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Fort Mill, South Carolina based Domtar Corp. reported that it has named Troy Wilson the new manager of its Kingsport, Tennessee, mill, effective immediately. Wilson succeeded Marty Barfield, who passed away on December 31 after a long illness. In his new role, Wilson will be responsible for leading all aspects of the Kingsport mill. A key focus will be its operational readiness for the mill’s entry into the containerboard market in 2022.

Once in full operation, the converted mill is expected to produce and market approximately 600,000 tons annually of high-quality and medium recycled linerboard. The conversion is expected to be completed by the first quarter of 2023. The city is expecting an “average local spend” of $130 million once the operation re-opens. Domtar estimates the conversion cost to be $300-$350 million.

Economic improvement in the United States will continue in 2021, say the nation’s purchasing and supply management executives in the December 2020 Semi-annual Economic Forecast. This expansion will continue a growth trend that began in June 2020.

Revenues are expected to increase in 15 of 18 manufacturing industries and 12 of 18 services-sector industries. Capital expenditures are expected to increase by 2.4 percent in the manufacturing sector (after a 2.4 percent decline in 2020) and increase by 12.7 percent in the services sector. The manufacturing employment base is expected to grow by 2.5 percent following a decline of 2.8 percent in 2019. Growth in the second half (H2) of the year is projected to be stronger than in H1. These projections are part of the forecast issued by the Business Survey Committee of Institute for Supply Management (ISM). The forecast was released last week by Timothy R. Fiore, CPSM, C.P.M, Chair of the ISM Manufacturing Business Survey Committee, and by Anthony S. Nieves, CPSM, C.P.M., A.P.P, CFPM, Chair of the ISM Services Business Survey Committee. Expectations for 2021 are positive, as 59 percent of survey respondents expect revenues to be greater in 2021 than in 2020. The panel of purchasing and supply executives expects a 6.9 percent net increase in overall revenues for 2021, compared to a 1.3 percent decrease reported for 2020. Fifteen of the 18 manufacturing industries expect revenue improvement in 2021, listed in order: Printing & Related Support Activities; Transportation Equipment; Nonmetallic Mineral Products; Apparel, Leather & Allied Products; Machinery; Computer & Electronic Products; Primary Metals; Plastics & Rubber Products; Fabricated Metal Products; Miscellaneous Manufacturing; Chemical Products; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; Furniture Products; and Paper Products.

“Manufacturing’s purchasing and supply executives expect to see strong growth in 2021. They are optimistic about overall business prospects for the first half of 2021, with business continuing to expand through the second half and at higher rates. Manufacturing experienced seven consecutive months of growth from June through December 2020, with December’s PMI at its highest level since August 2018, the peak of the last manufacturing expansion. Respondents expect an increase in raw materials pricing pressures in 2021, as well as improved profit margins. Wages and employment will also return to growth. Manufacturers also predict growth in both exports and imports in 2021,” said Fiore.

In the manufacturing sector, respondents report operating at 85.7 percent of their normal capacity, up 9.8 percentage points from the 75.9 percent reported in May 2020. Purchasing and supply executives predict that capital expenditures will increase by 2.4 percent in 2021 over 2020, compared to the 2.4 percent decrease reported for 2020 over 2019. Manufacturers expect employment in the sector to grow by 2.5 percent in 2021 relative to December 2020levels, while labor and benefit costs are expected to increase an average of 2.7 percent. Respondents also expect the U.S. dollar to weaken against six of the seven currencies of major trading partners in 2021; it is expected to strengthen relative to the Mexican peso.

Brett Jaffe, CEO of C&M Conveyor and Ohio Blow Pipe has announced that Gilbert Buescher has decided to spend more time with his family. He will be narrowing his territory to MI, KS, and MO. “Gil’s 27 years with C&M Conveyor have been filled with accomplishments that support our customers’ goals in improving safety, efficiency, and reliability. We are thrilled to still have him part of the team, while balancing and aligning his desire to spend more time with his grandchildren,” said Jaffe.

To cover the Midwest region (IL, WI, MN, ND, SD, NE, IA), Jaffe announced the addition of Corrugated Solutions as area representation. Buescher will be helping the founders of Corrugated Solutions, Michael Klear and Michael Prassel, transition with customers over the coming months. Klear has been working in the corrugated industry for over 14 years, having been with Signode Industrial Group. Prassel has been successful helping designing the best possible process flow for many modern box plants

Corrugated Solutions currently has four representatives in the Midwest area selling SUN Automation Group/ LMC (Latitude Machinery Company), ARCO Murray, and Signode. With the addition of C&M Conveyor, they offer the ability to optimize all facets of box plant process flow, from raw materials to WIP and finally, shipping.

Romeoville, Illinois based BW Integrated Systems, a Barry-Wehmiller packaging company, has promoted Eric Collier to Executive Vice President of Global Commercial Operations. In his six years with the company, Collier has made a significant impact on BW Integrated Systems’ position in the market with clients around the globe, while strengthening the commercial team. BW Integrated Systems President Pete Carlson said Collier’s promotion aligns with the company’s commitment to supporting harmony between people and performance.

“Eric has been a trusted advisor and thought leader in the packaging industry throughout his career,” Carlson said. “His ability to balance serving our clients with delivering value for the business is a unique strength. He accomplishes this with intensity, while also fully embracing our people-centric culture. This promotion is a recognition of his consistent performance and is a way of expanding his influence.”

Collier joined BW Integrated Systems in 2015, after having spent much of his career in the packaging industry with Intelligrated, where he led sales and applications teams across multiple sites. His years of experience have proven meaningful in driving success across BW Integrated Systems, where he has held several commercial leadership roles, including overseeing global new equipment sales and integrated packaging systems, among others. With each progression, he has demonstrated consistent improvement in the performance of the teams he has led.

“I am blessed to lead the most talented commercial team in the industry,” Collier said. “I look forward to bringing all of our commercial functions together, and delivering industry-leading solutions and marquee products to the marketplace, while creating the finest client experience in the packaging industry. I am honored to be part of this BW Integrated Systems journey and look forward to contributing to the success of our team members and clients around the globe.”

Collier, an integral member of the BW Integrated Systems’ executive leadership team, partners with all functions to craft the company’s vision and delivers on commitments internally and externally. In his new role, he will have global responsibility for BW Integrated Systems’ new equipment commercial sales and go-to-market strategy, including new equipment sales and marketing, product management, innovation, project concepting and estimating, integrated packaging systems and contract administration.

Visit bwintegratedsystems.com for more information.

Atlanta, Georgia based DS Smith has joined forces with Vig Pak LLC to introduce Brrr Box, a patented, 100 percent recyclable, biodegradable cooler that incorporates some of the most modern technologies available in corrugated cardboard packaging.

Named “The Official Cooler of Planet Earth,” Brrr Box uses DS Smith’s proprietary Greencoat corrugated moisture-resistant and FDA food contact-safe material to coat its sustainable alternative to Styrofoam.

Unlike typical plastic foam coolers, Greencoat is biodegradable, made of sustainable and renewable fiber that reduces waste to landfills and carbon emissions.

“Greencoat was launched 13 years ago as a revolutionary product created to survive the harsh poultry shipping supply-chain and has since been adopted by a number of other markets. Brrr Box is a natural extension of the product line that’s ideal for consumers looking for an eco-friendly, durable way to transport ice and cold beverages without the negative impact of Styrofoam,” said Melanie Galloway, Sales, Marketing and Innovation Director at DS Smith Packaging North America.

Galloway announced the partnership with Brrr Box co-founder and President Ed Battle, who said the Brrr Box is an innovative corrugated beverage cooler solution being used by a major U.S. convenience store chain to replace Styrofoam coolers.

“The chain was looking for a disposable cooler that performed as well as Styrofoam, first and foremost,” he said. “They are also conscious of precious floor space in stores, and Brrr Box is shipped and displayed flat, so they can carry more inventory in a much smaller footprint. And, frankly, they wanted an environmentally friendly alternative as well. Brrr Box is the only product that does that.”

Battle said it’s not a single-use cooler. It opens and closes with one hand, assembles in about five seconds, holds a dozen 12-ounce beverages and 10 pounds of ice and can keep contents cold for up to eight hours.

“It’s a multi-use cooler if treated properly. And the best part is instead of those Styrofoam coolers going back into the waste stream, this goes back into the circular economy and is fully curbside recyclable,” he said.

Galloway said Greencoat uses a patented process applied completely in-house. The technology combines impregnation and coating on the paper to provide durability and long-lasting moisture protection and temperature resistance.

For retailers looking to provide an eco-friendly alternative to Styrofoam, Brrr Box offers many benefits, including:

• It’s 100 percent recyclable and biodegradable.

• It ships and merchandises flat.

• It accepts high-impact graphic printing.

• It reduces freight, warehousing and merchandising space.

• It’s compatible with corporate green initiatives and reduces carbon footprint.

• It opens and closes with one hand and assembles in about five seconds.

• The cooler holds a dozen 12-ounce beverages and 10 pounds of ice. It can keep contents cold for up to eight hours.

• It’s made in the United States.

North American Graphics and Packaging recently named industry veteran Brett Kirkpatrick, as CEO. Kirkpatrick joined North American Graphics and Packaging and its parent company, North American Corrugated, as Partner of both companies in September 2020. He brings with him more than 33 years of experience in leadership roles in the corrugated industry.

His expertise and skill set has been honed-in the areas of operations management, sales, process improvement and business management. His most recent roles have included oversite of a regional sales and design center and multiple pack-out and fulfillment centers.

“I am excited to be engaged with my partner Len Cuoco, continuing to develop and grow this fantastic business,” said Kirkpatrick. “The company looks to acquire, merge, manage and turnaround operators in the graphics and packaging industry. We look to take controlling interests in our portfolio companies and retain, if practical, current ownership and management to grow with us and integrate our processes, centralized back office, and economies in select U.S. markets.”

Clemson alumnus David Beasley, Executive Director of the United Nations World Food Programme, will give the keynote presentation at the inaugural Food, Packaging & Sustainability Summit hosted by Sonoco FRESH at Clemson University. The summit will take place February 24–26.

In December 2020, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize “for its efforts to combat hunger, for its contribution to bettering conditions for peace in conflict-affected areas and for acting as a driving force in efforts to prevent the use of hunger as a weapon of war and conflict.” Beasley will paint a picture of the industry’s ability to make positive changes that will impact the future of sustainable food systems.

“The need for collaborations and innovative approaches to protecting the safety, security and sustainability of the food value chain has never been greater,” said Anne Barr, Executive Director of Sonoco FRESH. “Networking and interaction are the cornerstones of our event, and we will be using a dynamic virtual conference platform that will allow attendees to join interactive and engaging programs – all while connecting from the comfort and safety of their homes or offices.”

Day One of the Summit will kick off with welcoming remarks from Clemson President Jim Clements and Sonoco President and CEO Howard Coker, followed by Beasley’s keynote presentation. Attendees will then be treated to a unique social hour that will focus on eco-ethics in travel and food hosted by Joel Gamoran, founder of Homemade Classes LLC and Richard Crawford, host of Amazon Prime’s Leave No Trace.

Day Two’s opening address will feature leaders from Deloitte Consulting, who will discuss the current state of the food value chain. Panel discussions will focus on overcoming supply chain disruptions in times of change and implementing and utilizing innovative technologies to deliver safe, secure and sustainable solutions.

Day Three will include presentations on designing and delivering cradle-to-cradle packaging solutions, advanced recycling practices, launching sustainable packaging innovations and a case study using sugar cane fiber for food packaging. The Summit will conclude with a presentation from Ron Gonen, Co-Founder and CEO of Closed Loop Partners, on the amazing things that can happen when competitors collaborate for the greater good. A complete list of presentations and speakers can be found online at the event website.

Registration for the virtual Summit is $129 for individuals and $99 per person for groups of five or more registering together. Proceeds from the Summit will support future activities of the FRESH initiative at Clemson University.

Sponsorships are available. More information on the Summit and workshop, including agenda and speaker updates, can be found at www.SonocoFRESHSummit.com.

Fastmarkets RISI has announced that Tony Smurfit, CEO of Smurfit Kappa Group, has been named the Fastmarkets RISI 2021 European CEO of the Year. The award will be presented at the Virtual Fastmarkets RISI European Conference, on Monday, March 8th.

The European CEO of the Year Award is nominated by a group of investment analysts, industry consultants and commentators covering the European and global pulp and paper industry. The reasons cited for Smurfit’s win largely centered around his leadership during the Covid-19 pandemic and the company’s continued investment in future growth. One analyst recognized “the company’s resilient performance during the pandemic” as well as “their recent front-footed approach to investing to capitalize on the sustainability opportunities that are emerging in their end markets.”

Smurfit Kappa is the fifth largest containerboard producer in the world. The company operates with a top capacity position in Europe along with notable positions in Mexico and Latin America, as well as North America. In early December, Smurfit Kappa’s stock hit a record high, which was eclipsed this week. Becoming CEO in 2015, Mr. Smurfit has since “delivered total shareholder returns of 180 percent against a market (FTSE100) of 17 percent,” an industry contact said.

Following 18 percent profit margins in 2018 and 2019, Smurfit Kappa was on track to another 18 percent margin year for 2020 – with sales of 8.3 billion to 8.4 billion Euros, based on a Fastmarkets RISI PPI Pulp & Paper Week estimate, and a company-guided EBITDA of 1.46 billion to 1.48 billion Euros.

A second nominating analyst referred to Smurfit Kappa investments decisions as “clear management leadership, calling the trough on Covid-19 box demand and investing for multi-year box volume and sustainability growth ahead.”

A further analyst praised Mr. Smurfit’s “positive management behavior” during the recent Covid-19 outbreak and cited this as a reason for his win. The analyst was particularly impressed by the company’s recognition of their “humble hero employees who kept customers supplied with boxes during the worst of Covid-19.”

According to Smurfit Kappa, since the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak, Tony Smurfit virtually visited more than 250 plants, and the Group also paying back government relief funds it received and provided a fourth-quarter bonus to employees.

Smurfit will deliver a keynote speech on March 8th at the Fastmarkets RISI European Conference, to be held virtually on Zerista this year.

With the significant rise of COVID-19 cases, Tolland, Connecticut based Gerber Technology has launched an initiative to help local communities in need of protective gowns. In partnership with their network of manufacturers and charitable associations, RetailersUnited and Fashion For the Frontlines, Gerber is donating 5,000 Level 1 gowns to various organizations in need. The gowns are made of DuPont Tyvek material that is specifically assigned to Gerber Technology for use in PPE (personal protective equipment) production. All of the gowns are being produced in U.S. factories to help keep local workforces employed.

Gerber has been committed to making PPE more widely available since the creation of their PPE Task Force in March 2020. Since then, the technology partner has helped over 1,700 companies pivot their supply chain for PPE production. Gerber estimates that it has empowered production of over 100 million gowns and 8 billion face coverings during the pandemic in 2020. Through their most recent gown donation efforts, Gerber will help ensure health organizations across the U.S. have access to high-quality, industry standard PPE to keep them safe.

The recipients of the gowns were determined by Gerber Technology jointly with non-for-profit organizations RetailersUnited and Fashion For the Frontlines. Since the early days of the pandemic in March, Gerber Technology has worked closely with both organizations. Fashion For the Frontlines’ is focused on getting critical PPE to those in need on the frontlines in healthcare.

“We continue to see unmet needs of PPE across the U.S. in hospitals, healthcare systems, retailers, communities and more, but by simplifying the supply chain and producing more PPE domestically, these shortages will be mitigated,” said Deborah Weinswig, CEO of CoresightResearch and Board Member of RetailersUnited. We value our continued collaboration with Gerber Technology and thank them for this contribution. With the recent alarming spike in COVID cases, these gowns are desperately needed, especially by smaller organizations whose funds and access to PPE are more limited.”

The recipients of the donated gowns include the NYC Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities for local distribution, Eger Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in Staten Island, NY; Housing Works, Inc. in Brooklyn, NY; and Great Plains Tribal Chairmen’s Health Board in South Dakota.

“Every community is in great need of help as they continue to fight COVID-19, especially right now“ said Karsten Newbury, Chief Strategy and Digital Officer at Gerber Technology. “We are proud to be doing our part to help frontline workers be safer as they perform critical services for their communities. We are grateful for the partnerships with the manufacturers who have done their part to produce personal protective equipment during this very difficult time.

The Institute of Packaging Professionals (IoPP) has announced the new members of its Board of Directors for the period of January 2021 through December 2021. The newly elected members of the Board of Directors as of Jan. 1, 2021 are:

• Camille Chism, CPPL, Fellow, Owner, Indigo Packaging & Consulting, LLC

• Brian Stepowany, CPPL, Fellow, Senior Manager, Packaging Research & Development, B&G Foods “If the past year has taught us anything, it is that we

all must be able to change and adapt,” says Jane Chase, Executive Director, IoPP. “IoPP was and continues to be uniquely positioned to support our membership during the COVID-19 crisis by providing resources for virtual networking and educational opportunities. I am looking forward to watching IoPP continue to pivot and grow under this new Board of Directors slate.”

The newly-elected members will be joining the following returning members of the IoPP Board of Directors:

• Jennifer Benolken, CPPL, MDM & Regulatory Specialist, Packaging Engineering, Tyvek, Medical Packaging, DuPont Protection Solutions

• Sara Michals, CPPL, Manager, Packaging and Merchandising, Corelle Brands LLC

• Rebecca Oesterle, CPPL, Fellow; Chair, IoPP Board of Directors

• Michael Okoroafor, Ph.D., Vice President, Global Sustainability & Packaging Innovation, McCormick & Company, Inc.; Treasurer, IoPP Board of Directors

• William Rice, Principal, Packaging Technology, SC Johnson & Son, Inc.; VP, Education and Certification, IoPP Board of Directors

• Tom Seymour, Sales Account Manager, Hammer Packaging; Vice Chair, IoPP Board of Directors

• Toby Wingfield, Global R&D Packaging Director, Pepsi- Co – Global Gatorade; VP, Membership, IoPP Board of Directors In addition to welcoming this new Board of Directors

slate for 2021, IoPP would like to thank two outgoing Board members: Sue Evans, Senior Technical Manager, Packaging, US Foods, Inc., and Wynn Wiksell, Director, R&D and Innovation, J.M. Smucker. Evans served on the IoPP Board for two years and Wiksell served for four years.

(IoPP) is a leading individual membership organization serving the educational needs of the packaging community. It is committed to providing continuing educational programs of interest and value to all packaging professionals. These programs cover all packaging-related areas of business and technology, as well as fundamental principles. The organization, its activities and operations support the development of the best possible packaging programs and events.

Visit iopp.org for more information.