Wisconsin is the No. 1 paper-producing state in the U.S., and the pulp and paper industry accounts for 30,614 jobs, according to statistics released by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Forestry is the No. 1 employer in 10 counties in Wisconsin and one of the Top 10 industries by employment and output.
Category: More Stories and Links
Private Equity & the Paper Industry
The past couple of years, we have witnessed a number of paper companies in Wisconsin purchased by Private Equity Firms. Based on business goals, it is questionable to expect them to re-invest in the Paper Industry.
We have witnessed Pixelle Specialty Paper close down one paper mill and invest $26 million in an Ohio facility. We have seen Wynnchurch Capital L.P. owners of Appvion announced a significant investment in new equipment slated for delivery and installation in 2023.
We have seen ND Paper in China purchasing the former Verso Paper Mill and 3 other mills in the USA. We are seeing Domtar being purchased by Paper Excellence based out of Asia with paper mills in Wisconsin along with the most recent purchase of Resolute Forest Products with a paper mill in Menominee, Michigan.
We have seen Billerudkorsnas of Sweden purchase the former Verso Company with facilities in Wisconsin and the UP of Michigan. We have seen Sustana Fiber in De Pere being acquired by Blackstone Tactical a Private Equity Firm. Finally, the former Midwest Paper Group in Combined Locks sold to Mexico-based Company McKinley Paper a U.S. subsidiary of Mexico-based Bio PAPPEL.
In 2018, we saw WS Packaging the 14th largest Printing Company in the USA with annual revenues of $1.4 Billion based in Green Bay purchased by Platinum Equity and resold a number of times leaving Green Bay as their headquarters.
The Business Community and the State of Wisconsin must prepare a comprehensive plan to support the current paper mills and help them reinvest in Wisconsin through new machines or rebuild existing facilities instead of leaving Wisconsin! We are seeing too many new paper machines being built outside of Wisconsin and the United States. Wisconsin has ALL the RESOURCES to make paper in Wisconsin and to keep Wisconsin as the top paper producing state in the USA!
In this issue of GBIG NEWS, we have many articles supporting the case of the need for paper projecting very positive compound annual growth rates! The Paper Industry is not going away and actual projections support it as a strong industry to invest in. As in any industry, we do see some changes and we can adjust to it.
China is the largest consumer of paper and paperboard at 124,826 tons followed by the USA at 63,567. In addition, consumer markets are putting pressure on reducing plastics, which will have a very positive impact on using more paper products. Some elements of the printing industry are currently turning to films due to the shortages of the paper supply. This market can be reclaimed through the influx of new paper capacity.
BillerudKorsnäs becomes Billerud
As of today, BillerudKorsnäs is simplifying its name to Billerud to cater to its international customers. As a leading supplier of virgin fiber-based paper and packaging materials, the name change is fully in line with the company’s strategy to expand into North America and continue driving sustainable growth in global markets. It is simply easier to say Billerud.
” We are now ready to meet the challenges of the future as one company: Billerud. One year ago, a clear strategic plan was drawn up with the aim of achieving profitable and sustainable sales growth until the year 2030 and to grow in North America. Today we change name to Billerud. The name change is a natural step on our strategic journey”, says Christoph Michalski, President and CEO at Billerud.
The name simplification to Billerud will be implemented throughout the group starting today. Billerud’s roots and heritage in the forest and paper industry go back more than 150 years and the company has had several different names.
”It is with pride that Billerud will carry its history into the present. What won’t change is the fact that we help our customers reduce their climate footprint of both their primary and secondary packaging. For us, product superiority is important and the impressive strength of our papers allow customers to use less packaging, save costs and reduce their carbon footprint. We will continue doing that as Billerud”, says Christoph Michalski.
As of today, Billerud’s website is called billerud.com, and all employees will have the email address billerud.com.
Read more about Billerud here: www.billerud.com
For further information, please contact:
Louise Wileen Bjarke, Head of Press, louise.wileenbjarke@billerud.com, Phone +4672 214 35 10
Sustainable Business Awards 2022 Finalist
Sustainable Product Finalists (Alphabetical Order)
- ContainerBoard Paper by Green Bay Packaging
- Flex Farm by Form Farms
- The Abstra ™ Collection by Kohler WasteLAB®
Innovative Service Finalists
- Cooperative Solar Investment Service by SolarShare WI Coop
- Printing using UV LED Curing Technology by Empire Screen Printing
- Tax Sponsorship by Legacy Solar Coop
Sustainable Leadership – Executive Finalists
- Chris Drees, President at Mercury Marine
- Michelle Miller, Chief Sustainability Office, Appvion
- Scott Anderson, Co-Owner, Director of Stakeholder Stewardship, Artisan Dental
Sustainable Leadership – Champion Finalists
- Jessica Quinlan, ESG and Sustainability Coordinator, Kohls
- Melita Nasca, Community Gardens
- Scott Loucks, Sustainability Manager, Mercury Marine
Finn MacDonald of Independent II discusses
‘Everyday Digital’ and Domino X630i
Independent II, located in Louisville, KY, is a privately-owned and operated corrugated manufacturer, providing total packaging solutions to their customers. Independent II designs, manufactures, warehouses, and delivers corrugated and packaging that protect their customers’ products in-transit and sells them on shelves.
We caught up with Finn MacDonald, President of Independent II, to learn more about his business, the impact of digital printing, and the benefits realized with the Domino X630i digital aqueous inkjet corrugated press.
Highlights of our visit were captured in this quick 2-minute VIDEO: Finn MacDonald of Independent II & Domino X630i
MacDonald begins, “We’re a third-generation company and for over 60 years we’ve had the unique challenge of taking care of our customers’ everyday problems, so that they can grow their businesses. That is our DNA, that is what we do. Any time, any quantity…with innovation, service, and quality included. That is what has built a multi-generational trust between our customers and our business.”
Changing Landscape
MacDonald continues, “Over the last 15 years our business philosophy has not changed, but the landscape of our business has changed dramatically. Our customers’ products spend less time in the warehouse, and more time in retail and on doorsteps. We had to recognize and embrace this change and invest in the resources to evolve from a brown box company, to a brand & packaging company, and now to digital.”
“Digital was an opportunity for us to get there faster, and to take our customers there more quickly and successfully. We now have the ability to bring that dynamic digital energy to our customers with the Domino X630i. This is a single-pass four-color aqueous based press designed specifically to live and thrive in a manufacturing environment. That press is user friendly, it’s supportable, and it’s expandable.”
Domino X630i is built, serviced, and supported in the USA. This digital press has a small footprint 10’ H x 38’ L x 21’ W with a climate-controlled environmental enclosure. X630i utilizes an automated lead-edge, servo-driven continuous bottom feeder offering a max sheet size of 63” x 118” with printable area of 53” x 118”. Inside the press is unique vacuum sheet transport, board cleaning, and warp inspection. Print is 600 x 600 dpi utilizing 4-colors CMYK using AQ95 water-based inks with Polymer technology that are Swiss Ordinance, Nestle & EuPia compliant.
“Everyday Digital”
MacDonald concludes, “Everyday digital is what we want to bring to our customers, to our market, and to our own internal operations. “Everyday digital is an opportunity for us to take existing flexo process and find efficiencies, and consistency, and more user-friendliness in the print operation. That’s where we stand today. The Domino X630i is supporting our everyday digital business with our customers, with our market, and certainly inside our own operation.”
Domino is a leading manufacturer and distributor of digital printing and product identification solutions. Celebrating its 44th 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
Rocket Industrial Joins the Green Business Bureau
We are proud to announce that Rocket Industrial is gold certified by the Green Business Bureau (GBB) through our sustainable business practices, community involvement, and office environments. Our mission is to improve sustainability in the industries we serve through process optimization, eliminating excess packaging, and sourcing sustainable products.
Through our Million Pound Promise, we are committed to removing at least 1 million pounds of packaging materials from the waste stream annually. In 2020, we reached our goal for the first time and continue to provide innovative, sustainable solutions for our customers. Additionally, each year, we are an event partner of Ghidorzi Green and Clean, Wausau’s annual cleanup. In 2022, this event helped remove 4.31 tons of trash from the greater Wausau area.
Rocket Industrial supports our customers with a goal to Package With Less. This results in less waste and less cost by providing product alternatives and data-backed solution recommendations. For more information on Rocket Industrial’s GBB certification, take a look at our member story and our business profile. For more information our sustainable solutions and services, contact Sustainable Product Line Manager and Packaging Engineer, Emily Sabella at esabella@rocketindustrial.com.
The Expansion of Rocket Industrial’s Appleton Building is Complete!
As Rocket Industrial celebrates its 65th year in business, the company also celebrates growth in the Fox Valley area with a new 80,000 sq ft office and warehouse building in Appleton, Wisconsin. The new space is located at 3351 S Eisenhower Dr, Appleton, WI 54915.
With more space, more products will be kept on hand. Brian McLaughlin, Vice President of Operations, said, “This new larger location will allow us to reverse today’s challenges with supply chain disruptions by stocking large amounts of inventory for our clients.” With the new building, the warehouse team also grew, allowing for faster picking, shipping, and delivery to regional customers. Tim Rand, Appleton Regional Manager notes, “Right now when lead times are everything, having the supplies you need as close as possible can really make the difference for our clients and we get that.”
Rocket Industrial is a nationwide distributor focused on mutual success for our customers by providing a full suite of quality products, innovative solutions, exceptional customer service, and a knowledgeable team of equipment specialists and packaging engineers. Rocket Industrial helps clients in a variety of industries including food, beverage, manufacturing, logistics, e-commerce, and agriculture Package With Less. This means providing solutions and services that allow clients to package in less time, with less waste, and for less cost. Visit rocketindustrial.com to learn more.
PPC Flexible Packing LLC, A Leading Provider of Custom Flexible Packaging
PPC Flexible Packing LLC, a leading provider of custom flexible packaging, is celebrating the one-year anniversary of acquiring Hartland, WI-based PPC Prototype (formerly Consumer Packaging Group).
The PPC Flexible Packaging “One PPC” enterprise has grown by leaps and bounds through the acquisition which has given them the ability to differentiate PPC over competitors by providing life-like packaging prototypes, even deeper speed to market for the growth of new and unique brands, and an increase in networking connections within the consumer packaging markets. These have provided huge wins for both the company and its customers.
PPC prototype is driven to continue being the leader in high-quality prototype solutions for consumer packaging goods markets. The company is striving to improve upon its already impeccable reputation in meeting unique requests with challenging lead times for a variety of prototype finished packages. Its services include pre-press, digital printing, lamination, handwork, and assembly through fulfillment and shipping anywhere in the world. Their products include finished bags and pouches, labels, shrink sleeves, and rigid structures and have been used for many national brand product launches, promotional events, and sales samples. Their customers include mid to large-scale CPGs on a global basis.
Headquartered in Buffalo Grove, Illinois, PPC Flexible Packaging has steadily grown and evolved, both organically and through acquisition, into a premier top 20 high-quality flexible packaging manufacturer. They are a dynamic team of design and packaging professionals dedicated to providing creative packaging solutions. PPC’s capabilities and speed to market have always been its greatest strengths– establishing them as a trusted leader within the consumer and cleanroom markets.
High-speed CNC Machining Capabilities Generate Lower Costs
Titletown Manufacturing provides quality CNC machining in Green Bay
The speed with which Titletown Manufacturing can complete CNC machining services for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and other customers creates cost savings opportunities without sacrificing quality. Our Wisconsin workforce is dedicated to delivering the consistency our customers expect from their CNC machining partner.
“The advantages of high-efficiency CNC machining apply to both high-quantity and low-quantity orders,” explains Chris Fuss, co-owner of Titletown Manufacturing. “We can make parts fast using CNC equipment, which results in reduced cost to our customers.”
Titletown Manufacturing’s CNC machining expertise serves as the foundation to its array of capabilities, including custom metal milling and machine assembly services. Paper converting, pulp, tissue and defense contractors comprise the majority of our customer base. We also serve as a supply partner for manufacturers of food production systems, material handling equipment and machinery, and energy industry machines.
Equipment upgrades enhance CNC machining capabilities
Titletown Manufacturing makes continuous investments in machinery that enhance our ability to provide high-quality CNC machining services at rapid rates. Case in point is our horizontal machine center (HMC), which greatly reduces the delay between machining cycles.
“Our workers can set up materials on one side of the HMC while the other side performs the CNC machining operations,” notes Titletown Manufacturing co-owner Dan Hilliard. “The table rotates 180 degrees, so there is no downtime in doing either function.”
The HMC can achieve tolerances down to .0002 of an inch, providing OEMs with the quality they require in completing multiple builds at a time. The HMC is one of several machines in our shop that support our commitment to delivering exceptional value from CNC machining operations.
About Titletown Manufacturing, LLC
Titletown Manufacturing, LLC, is a trusted metal machining and fabrication shop with over 60 years of experience in CNC machining, welding, grinding, assembly and reverse engineering for a wide range of industrial customers throughout the region. The company employs more than 30 people at its facility at 817 Marquis Way in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
For more information on Titletown Manufacturing or to request a quote, please go to https://titletownmfg.com/ or call 920-435-9074
George Huber – Center on Chemical Upcycling of Waste Plastics
An innovative College of Engineering sustainability research program on plastics received a $5 million gift commitment from alumni Ross and Michele Annable. The gift is the largest single contribution to the Strategic Targeted Achievers Recognition (STAR) Scholarship Fund recruiting and retaining the brightest undergraduates, and a significant step forward for a new plastic recycling technology.
George Huber Professor of Chemical Engineering at UW Madison will be speaking at Amcor at the Neenah Innovation Center 2301 Industrial Dr. Neenah, WI on October 25, 2022 from 2:00 p.m. to 4 p.m. RESERVATIONS are required and you can sign up by going to: www.greenbayinnovationgroup.com EVENTS – Amcor Seminar with Prof. George Huber. The EVENT is FREE for our Members and $30.00 for guests. We require you to sign up or email Marty Ochs a confirmation that you will be attending for security reasons! The $44 billion plastics industry employees more than 43,000 people in Wisconsin! Wisconsin is the 8th largest state in the plastics industry in the United States. In addition, Wisconsin leads the nation in the flexible packaging industry with major international, USA and Wisconsin based companies supplying products worldwide.
