October 23, 2007
Contents
Out of the Box: Industry News
News from TAPPI
News from TAPPI
Sponsored by
Additional Resources
For information on sponsoring this newsletter or other
sponsorship opportunities with TAPPI, contact Eric Fletty at efletty@tappi.org
or by calling +1 770-209-7535.
Explore TAPPI's updated website for the latest in news, products and services, and all of your member needs at www.tappi.org.
TAPPI assumes no responsibility for statements of fact and opinion; they are not intended nor should they be construed as a solicitation of or suggestion by TAPPI for any agreed-upon course of conduct or concerted action of any kind.
Tell a friend to subscribe to TAPPI CI E-Corr or send a blank email to subscribe-ci_ecorr@list.tappi.org.
Explore TAPPI's updated website for the latest in news, products and services, and all of your member needs at www.tappi.org.
TAPPI assumes no responsibility for statements of fact and opinion; they are not intended nor should they be construed as a solicitation of or suggestion by TAPPI for any agreed-upon course of conduct or concerted action of any kind.
Tell a friend to subscribe to TAPPI CI E-Corr or send a blank email to subscribe-ci_ecorr@list.tappi.org.
OUT OF THE BOX
NEW ISSUE OF CORRUGATING INTERNATIONAL IS NOW AVAILABLE. The Fall 2007 issue of TAPPI's Corrugating International is now available and can be downloaded as a PDF file from the TAPPI Web site. The issue includes articles on:
- Shear Measurement of Board Crushing Effects
- Bonding Lightweight Boards
- Running Lighter Weights
- Gain Bargaining Power
- A Modest Proposal for Skill Standards and Workforce Development
- Industry News
THE PAPERBOARD PACKAGING ALLIANCE (PPA) has announced the winners of its Paperboard Packaging Alliance Student Design Challenge. The challenge is designed to foster awareness and appreciation of paperboard and paperboard packaging with university educators and the next generation of packaging decision-maker. This year, the students' "challenge" was to create a promotional carton for Special Foods Products Ltd., a fictitious, national producer of dry food products that wanted to introduce the new "Juggler" line of easy to prepare, nutritious, instant, on-the-go meal.
In total, 25 entries were received from university programs. The first place winning design team was from California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly). The second place design team also was from Cal Poly. The third place team was from the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT). The winning PPA Student Design Challenge submission from Cal Poly was titled "Noodler Pack--The Ultimate Convenience," and was developed by Brain Calcagno, Jesse Dundon, Brandt Haener, Angelica Li, and Steve Munio. The team, led by instructor Dr. J. Singh, will receive an award for $1,500. Cal Poly's packaging science program receives an award of $2,500.
Cal Poly's students Rebecca Giordano, Parker Milhous, Erik Rheinisch, and Chris Hamblin developed the second-place "Gravity Feed Display Box." The team, also advised by instructor Dr. Singh, will receive an award of $1,000 and Cal Poly's Packaging program will also receive $1,500. "Mac-n-Roll" by the Fashion Institute of Technology design team of Mayuko Hari, Anna Kolodina, Samantha L, and Kay Suh secured the third place award. The team, led by Associate Professor Sandra Krasovec, will receive the third place award of $500. FIT's packaging program will receive $1,000.
ABITIBI-CONSOLIDATED has announced a new public/private recycling partnership with the City of Houston and Texas-based grocer H-E-B to initially place 84 recycling containers at store properties located throughout the Greater Houston region. The partnership, a first of its kind for Abitibi-Consolidated, allows the company to prominently place its containers at 28 H-E-B store locations for the collection of packaging/paper, plastics, aluminum, and metals. Abitibi-Consolidated will collect and weigh the recycled materials and directly pay the local affiliates of Keep Texas Beautiful based on the company's per weight pay scale. These proceeds will be used to support local initiatives such as recycling educational programs and materials for children and community clean-up as well as landscaping efforts.
AICC (the Assn. of Independent Corrugated Converters) also recently held its 13th International Corrugated Packaging Design Competition in Minneapolis, Minn. There were a total of 175 entries from 35 member companies. Awards were announced in 19 categories. The competition's top awards, Judges' Choice and People's Choice, were also announced. This year the Judges' Choice award was given for both a Structural and Graphics entry. The Judges' Choice Award: Graphics went to Allpak Container, the Judges' Choice Award: Structural was awarded to The Boxmaker Inc., and the People's Choice Award was won by Jet Container Co. A full listing of awards in the 19 categories can be found on AICC's web site. The 14th International Corrugated Packaging Design Competition will be held in October 2009 at Las Vegas, Nev.
ALDABRA 2 ACQUISITION CORP. reports that it has executed a firm commitment letter with Goldman Sachs Credit Partners for 100% of the debt financing related to Aldabra's proposed acquisition of the packaging, paper, and newsprint assets of Boise Cascade. The $1.175 billion financing commitment consists of $925 million of senior secured term loan facilities and a $250 million senior secured revolving credit facility to fund the cash portion of the acquisition price. In addition, Goldman Sachs has agreed to increase the senior secured term loan facilities by up to an additional $60.7 million to fund an incremental cash portion of the purchase price in the event that some of Aldabra's stockholders elect to exercise their conversion rights.
AHLSTROM Reports that it will put its Ascoli plant in Italy and Chantraine plant in France under review due to unsatisfactory profitability and cash flow. Both facilities are part of Ahlstrom's Label & Packaging Papers business area and produce one-side coated papers for wet glue labeling, flexible packaging, and graphical end uses, mainly for the Western European markets. The company will evaluate the long-term economic viability of the plants and the options to either sell or close both facilities. The plants have an annual production capacity of some 100,000 metric tons and employ approximately 300 people. The current combined book value of the plants is EUR 5 million, according to Ahlstrom, which added that progress of the review will be reported during the fourth quarter.
IN OTHER AHLSTROM NEWS, the company said that Diego Borello, currently senior VP of its Label & Packaging Papers business area, will assume responsibility for innovation and health, safety, and environment (HSEA) functions. Borello will particularly focus on improving the energy efficiency in Ahlstrom's operations. He continues to be a member of the corporate executive team. As of the same time, Daniele Borlatto, currently VP, Filtration business in Europe and South America, was appointed senior VP of Label & Packaging Papers business area and a member of the corporate executive team.
AMERICAN ISRAELI PAPER MILLS announced that its board has approved an increase in the NIS 600 million (about $140 million) investment originally announced in November 2006 for a new 230,000-metric tpy packaging paper production line at its Hadera, Israel, mill. The investment is now approved at approximately NIS 690 million ($170 million). The new production line is scheduled to startup in mid-2009. The company says that the increased investment is primarily due to the substantial rise in worldwide raw material prices during this period (particularly metal prices), a certain rise in civil engineering prices (attributed among others to the rise in raw material prices), fluctuations in exchange rates, and to the company's decision to purchase an advanced production technology in this field from global suppliers. The investment also includes about NIS 30 million ($8 million) to expand collection of ONP and OCC by the company's subsidiary operation, Amnir Recycling Industries, to be used as raw material for the packaging paper production line. The planned expansion is expected to double the amount of wastepaper collected by Amnir in these grades.
CURTIS PACKAGING, a Sandy Hook, Conn.-based folding carton manufacturer, reports that five years ago it began assessing and tweaking its operations to reduce its carbon footprint, and that recently, these efforts have paid off. Curtis says that it has now become the first U.S. printing and packaging company to achieve carbon neutral status. Curtis notes that it is Forest Stewardship Certified and uses all renewable energy to power its operations. The company will offset unavoidable emissions by investing in audited mitigation projects, such as the Mynydd-Y-Garnedd forestry project in Wales and the Rhine-Ruhr methane capture project in Germany. Curtis also joined the Sustainable Packaging Coalition to promote materials and systems that foster economic and environmental health.
FBA (Fibre Box Assn.) has issued a reminder that the "Corrugated Recycles" toll-free telephone service has been discontinued and recycling information can now be found online. Also, the "Corrugated Recycles" logo, printed on the bottom of most boxes, has been updated to include a version listing www.corrugated.org instead of the 800-number. The "Corrugated Recycles" logo that does not include either resource can also still be used. Corrugated.org provides links to database resources listing recycling mills and brokers that accept old corrugated containers (OCC). The website also provides a comprehensive look at corrugated and the environment, the corrugated recycling process and the wax recyclability standard.
STRIBLING PACKAGING, Rogers, Ark., was recently visited by President George W. Bush., who was in the area to discuss economic growth. The president toured the Stribling plant to highlight the jobs which small and medium sized companies provide, and later met for lunch with local business leaders and delivered an address on fiscal responsibility. "One of the reasons I've stopped by this facility here in Arkansas is to remind people that business is the backbone of our economy," the president noted. "These good folks are making a living; more importantly, they're providing labor for people here in this facility. And that's what we want. We want people working in America."
WEYERHAEUSER's board of directors has approved measures to enhance the company's corporate governance practices regarding the election of directors. The company amended its bylaws, effective immediately, to allow for the use of the majority standard in uncontested elections. Under the new amendment, a nominee who does not receive a majority of the votes cast must submit his or her resignation to the board.
NEW PRODUCTS AND EQUIPMENT ORDERS
SMURFIT-STONE CONTAINER CORP. has introduced its new META KD-8 case erector corrugated packaging system. Whereas existing systems are designed to erect META cases by forming and gluing a die-cut blank around a fixed mandrel, SSCC's new system is designed to erect an eight-sided META case, reducing materials and increasing stacking strength, while expanding graphic and display capabilities and providing stronger shelf impact. Marketed for case-up or monthly lease, the system features a large capacity magazine capable of handling up to 150 cases, a case selection system that enables the machine to handle warped board and corrugated variations, opposing vacuum cups to slowly separate cases as they are erected (effectively breaking score lines and over-glued manufacturer's joints), hand cranks for fast changeover without tools, vacuum transducers (rather than pumps) to reduce clogs and downtime, and a program logic controlled (PLC) timing sequence. The eight-sided boxes require less square footage than RSV high compression.
NEWS FROM TAPPI
COMING NEXT WEEK: Don't miss this important event!
2007 Corrugated Packaging Conference/CorrExpo
October 30 - November 1, 2007
Indianapolis Convention Center
Indianapolis, Indiana USA
There's still time to make plans to attend the TAPPI 2007 Corrugated Packaging Conference and CorrExpo. Centrally-located Indianapolis is easy to get to, and single-day registrations are available.
PLUS - A complement of special presentations are being offered FREE to box plant employees, even if they are not paid conference attendees (details below). Don't miss this opportunity. We've listed some important highlights here; complete information is available at www.tappi.org/07COR.
One low price - one great deal
This year's special Box Plant Discount admits an unlimited number of attendees from the same location for a single payment of only $1095! Attendees gain great corrugated-specific knowledge, and the shared experience helps put that new knowledge to work back at the plant. In addition to three excellent programming tracks, the What's New Technology Showcase presents the latest developments from top industry suppliers. Bring your entire crew - you can't afford to miss this incredible training value.
Three tracks target every area of your plant
Presentations at the 2007 Corrugated Packaging Conference will again concentrate on Corrugating/Corrugating Maintenance, Converting/Converting Maintenance and HRD/Safety. Hundreds of your industry peers, from box plants and corrugated converting companies across the country, are expected to attend.
Special hour-long presentations will be added to the technical program this year, focusing on Industry Innovations. Topics include "Lean Manufacturing," presented by Kirt Patel, Georgia Pacific; "Robotics," by Dave Ahrendt, Alliance Machine Systems; and "Digital Printing," by Phil Dempsey, Poteet Printing Systems. These presentations will be free to all box plant employees, even if they are not paid conference attendees. So plan to bring your problems and ask the experts to help you solve them!
Joel Weldon - back by popular demand
Due to his tremendous popularity, engaging speaker Joel Weldon will deliver two separate keynote addresses at the Corrugated Packaging Conference. Joel has been bringing business and industry leaders new perspectives on leadership, sales, customer service, and personal improvement for over 30 years. On Tuesday, October 30th Joel will be delivering his speech "The Invisible Horses" (How Change Brings You Opportunity). This opening session will help you open your thinking to new ideas and get maximum benefits out of conference breakout sessions.
Weldon will be speaking again on Wednesday, October 31st with his motivational speech, "Find Out What Everyone Else Is Doing…And Don't Do It" (How To Be Even More Innovative And Creative). This session will help you generate new ideas and new concepts to take back to your organization. You'll not only have fun, you'll get results!
CorrExpo 2007 keeps you in touch
There is no better place to find out what's new in corrugated than TAPPI's 2007 CorrExpo®. Held in conjunction with the TAPPI 2007 Corrugated Packaging Conference, hundreds of corrugated packaging professionals - include plant managers, production teams, individual operators, production managers, and purchasing managers - are expected to attend. Don't miss your chance to meet top suppliers and view new technology - you'll find just what your plant needs to improve.
TAPPI and Questex continue partnership for SuperCorrExpo 2008
TAPPI's Corrugated Packaging Division and Questex Show Management have announced an agreement for the continuation of exhibit operations and sales for TAPPI, and specifically the SuperCorrExpo 2008 show.
"This is a continuation of the successful partnership we have had with Questex for this year's TAPPI CorrExpo show which opens at the end of this month in Indianapolis," reports TAPPI Vice President Eric Fletty. "By bringing in an outside company that specifically handles the business end of trade shows, TAPPI is able to focus on our core tasks of developing relevant content that meets the needs of our members through our conference programs, workshops, and roundtables."
Although best known in the corrugated industry for its ownership of Paperboard Packaging and Official Board Markets, Questex is a major presence in the show management business. With this new agreement, the Questex Show Management team brings this extensive expertise to SuperCorrExpo 2008.
TAPPI's Tammi Campbell will continue in her exhibit sales role with SuperCorrExpo 2008, in concert with Questex' efforts. Contact Tammi at tcampbell@tappi.org, or at 1 209-7405.
Entries now being accepted for CORRPAK® 2008 competition
TAPPI's Corrugated Packaging Division is now accepting entries for the CorrPak® 2008 Competition. This competitive event is held to select and recognize the finest commercially produced corrugated package products manufactured between August 1, 2006 and August 1, 2008. The CorrPak® 2008 Competition is open to all corrugated manufacturers worldwide, and is held every two years.
The CorrPak Competition is divided into two distinct classifications: Structure and Printing. Within each classification, competitors may select from a number of traditional and new competitive categories. Each company location may enter more than one design per category and take advantage of reduced fees for multiple entries.
Entries in each competition category will be evaluated based on quality, design, graphic excellence, technical difficulty, and innovative applications. Judges will select first, second, and third place winners in each category as well as two Best In Show Winners - one for the Structure classification and one for the Printing classification. A list of winners from the 2006 CorrPak® Competition is available online.
All entries in the CorrPak® 2008 Competition will be displayed during the 2008 Corrugated Packaging Conference & SuperCorrExpo®, which will be held September 22-26, 2008 in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Conference attendees will have the opportunity to view all competition entries and cast their vote for the Attendee Favorite. All award winners will be announced during the Conference.
Additional information about CorrPak® 2008 will be available soon at www.tappi.org. All technical questions relating to entry eligibility or category clarification should be directed to Cordes Porcher, CorrPak® Chairman, via email at fcporcher@aol.com. Be sure to indicate CorrPak Competition in the subject line. Questions regarding entry requirements should be directed to Tammi Campbell at +1 770-209-7405 or via email at tcampbell@tappi.org.
SuperCorrExpo 2008 website speaks your language
Comprehensive fact sheets covering the details of SuperCorrExpo are now available in French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Japanese, Chinese, Arabic and Russian on the www.SuperCorrExpo.org website. And, as has been the case from the initial launch, the entire website, along with corresponding fact sheets, is online in both English and Spanish.
SuperCorrExpo will be held September 22-26, 2008 in the Georgia World Congress Center in Downtown Atlanta, Georgia. "This time next year we'll be open for business and open for the world," promises Eric Fletty, TAPPI's Vice President of Operations. "With this and several other initiatives we're reaching out to the global corrugated industry. Our goal is to provide Latin America with the large-scale machine show they've never had and to offer a worthy replacement for the European corrugated show last held in 2002."
For visitors from outside the U.S., a subsection of the Travel portion of the SuperCorrExpo website includes detailed information on obtaining a visa to visit the United States. Visitors to www.SuperCorrExpo.org will find exhibition, training and meeting schedules; exhibitor lists by product and exhibitor; hotel, airline and ground transportation links; an interactive floor plan; the latest exhibit and exhibitor news, and much more.
Have you heard about Standards and TIPs Online?
You can enjoy 24-7 access to knowledge -- from home, work, or on the road - with a subscription to Standards and TIPs Online. New from TAPPI Press, Standards and TIPs Online gives you point-and-click access to the most current TAPPI Test Methods and Technical Information Papers (TIPs). Benefits include:
- On-the-go convenience - Your subscription gives you worldwide access from any computer with an Internet connection.
- Always up-to-date - Online information will include the latest Standards and TIPs.
- Bundled offer - Test Methods and TIPs are both included.
- It's easy to get started- No complicated software to learn, all you need is a username and password.
Corrugated Packaging Division Calendar of Events
October 30-November 1, 2007
2007 Corrugated Packaging Conference and CorrExpo
Indianapolis Convention Center and RCA Dome/Westin Hotel
Indianapolis, IN
September 22-26, 2008
SuperCorrExpo2008
GWCC - Atlanta, GA, USA
TAPPI is the leading technical association for the worldwide pulp, paper, and converting industry.
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