Plastic is an all-purpose material. Cheap, light in weight, strong, and is highly versatile, it is used in numerous ways. In 2016, plastic production amounted to 335 million tons, 1.4 times more than in 2005 and 215 times more than in 1950. And it’s growing. According to the United Nations, only 9% of all plastics produced in the world are recycled, about 11% are incinerated, and the rest end up in landfills or the environment. More than 98% of plastics come from petroleum derivatives, natural gas, or coal; and they are non-renewable.

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Welcome, Milwaukee-area members

I had the opportunity to meet and reconnect with a number of Milwaukee area companies. We have added most of them as new members. While Southeastern Wisconsin is a major center for offset printing, we are seeing substantial growth in the flexo, gravure, digital, wide format, converting and packaging industries servicing a nationwide market. 

Southeast Wisconsin 5P Industries

Converted Products, Inc. is a premier converter focusing on film, plastics, non-wovens and laminating with a 250,000 square foot facility … simply IMPRESSIVE! 

Crossmark Graphics is a state-of-the art sheet fed printer with very innovative products. They pride themselves on their employees and customers, servicing a nationwide market. They are one of the few printers in the USA doing lenticular printing! They have recently added a HP Indigo Press. 

McAdams Graphics, Inc. is a heat set web offset printer providing Variable Inline Printing with Mailing capabilities and providing a variety of commercial printing capabilities servicing customers nationwide. Recently, McAdams added two new HP Printing Presses to service their packaging customers. 

The Scan Group has added a new facility. This is their 4^th facility in Wisconsin and doubles their wide-format capacity in addition to providing offset, digital and digital contact management. The Scan Group services an international client base. 

Gopak with a HP 20,000 with a 30” web width has added new finishing capabilities to service their pouch customers nationwide. 

Direct Mail Printers

In this issue, we are setting up a special section highlighting a number of Direct Mail Printers in Wisconsin and Minnesota to get a better understanding of the size and magnitude of this industry. If you add in Illinois, these states produce over 65% of ALL direct mail production in the United States. Over 50% of all commercial printing in the USA is produced in the Great Lakes Region, along with a large number of publication and catalog printers. 

ALL of these printers are in desperate need of paper from Wisconsin. Furthermore, Wisconsin has over 60-plus flexo and gravure printers with over 200 converters needing paper. Wisconsin needs to get the Verso Paper Mill in Wisconsin Rapids back in production to supply paper to them. Without a reliable supplier, it will have a major impact on Wisconsin. 

I started my career in Sales and Marketing at Consolidated Paper, Inc. and I understand the products produced at the Wisconsin Rapids mill. 

Verso Mill in Wisconsin Rapids

The BIGGEST ADVANTAGES of the Verso Mill in Wisconsin Rapids are:

1. Location – it’s less than a 4-hour radius to ship to the most concentrated printing and packaging markets in the United States.
2. The mill has outstanding paper-making capabilities supported by a large converting operations facility.
3. The area had an experienced and dedicated workforce with generations of family depending on the mill.
4. The mill has easy access to supporting allied industry vendors based in Wisconsin with proven track records. 
5. Wisconsin Rapids has outstanding geographic access to major transportation hubs supplying logistics and transportation.
6. The State of Wisconsin is very supportive to help Verso get the mill back up and running.
7. The City of Wisconsin Rapids is very supportive to help Verso get the mill back up and running.
8. The Verso mill has access to the pulp and forests in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Canada with vast resources.
9. Close proximity to graduates from the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point in Paper Science and Engineering.

Re-establishing Paper Production 

The Green Bay Innovation Group is interested in coming up with some creative solutions to re-establish the Wisconsin Paper Industry by getting Verso in Wisconsin Rapids back into production. We understand you can’t just turn a switch to get it up in running. We understand the issues to get employees back to the mill. We understand the equipment is a bit older. We understand that it would require a substantial amount of money to get it running. Finally, we understand the demand for coated paper has decreased, and the market is coming back slowly. However, there is still a large need for coated papers. Our region needs the paper that can be produced at the Verso Wisconsin Rapids mill, and we can’t depend on foreign suppliers due to the logistical issues worldwide. 

Supporting 5P & Converting Industries

The Green Bay Innovation Group will be providing additional information and updates about all of the companies dependent on paper that could be produced at the Verso Paper Mill in Wisconsin Rapids for people to better understand and support getting the mill back into production. This story is more than Verso Corporation; it is about supporting the Wisconsin 5P and Converting Industries! 

Upcoming Webinar –  We want to highlight this one and start early on it!

Scott Thompson of SGSCO and Ken Pavett of FLEXO grafix will be doing a Color Management Webinar:  How to Obtain the Best Color on December 15^th.  You can go to www.greenbayinnovationgroup.com and go to events to sign up. You will be able to go to www.packerlandwebsites.com and scroll down and go to Conference Room 1 to join us!  This is a CAN’T MISS EVENT with two outstanding speakers. The Webinar is FREE.

SGS & Co:

SGS & Co is a global brand impact group delivering speed and quality through innovation and insights to drive impact for our world class clients. We combine deep expertise in design, graphic services, production, technology and process optimization with unmatched marketplace understanding, dynamic ideas and client first customer service. We bring the world’s best brands to life and set them up for success in a modern world.

The webinar contents:

The color communication and translation webinar will begin with information on color basics (including the human element), followed by the required design to print execution.  The final section will include specifics on how color gets converted from ideation and design to the printing press, inclusive of the process steps needed to make it a success.

SGS & Co | sgsco.com

Family of brands creates a larger manufacturing footprint to provide efficiencies for  converters. 

Green Bay, WI – Precision Roll Solutions announces the integration of well-known  industrial roll suppliers MECA Solutions, Industrial Engraving, and GB Embossing in  Wisconsin, and IR Engraving in Virginia, while maintaining critical leadership, technical,  and applications knowledge at each manufacturing facility. To further support  collaboration, the company has hired industry veteran Mark Hines as VP of Business  Development. Mr. Hines will draw upon decades of experience in paper, tissue  converting, and packaging to ensure that customers are able to leverage the vast  network of precision roll experts throughout the company.  

Together the brands boast a manufacturing footprint to better serve customers  throughout the Americas, as well as combined resources to meet virtually any roll  need. Technologies such as direct-to-steel engraving, chemical etching, laser  engraving, 3D digital scanning, and a state-of-the-art pilot line testing center improve  e ciency for new roll development. In-house grinding and repair capabilities to  remove old patterns and refurbish rolls for re-engraving remain in place at each  location. 

“Each brand within the Precision Roll Solutions family has a specialty that we will  continue to honor as we move forward”, said Matt Pursel, CEO. “Each logo has been  modernized to re ect our shared resources and collaborative approach while  maintaining the trust and recognition we have each worked so hard to earn.” 

About Precision Roll Solutions Precision Roll Solutions is a family of roll specialists, each with unique skills gained  over years of experience serving the world’s most discerning brands. Together, they help leading manufacturers leverage texture and other process variables to make their products more effective and enhance their impact; from tissue, plastic  lms, and nonwovens to heavy gauge embossed metal and everything in between

Wisconsin is the global epicenter of the paper, printing, plastic, pulp, packaging and converting industries. We have tremendous businesses, competitive advantages, and partnership opportunities that are concentrated in a compact geography.  The Green Bay Innovation Group (GBIG) is bringing together ALL of these industries. When you member with GBIG, you’re facilitating critical business partnerships and with tremendous networking opportunities while ensuring the Converting Corridor has a voice equal to its economic impact.  Attached are our membership programs!  With our newsletter: www.gbignews.com  we are the key resource for information in the State of Wisconsin.  Go to: www.greenbayinnovationgroup.com and click on GBIG Members and 5P News Members.  On the GBIG website, we have 50 plus members and on the www.gbignews.com we have over 70 members.   The Membership are annually so don’t forget to renew for 2022!  

GBIG Benefits

• Quarterly educational webinars, expert speakers, events and industry updates.
• Industry meetings and plant tours throughout the year. 
• Positioning Wisconsin as the world’s largest supplier of paper and packaging.
• Educating and influencing elected officials, legislators and business professionals.
  • Through the 5Ps (paper, printing, plastic, pulp, packaging and converting industries) our digital newsletter www.GBIGNEWS.COM and social media, we reach 2,000 companies on a weekly basis. By Dec. 2022 we are projecting that will grow to 4,000 worldwide!
• Bringing companies together to build relationships and benefit ALL of our members.
  • Financial:  There are surprisingly more opportunities as partners than as competitors. Lucrative financial opportunities have emerged for our members though networking.
  • Job Opportunities: Networking through GBIG has put together individuals and companies making big news together. 
  • Database Targeting: GBIG has developed a selected targeted database providing the opportunity to reach key individuals and companies in our industries through various communication venues.

Membership Opportunities 

• There are no pricy membership dues. GBIG is supported by affordable memberships, meeting fees, and donations by our supporters. 
• We currently have over 120 members listed our web pages:  www.greenbayinnovationgroup.com and www.gbignews.com. 
• Cost for GBIG website membership: $250.00 for 2 years or annually $150.00
• Cost for the www.gbignews.com (sent 24 weeks a year) is $250.00 for a Bronze Sponsor, $500.00 for a Silver Sponsor and $1,000 for a Gold Sponsor.  

A portion of the proceeds go to supporting community charities and causes, not salaries or administration. GBIG is run exclusively with committed industry volunteers that understand they win when the industry wins.

Already, as companies learn about one another (sometimes literally down the road from one another) there have been millions of dollars in transactions through GBIG facilitated partnerships. 

To learn more or become a member, call Marty Ochs at 608-698-3333 or email at martinpochs@gmail.com 

Marty Ochs – Executive Director

Executive Direc