Corrugated Conference, 2009 TAPPI
Conference Wrap-up from 2009 CorrExpo – Chicago, Illinois, September 1-2
2009 CorrExpo: Sustaining Success in Chicagoland
CorrExpo may be over, but its influence has traveled home with the attending corrugated professionals who discovered many cost-effective ideas for keeping operations sustainable and competitive. TAPPI’s 2009 Corrugated Conference and Exhibit took place September 1-2, 2009, at the Chicago Hyatt Regency Hotel in Chicago, Illinois USA.
Total attendance was well over 700, which included 225 convertors. With participation from every aspect of the industry, attendees had many opportunities for networking with peers and gaining knowledge from a top-notch exhibit and technical program, as well as a new management track. Here are a few highlights from the 2009 event:
Boxplant Blowout: Popular Plan Continues
Once again, the “Boxplant/Converter Discount” was enormously popular, with more than 20 boxplants taking advantage of the special offer. By allowing an unlimited number of attendees from the same location to attend the Corrugated Packaging Conference for a single payment of only $1,295, this program provides exponential education and networking opportunities. The program also allowed employers to send two different groups of employees on separate days for the same low price.
This year, participants in the boxplant program could attend small technical workshops, as well as sessions on advanced topics in corrugating and converting. A newly added management track emphasized financial, safety and technology developments.
Expanded Program: New Management Sessions
The conference sessions kicked off on Tuesday, September 1, with opening remarks by TAPPI President Larry N. Montague and Corrugated Division Chair, Richard White of MarquipWardUnited. Attendees next heard a corrugated industry financial overview from Richard Storat of Storat & Associates and participated in a Q&A with financial analysts from Peoples Finance and Michigan State University.
In addition to the strong technical program CorrExpo attendees have come to expect, this year’s schedule included a new management program with financial sessions and other topics of particular interest to management level participants. In these sessions, expert panelists and speakers discussed new technologies, OSHA regulations, positioning for economic recovery and sustainability. The experts haled from companies such as Temple-Inland, Pratt Industries, Cargill, General Mills, BrownFlynn and Packaging Corporation of America.
Attendees of technical sessions heard practical information about specialty folder gluer techniques and attended breakout sessions with experts based on their individual interests. These sessions included Quality Checks and Seasonal Effects, Troubleshooting the Singlefacer, Die Cutting/Troubleshooting, and Print Quality Improvements-By the Numbers. Companies contributing to these sessions included Georgia-Pacific, Green Bay Packaging, Corn Products, Donahue Steam Systems, H. Rocha International, Corrugated Supplies, Dicar, SUN Automation Group, Praxair Surface Technologies, Color Resolutions International, Buckeye Boxes, Triad Packaging, Fitzpatrick Container, Great Lakes Packaging, Custom Packaging, Alliance Machine Systems, Bobst Group, Torosian Technical Services, Bahmuller, EAM-Mosca, Valco Melton,and Baumer hhs..
Also, Corbotec and Fiscotec held their committee during lunch time on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively, interacting with many visitors and committee members.
If you were unable to attend and hear these valuable sessions in person, the proceedings CD will be available for sale from TAPPI Press - $74 member, or $119 non-member.
Keynote Address: Standing Room Only!
The 2009 CorrExpo keynote speaker was William J. Sweeney, Executive Vice President for Packaging Corporation of America (PCA). Bringing to bear his years of experience in the industry and as head of PCA’s Corrugated Products Group and Containerboard Sales Organization, Bill delivered an amazing address to a standing-room-only crowd. In his speech, Bill provided his perspective how the industry must change to address current economic conditions.
Exhibition: Excitement and Relaxation
With 103 exhibitors and over 700 attendees, energy and activity levels were high on the exhibit floor at the Hyatt as suppliers showcased their latest technologies for visitors to explore. On Tuesday afternoon, a Supplier Gala was co-sponsored by TAPPI and a goupr of suppliers. The event gave attendees the opportunity to view exhibits in a relaxed atmosphere with appetizers and a drink. To complete the festive atmosphere, a blues and jazz trio was on hand.
Networking was also in full force at the CorrExpo golf tournament held Monday, August 31, just preceding the conference. The 76 participants had a great time connecting with associates and playing the greens of the Klein Creek Golf Course in Lemont, IL, as these photos show!
Honors and Awards: Deserving Recipients Recognized
The annual awards dinner for TAPPI’s Corrugated Packaging Division was held on Monday evening, September 1. The dinner honored CPD’s 2009 award winners and outgoing committee chairs. Richard White of MarquipWardUnited turned the gavel over to incoming Division Chair Jeff Pallini of Fosber America. Dan McGuire of Corn Products was also welcomed as the incoming Vice Chair.
All awards and scholarship winners were also recognized before the keynote address on Tuesday afternoon. Two well-known industry professionals were recognized as the deserving recipients of CPD’s Certificate of Outstanding Merit: Chris Coniglio, Manager of Continuous Improvement for The Royal Group; and Dick Target, Founder of “On Target” Consultants. Outgoing Committee Chairs were also recognized including Jeff O’Cull, Temple Inland, John Rutherford, Temple Inland, Jim Wegemer, INX International Ink Company, Jim Carbone, Harper/Love Adhesives. The 2009 Scholarship award winners were MHI Corrugated Scholarship, Kolby Burton Stockton from NC State, Bobst Corrugated Scholarship, Colby Jackson from NC State, John O. Telesca Engineering Scholarship, Thomas Forte from SUNY ESF, Suppliers Advisory Corrugated Scholarship, James Hayes from Milwaukee Area Tech and the Corrugated Packaging Division Scholarship, Katlin Reeder from Clemson University.
Save the Date now to attend the 2010 event. TAPPI and AICC will co-sponsor Corrugated Week, October 4-7 at the Hilton and Hyatt hotels in Baltimore, Maryland.
For information on exhibiting or sponsoring the 2010 event please contact Linda Cohen at +1.914.944.0135 or lcohen@tappi.org.