
Read the July 16th, 2025 Green Bay Innovation Group Newsletter here.
Read the July 16th, 2025 Green Bay Innovation Group Newsletter here.
Dan is responsible for business development for Miron’s industrial division and directly manages client development and relationship building. His duties include assisting project managers with customer relations, contacting prospective alliance partners, and assuring that industrial customers are satisfied.
Dan provides 30+ years of experience in the heavy industrial, biofuel, food, pulp and paper, and power generation industries. His expertise includes mechanical and process knowledge related to facilities, paper machines, stock preparation systems, deinking, material handling systems, construction estimates, and detailed engineering.
Dan is a Wisconsin-registered Professional Engineer and graduated from Michigan Technological University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering. He is currently the Chairperson for Lakes States TAPPI/North Central Pima.
Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree and TEDx speaker David Zamarin is the founder of Impermea Materials, an advanced materials company pioneering PFAS-free, plastic-free barrier coatings for paper, packaging, and industrial substrates. With a focus on scalable, production-ready innovation, David leads Impermea in delivering high-performance solutions that meet today’s toughest sustainability and regulatory demands, without compromising on barrier performance or operational efficiency.
The Green Bay Innovation Group announced the Premier Conference in the USA: Specialty Paper, Printing, Converting, and Packaging. The Conference will provide the latest cutting-edge technologies, innovations in product design, new product development, sustainability, renewable resources, and eco-friendly packaging trends!
The 2025 Speakers are outstanding experts from all sectors of the 5P (Packaging, Paper, Plastics, Printing, Pulp) and Converting Industries.
The event takes place on September 16, 2025, at Miron Construction, 1471 McMahon Dr. Neenah, WI. Do not miss this special event. Go to: www.greenbayinnvovationgroup.com/events – Specialty Paper to register for the event. The cost is: $100.00 per person.
Get links to the latest news, events, stories, and interviews from our 5P news members. 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 93 Stories and Links on the Internet below.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 25, 2025
New Orleans, LA — The International Dairy Deli Bakery Association (IDDBA) held their annual show June 1-3 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans. More than 10,000 attendees perused over 1,000 exhibitors (a new record for IDDBA), with over 230 exhibitors showcasing their products for the first time at the show.
IDDBA 2025 brought together today’s leaders and tomorrow’s innovators to grow the future of their businesses. Attendees gained insight and engaged face-to-face with buyers, merchandisers, manufacturers, distributors, and executives who share a passion for food and this industry.
General session speakers included Kevin Costner, Michael Strahan, Carla Hall, and Claire Saffitz. Chefs Hall and Saffitz held cooking demonstrations in IDDBA’s Close-Up Kitchen, and the Cake Boss himself, Buddy Valastro, held a cooking demonstration on the show’s final day.
Meanwhile in What’s in Store Live, attendees explored an immersive, trend-forward experience in a fully merchandised space, featuring exhibitor products and bringing to life the insights and inspiration from IDDBA’s What’s in Store publication.
This year’s Champions of Change Awards, in partnership with Supermarket News, recognized 24 industry leaders from the retailer/wholesaler and supplier/vendor communities who consistently demonstrate excellence and superior results. The inaugural Career Connection Live event connected students and up-and-coming talent with industry leaders, internships, and networking opportunities. Certified Salumiere Professionals built charcuterie boards in Salumi’d and the annual Cake’d Awards went to Lindsey Shaub from Festival Foods (Grand Champion) and Lisa Dowling from Market of Choice Inc. (Fan Favorite.)
Finally, the annual post-show food drive generated 177,312 pounds of donations to local food banks in the area! Facilitated by Second Harvest South Louisiana, 21 trailer trucks delivered donated dairy, bakery, foodservice, and deli items to the New Orleans Food Bank and Baton Rouge Food Bank for distribution to the local communities.
Efforts have begun on next year’s show in Orlando, with booths and hotels already being reserved!
IDDBA 2026 is June 7-9 in Orlando, FL. Find out more here: IDDBA 2026
About IDDBA: The International Dairy Deli Bakery Association is a nonprofit membership organization serving the dairy, deli, bakery, cheese, and supermarket foodservice industries. Member companies enjoy exclusive benefits and services including the annual tradeshow, leading-edge research, training programs, management tools, and an annual trends report. For more information contact IDDBA at 608-310-5000 or visit iddba.org.
For more information, contact Marty Ochs, 608.698.3333 or martinpochs@gmail.com
GREEN BAY WI. Green Bay Innovation Group (GBIG) with its partners and an industry panel will provide a current view of industries crucial to regional and national economies.
The event is set to take place from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm followed by a networking event from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m, Tuesday September 16, 2025, at Miron Construction in Neenah, WI. The day promises to offer the latest commentary and innovations in industry, plus networking with leaders at lunch and a First Business Bank sponsored meet-and-greet later in the day.
“This informative meeting is a must-attend for anyone involved in production and related manufacturing who wants to stay competitive in a fast-evolving marketplace,” said Marty Ochs, GBIG Executive Director.
David Zamarin, CEO, Impermea Materials, agreed: “From the evolution of plastics-to-paper specialties, we will review the next steps in sustainable responsibility and high-performance solutions.”
Speakers and panelists include those from: Miron Construction, Amcor, Impermea Materials, UW Stevens Point, Sun Chemical, Hoffmaster Group, Ahlstrom, BPM, BiOrgin, and Midland Paper.
Attendees will have the opportunity to explore a variety of cutting-edge materials and technologies, including specialty papers, sustainable packaging, advanced printing capabilities, and the latest in converting technologies.
Sign-up: www.greenbayinnovationgroup.com/events or, call Marty Ochs at 608.698.3333
Check-in: Between 7:30 and 8:30 am on September 16. The cost is: $100.00 per person
Cloveridge Converting LLC. is a converter of paper and non-wovens for the agricultural and service industries. Cloveridge Converting towels are completely bio-degradable providing a choice of textures as well as sizes to meet a variety of customers with quick turnaround and innovative solutions!
Jeff Jaco owner of Cloveridge Converting has acquired equipment to convert paper into straws. Cloveridge Converting is finalizing the installation and expected to be up and running next month. With the closure of a major producer of paper straws and an opportunity to purchase the equipment, he moved forward! He was inspired by his daughter Haley who recently graduated with a master’s degree in environmental science and policy. She got Jeff’s attention on the impact of plastic straws on the environment. Jeff secured a Paper Company in NE Wisconsin to be able to supply him with the bio-degradable paper product. He understood the drawbacks of paper straws and the benefits. The paper straws are FDA-regulated and PFAS free. As consumers, we need to determine what are the best products to meet their personal needs. Plastic Straws are one of the largest used-one-time items with a substantial impact on the environment! The global paper straw market size is $3.18 billion in 2025 and is forecasted to hit around USD $16.65 billion by 2034, growing at a CAGR of 20.27% from 2025 to 2034.
Wisconsin has the largest Converting Industry in the USA with over three hundred plus converters of paper, film, board, corrugated, plastics, and other materials. In addition, Wisconsin is the leader in Specialty Paper Production in the USA.
Join the Green Bay Innovation Group for the Premier Specialty Paper, Printing, Converting, Coating, and Packaging Conference on September 16th with outstanding speakers for the ALL-DAY event followed by networking. Go to: www.greenbayinnovationgroup.com/events – Specialty Paper to register. The cost is $100.00 per person.
The Green Bay Innovation Group announced the Premier Conference in the USA – Specialty Paper, Printing, Converting, Coating, and Packaging on September 16, 2025, in Neenah, Wisconsin with an outstanding line up of industry experts. Go to: www.greenbayinnovationgroup.com to register – Specialty Paper. The cost is $100.00 per person.
The movement from Plastics to Paper Products will be a challenge for the Paper and Pulp Industries! We have witnessed Paper and Pulp Mill Closing across the United States. However, we are seeing more new capacity in Specialty Papers, Corrugated, Paperboard, and Tissue due to favorable Packaging Trends for Sustainability and Recycling of Paper Products. Recycled Fiber Based Materials are key elements of sustainable packaging solutions. With a combination of emerging solutions in barrier coating technologies, recycled paper products, public demand, and regulatory pressures, companies will be forced to innovate to meet new packaging solutions and paper is an outstanding alternative to plastics!
The Challenges, Solutions, and Future of Paper Packaging is based upon cost-effective barrier coating, water resistance, durability, protection, grease-proofing, etc. In the case of recycling, coating can be difficult to separate from all paper products in the repulping processes. However, the technology for recycling these poly-coated material is advancing, and newer facilities can process them. We are witnessing new coating products that are fully compostable coatings. Aqueous barrier coated paper is a fitting example of a fully recycled poly-coated replacement and very cost effective! With recent advances in coating technology, transitioning away from petroleum based thermoplastic coating is not only possible, but also crucial for sustainability and long-term industry success.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 18/06/2025 – Paris, France
Paris, 18th of June 2025 – EDANA’s Innovation Forum 2025, held on 11–12 June in Station F, Paris, brought together a vibrant cross-section of industry leaders, researchers, startups and innovation experts to explore the dynamic evolution of the nonwovens sector. With a rich two-day agenda that combined high-level keynote addresses, thematic sessions, research showcases and networking events, the Forum served as a hub for ideation, collaboration and inspiration around the sector’s most urgent challenges and exciting opportunities.
“Innovation is a key factor to stay competitive — but more than that, it’s the foundation for resilience and long-term relevance. By embedding sustainability, digitalization and collaboration into the core of our innovation culture, we’re not just keeping pace with change — we’re shaping the future of our industry.” said EDANA General Manager Murat Dogru in his opening address.
Speakers explored how textile waste can become high-value products, how fibre level modelling replaces costly prototyping, and how AI enables more autonomous and sustainable manufacturing. “Nonwovens are robust and can tolerate stress. This gives an opportunity in the recycling textile to tackle the textile tsunami.” – Maria Ström, CEO of The Loop Factory.
The Forum also welcomed nature-powered innovations set to transform the fibre landscape. “What if we made fibres from agricultural waste? Natural fibres are extraordinary, and we wouldn’t even have to use the leaves that are grown, but the ones already on the ground and that are now considered waste.” – Dr. Carmen Hijosa, Founder & Creative Director of Ananas Anam.
The afternoon turned its spotlight on research institutes from across Europe, examining how their strategic priorities align with industry needs. “It is crucial that people in the nonwovens industry understand what’s going on on the other side of the fence and to understand what R&D people are doing”, said Matthew Tipper, CEO of Nonwovens Innovation & Research Institute (NIRI). “We need collaboration between the real needs of the industry and research institutes.”
Towards the end of the first day, the EDANA Innovation Forum featured a workshop on capturing serendipity. “Not all progress is planned”, said Dieter Eichinger, CEO & Founder of Eichinger. “Some of the most transformative ideas are born from surprises, and we need to make space for it to imagine the imaginable”.
The first day ended with a cocktail dinner aboard the Excellence, gliding through the heart of Paris on the River Seine, admiring the beauty of the City of Light and its stunning views of the Eiffel Tower.
Day two began with a provocative and practical keynote on AI as a creative partner in product development. “AI doesn’t replace creativity,” said Oliver Breucker, Co CEO & AI Consultant at Roover Consulting. “It amplifies it. It clears space for us to think bigger, iterate faster, and design better — with the customer always at the centre.”
Moreover, sustainable innovation is no longer confined to early-stage R&D. From fibre-based packaging to carbon-zero superabsorbents, speakers showcased products ready to hit the market, each with compelling environmental and commercial benefits. “It’s not about choosing between performance and sustainability anymore,” said Alexandros Skouras, Director of Hygiene Sector at Paptic. “The next generation of materials offers both.”
The forum also invited Walter Johnsen, Venture Science Associate at Marble Studio, who offered a strategic lens on how deep-tech entrepreneurship can fast-track climate progress. In addition, four startups took the stage to showcase how they’re transforming diapers, textiles, fashion and chemical processes. “Innovation is not about making things slightly better,” said Miki Agrawal of Hiro Technologies. “It’s about asking: what if we start completely differently and solve the root problem instead of patching the old one?”
To end the second day, Maxime Guillaud, CEO of INSKIP, mapped out how startups and ecosystems are evolving — and what the nonwovens industry can learn from other sectors. “Innovation doesn’t just come from technology — it comes from how we organise people and capital around ideas,” said Maxime. “That’s where ecosystems matter.” The event concluded with a guided visit to Station F, the world’s largest startup campus, reinforcing the importance of ecosystems in scaling transformative ideas.
EDANA extended its heartfelt thanks to all speakers, moderators, partners and participants whose energy and insight made the Forum such a success. The connections made in Paris will continue to drive meaningful progress in the months and years ahead! See you in 2027!
Comprising over 260 members, EDANA is the leading global association advocating the benefits of nonwovens for society. Since 1971, EDANA has been providing a comprehensive range of services to enhance the industry’s goals and performance, including supporting sustainability ambitions, responsible product stewardship, and addressing common technical, regulatory and market challenges. EDANA also organizes several application-specific and geographic-focused industry events.
Felipe Cossio Cuartero
Mobile: +32 499 689 249
E-mail: felipe.cossio@edana.org
Website: www.edana.org
In today’s fast-moving industrial and commercial sectors, success depends on precision, safety, and efficiency. When project demands exceed internal capacity or technical knowledge, professional engineering consultants provide the specialized support needed to maintain progress, reduce risk, and ensure compliance.
Professional engineering consultants offer specialized expertise that internal teams may lack. Their experience spans multiple industries and project types, equipping them to identify issues early, recommend proven solutions, and adapt to evolving codes and technologies. This helps businesses avoid delays, scope creep, and redesigns.
Professional engineering services deliver value throughout all stages of a project. In the early planning phase, consultants assess site constraints, system compatibility, and regulatory requirements to align scope with reality. During design and specification, they prepare detailed technical documentation that minimizes rework and delays during implementation.
As systems move toward commissioning, consultants help conduct design reviews and factory acceptance tests, ensuring performance benchmarks are met before installation. If an existing system shows signs of underperformance, they are equipped to identify root causes and propose targeted upgrades that restore reliability and reduce downtime.
The benefit of hiring consultants lies in what they prevent: delays, oversights, and compliance failures. When working with consultants, companies can expect:
By addressing problems before they escalate and aligning every step with industry standards, professional engineering consultants reduce risk while keeping projects efficient and on course.
When selecting a firm, it’s important to focus on those offering professional engineering consultant services with Licensed Professional Engineers (PEs) in relevant disciplines. Look for firms with direct industry-specific experience, a strong track record of safety and code compliance, and clear communication and documentation practices.
When evaluating what is a professional engineer, remember that licensure isn’t just a credential. It is a legal requirement for engineers who take responsibility for public safety and system integrity.
For complex and high-stakes projects, professional engineering consultants are a strategic asset. Their ability to solve technical problems, improve efficiency, and ensure compliance leads to systems that are safer, lower in cost, and deliver better long-term performance. To learn more about professional engineering consultant services, contact Adam Kahler at akahler@quadplus.com or (815) 210-9885.
Bringing Green Bay Companies Together. Green Bay Innovation Group is committed to building an authentic networking experience where innovation can thrive.
© 2021 Green Bay Innovation Group
Site By: Packerland Websites