and Re-entrained Road Emissions to Mobile Source PM2.5 Particulate Matter Emissions. 2004. https://www3.epa.gov/ttnchie1/conference/ei13/mobile/hodan.pdf. Accessed July 6, 2022.
  • 10Tessum C, Paolella D, Chambliss S, Apte J, Hill J, and Marshall J. PM2.5 Polluters Disproportionately and Systematically Affect People of Color in the United States. 2021. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.abf4491. Accessed July 13, 2022.
  • 11AirNow. Extremely High Levels of PM2.5: Steps to Reduce your Exposure. 2019. https://www.airnow.gov/aqi/aqi-basics/extremely-high-levels-of-pm25/. Accessed July 8, 2022.
  • 12United States Environmental Protection Agency. Indoor Particulate Matter. April 2022. https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/indoor-particulate-matter. Accessed July 8, 2022.
  • 13United States Environmental Protection Agency. Related Rules and Programs that Help States Attain PM Standards. May 2022. https://www.epa.gov/pm-pollution/related-rules-and-programs-help-states-attain-pm-standards. Accessed July 8, 2022.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors would like to thank Wendy Fall for her contributions to this surveillance brief.

ABOUT TRACKING
The Wisconsin Environmental Public Health Tracking Program is your source for environmental public health data on Wisconsin communities.

FUNDING
The Wisconsin Environmental Public Health Tracking Program is funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

WISCONSIN ENVIRONMENTAL PUBLIC
HEALTH TRACKING PROGRAM

Phone: 608-267-2488
Web: dhs.wisconsin.gov/epht
Email: dhstracking@wi.gov

Eagle Performance Plastics Promotes Jason Bailin to Sales Manager

Jason Bailin
www.eagle-plastics.com
jasonb@eagle-plastics.com
920-739-8841

Jason Bailin has been promoted to the new role of Sales Manager of Eagle Performance Plastics, Inc. As Sales Manager, Jason will support the outside sales teams (Territory Managers), manage the flow of information and communication between Territory Managers and the Customer Account Teams as well as help develop and maintain strong relationships with our partner/customers.

Jason has been with Eagle for 2.5 years as a Customer Account Specialist. Prior to Eagle, he had been with Oshkosh Defense for 5.5 years on the Global Procurement Supply Chain team. Jason has a degree in Supply Chain Management from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh.

Eagle Performance Plastics, Inc, founded in Appleton in 1971, is a supplier of custom machined plastic components to original equipment manufacturers throughout North America.

Trees for Tomorrow: Educating the Next Generation of Stewards

For eight decades, Trees For Tomorrow (TFT), located in Eagle River, Wisconsin, has served as a beacon for environmental education, dedicated to instilling sustainable resource management practices in learners of all ages. To better understand what Trees For Tomorrow does today, let’s take a look back at what got it all started.

Pulpwood Goes to War

Trees for Tomorrow Conversation Camp signage
Trees For Tomorrow HQ in the 1940’s

Eight decades ago, vast swathes of land in Wisconsin lay desolate—scarred by logging, fires, and neglect—amidst the backdrop of wartime demands. With most able-bodied men enlisted in the armed forces, the pulpwood supply crucial for the war effort and sustaining local mills faced a shortage. In response, the Wisconsin Victory Pulpwood Committee emerged, comprising of industry leaders, officials, journalists, and concerned citizens. Spearheaded by Melvin “Mully” Taylor, then an advertising professional, the committee launched the “pulpwood goes to war” campaign in 1943. This effort rallied communities together to contribute to the war effort, culminating in truckloads of timber being dispatched from forests to mills during the Pulpwood Roundup event.

2 for 1

Inspired by the success of this coordinated endeavor, the idea of long-term resource stewardship took root. Thus, on February 22, 1944, Trees For Tomorrow was born—a nonprofit initiative initiated by nine paper mills from the Wisconsin River valley. Based in Merrill, Wisconsin, and under Taylor’s leadership, the organization introduced the innovative “2 for 1” plan, offering two seedling trees for every one cut. Over the next two decades, Trees For Tomorrow facilitated the distribution and mechanical planting of 23 million trees, devised management strategies for 370,000 acres of private woodlands, and oversaw the sale of 400,000 cords of wood.

More Than a Tree Planting Organization

Today, Trees For Tomorrow proudly upholds the legacy of its founders at its Eagle River campus, serving as a hub for diverse educational experiences. Catering to schools, community groups, families, and individuals keen on immersing themselves in nature, TFT’s team of environmental educators offers tailored programs and curriculum options.
The organization owes its sustained success to robust partnerships with various entities, including Green Bay Innovation Group, that share its commitment to environmental education. Collaborations, spanning from individuals, local businesses, regional organizations, and international corporations, highlight the collective effort to foster responsible resource use, inspire the next generation of industry professionals, and cultivate environmental stewardship in future landowners.

What sets Trees For Tomorrow apart is its commitment to imparting knowledge rooted in scientific inquiry rather than promoting personal opinions. Through hands-on experiences such as visits to logging sites, interactions with forestry professionals, and ecological investigations, students gain insights into sustainable management practices. In addition, TFT’s educational initiatives equip individuals with the skills and insight to make informed decisions about environmental conservation and multiple use management of natural resources.

Financial support from a diverse group of donors and partners ensures that Trees For Tomorrow’s programs remain accessible, often at a fraction of their actual cost. In addition to financial support, these stakeholders play a crucial role in shaping the future of environmental stewardship by empowering the next generation to realize the need to use science to manage natural resources. With nearly 500 individuals, organizations, and businesses lending their support annually, Trees For Tomorrow continues to thrive as a testament to the shared determination to manage our natural resources for generations to come.

To learn more about Trees For Tomorrow, contact Cheryl Todea, Trees For Tomorrow’s Executive Director, at ctodea@treesfortomorrow.com, 715-479-6456 or visit TreesForTomorrow.com.

GBIG News Industry Report on Converting for 2024

Outside Paper Converting Machine Company
Paper Converting Machine Company
  • Cartons with inhouse Converting – 16 Companies
  • Independent Converting – 69 Companies
  • Nonwoven Converting – 13
  • Corrugated Converting – 41 Companies
  • Envelopes Converters – 2 Companies
  • Flexible Packaging Converting – 38 Companies
  • Label Printers – 69 Companies
  • Paper Mills Converting inhouse – 13

Total: 261 for Converting in Wisconsin


  • Commercial Printers Converting – 30 as an estimate – See below
  • Packaging Converting – 53

Total: 344


Based upon our industry experience, we would estimate the Commerical Printing Companies have inhouse Converting with 30 to 50 plus companies.

We have a number of companies that are involved with both cartons, corrugated, flexible packaging and labels!

Lowering the Pm.25 Update Information on Wisconsin’s Paper and Forestry Industries

Based upon a recent report from the American Forest & Paper Association, the lowering of PM.2.5 would severely harm the Paper and Forestry Industry. The report stated the EPA ruling delivered a devastating blow, especially to U.S. Manufacturing. The EPA rule was amended in 1990 including fine particles particulate (PM.25). The new rule was implemented on January 27, 2023, with a preferred range of nine to twelve micrograms.

Marty Oaks

Based upon our initial feedback, we were informed that most of the larger Paper and Pulp Mills in Wisconsin have converted to Natural Gas or other energy resources to comply with the new EPA rules. However, we have close to nineteen Paper Manufacturers with three virgin pulp mills plus a number of recycled pulp mills that we must be concerned with in the State of Wisconsin. We recognize these facilities are from 50 to 100 years old and Wisconsin cannot afford to lose our paper and pulp manufacturing! We need to bring together the State of Wisconsin, The Wisconsin Paper Council, the Wisconsin DNR, The Great Lakes Timber Professionals, and other Associations to support Paper Manufacturing in Wisconsin. The Green Bay Innovation Group understands that Paper is the backbone of the 5P and Converting Industries. Without Paper and Pulp Manufacturing in Wisconsin, it will have a major impact across the Wisconsin Economy.

The Green Bay Innovation Group would like to hear back from you to better understand the impact on your company. We will be putting out a survey to the Paper and Pulp Companies to better understand the impact on your company.

We do recognize the Huge Impact of ambient PM.25 on Public Health Worldwide even at low levels. The USA has done an excellent job with PM.25 over the past 20 years! We refer to Particle Pollution as soot. One of the biggest causes of soot is wildfire smoke and with Wisconsin’s mild winter, we can expect potential problems with wildfires. We can expect that Canada and the Western USA will continue having wildfires impacting Wisconsin. Wisconsin will need to support our DNR, Forestry Service, and the Great Lakes Timber Association to minimize the impact of fires. Wisconsin will have to bring together ALL parties to produce a reasonable and sensible solution.

March 27th, 2024 Newsletter

GBIG logo

Read the March 27th, 2024 Green Bay Innovation Group Newsletter here.

Read newsletter

GBIG NEWS | 84 Stories and Links on the Internet 3/27/2024

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 84 Stories and Links on the Internet below.

GBIG News Banner

Platinum Sponsors

Featured Stories

Events

Wisconsin

Flexible Packaging

Packaging

Coating

Corrugated

Sponsors

19th Annual Sustainable Forestry Conference

Save the Date

April 17, 2024

Sustainable Forestry Conference

Watch our website for more information & registration information:
www.lumberjackrcd.org/sustainable-forestry-conf
Space will be limited Early Registration is Required

For Questions Contact:
Jane Lindow Keyes

Location:
Keyes Peak Ski Lodge
jane.lindow@wisc.edu 4960 Hwy 101
(715)528-4480 Ext. 1 Florence, WI 54121

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.

Contact Information

Phone: 608-698-3333 
martinpochs@gmail.com
Subscribe to Newsletter


© 2021 Green Bay Innovation Group

LinkedIn
Share