Official Board Markets articles from December 2003

Official Board Markets archives from December 2003

Can you cut non-value-added?(Customer Needs Evolve)(Container industry)
December 6, 2003... In 1992 when the big three auto makers began experimenting with returnable containers, I was selling boxes to General Motors (GM)--a lot of boxes--and I remember doing the math to convince myself that corrugated was a better value. Let's see...

Transacted containerboard prices.(Brief Article)
December 6, 2003... Average transacted price levels are tabulated by obtaining paid prices from independent converters purchasing linerboard and medium. All prices are intended as a reference standard only. Transactions may be concluded at any time at any price...

Corrugated Services, IPM, merge.(Brief Article)
December 6, 2003... Corrugated Services LP, a Forney, Texas-based independent manufacturer of recycled containerboard, consolidates with Independent Paperboard Marketing, Inc. (IPM), a Summerland Key, Fla.,-based paperboard marketing firm. "Both Corrugated...

Caraustar to consolidate operations.(Into Georgia Headquarters)(Brief Article)
December 6, 2003... As part of its previously announced goal of reducing annual selling, general and administrative costs by approximately $20 million, Caraustar industries, Inc. will centralize and consolidate its accounting and finance operations to its...

Jaakko Poyry Group acquires NLK.(Jaakko Poyry NLK In Vancouver)(Brief Article)
December 6, 2003... Jaakko Poyry Group Oyj, Vantaa, Finland, acquires the operations of Canadian forest industry engineering firm NLK Consultants Inc. Terms weren't disclosed. The business combination is expected to close Dec. 12. NLK Consultants, with offices in...

Manufacturing rises to highest level in two decades.(Fifth Straight Month)
December 6, 2003... Manufacturing activity rose to its highest level in nearly 20 years in November, as factories tried to keep up with demand and indicated a readiness to expand their work forces for the first time in three years, according to the Institute for...

Cascades installs F & K press.(January '04 Startup)(Fischer and Krecke, Cascades Boxboard Group Inc)(Brief Article)
December 6, 2003... Cascades Boxboard Inc., Kingsey Falls, Quebec, installs a Fischer & Krecke nine station central impression flexographic press at its Cobourg, Ontario, folding carton plant. The press, scheduled for startup in January 2004, offers improved...

Folding carton barrier packaging.(Product Update)
December 6, 2003... Appleton's MoistureBloc folding carton barrier packaging is engineered to provide protection from moisture vapor damage for consumer dry goods like detergents, powdered milk, rice, potato flakes, and baby cereal. MoistureBloc uses barrier...

Performance Line of conveyors.(Product Update)
December 6, 2003... Systec Conveyors now offers a Performance Line of conveyors designed for small bundle handling. The Performance Line Shaft Conveyor (PLSC) is a zero-pressure, accumulating line shrift that uses a drive package assembly that allows placement of...

OCC consumption falls.(Canadian Mills)(October Canadian mills)(Brief Article)
December 6, 2003... Last October Canadian mills consumed 13 percent less OCC than they did in October 2002, reports Canada's Pulp and Paper Products Council. In fact, mill consumption for most of the grades found on the accompanying chart fell when compared to...

Heidelberg streamlines.(To Cost $484 Million)(Brief Article)
December 6, 2003... Heidelberg will invest an estimated one-time cost of $484 million (U.S.) to re-align and streamline the company. It plans to scale down its management board, cut up to 1000 jobs worldwide, divest its activities ha research, development and...

Average sheet prices.(Illustration)
December 6, 2003... Average Sheet Prices Based upon a survey of sheet plants. Per 1000 sq. ft., 50,000 sq. ft. single item orders, including delivery charges. Southeast/ East South ...

Canada's recovered paper consumption (metric tons) October 2003.(Illustration)
December 6, 2003... Canada's Recovered Paper Consumption (metric tons) October 2003 All PAPER AND BOARD Producers (including estimates for non-reporting companies) RECEIPTS Imports...

Flexo Concepts.(Product Update)
December 6, 2003... New 0.020-inch polyester doctor blade material from Flexo Concepts is designed to replace steel containment blades on chambered doctor blade systems. According to the company, polyester will outlast steel and reduce the chance of anilox roll...

Series 5 radio headset.(Product Update)
December 6, 2003... Earmark's Series 5 radio headset is a two-way portable radio built into noise-reducing earmuffs. It comes with up to ten channels pre-programmed into the radio, virtually eliminating frequency contention and allowing for multi-channel...

Transacted paper stock prices--low grades.(Brief Article)(Illustration)
December 6, 2003... Transacted Paper Stock Prices--Low Grades Mixed Boxboard Paper Cuttings News News (1) (4) (6) (8) Chicago $45-50...

OCC prices soften on West Coast.(Market Report)(Old Corrugated Cartons)(Brief Article)
December 6, 2003... A number of board mills on the West Coast have successfully been able to reduce the price they are willing to pay for OCC tight now and still get all they need. Why? Export activity has softened a bit. Specifically, China has pulled back on its...

Transacted paper stock prices--high grades.(Brief Article)(Illustration)
December 6, 2003... Transacted Paper Stock Prices--High Grades White Coated Hard New DLK News Soft Wht. White Cuttings Blanks Shavings Shavings ...

K-1 Pkg. installs KBA press.(Rapida 105 41")(KBA North America)(Brief Article)
December 6, 2003... K-1 Packaging Group, City of Industry; Calif., installs a Rapida 105 41-in. six color sheetfed press from KBA North America, Williston, Vt. According to K-1 Packaging Group, the Rapida handles thick substrates that the company's previous press...

WMU installs impregnator at pilot plant.(Allows 80% Penetration)(Western Michigan University)(Brief Article)
December 6, 2003... Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, Mich., installs a new impregnator at its pilot plant that is used to study how the addition of water-based solutions can enhance the performance of paper and paperboard packaging. The impregnator allows...

Capacity, Historical Data available.(From RISI)
December 6, 2003... Resource Information Systems, Inc. (RISI) publishes the 2003 edition of its Capacity Reports and Annual Historical Data reports. Capacity Reports cover 13 years of current and presumed mill capacity data covering graphic paper, paper packaging,...

Transacted boxboard prices.(Brief Article)
December 6, 2003... The prices tabulated here are intended only as a reference standard to the current levels commonly prevailing in a representative proportion of the U.S. contract transactions, The prices listed do not connote any agreement or commitment by any...

Weyco settles discrimination case.(For $255,713)(Brief Article)
December 6, 2003... Weyerhaeuser, Federal Way, Wash., agrees to settle findings by the U.S. Dept. of Labor that one of its plants discriminated against qualified minority applicants. The Dept. of Labor alleged Weyerhaeuser failed to give minority applicants equal...

Call for PPC safety award entries.(Jan. 31 Deadline)
December 6, 2003... Members of the Paperboard Packaging Council (PPC) have until Jan. 31, 2004, to submit information on safe work environment practices for PPC's 2004 Safety Program Awards. Eligibility for entry requires one full year of participation ha the...

NorskeCanada adds recycling division.(From Belkorp Group)(Brief Article)
December 6, 2003... NorskeCanada, Vancouver, B.C., adds a paper recycling division to its operations through the acquisition of a de-inking plant ha Coquitlam, B.C., from the privately owned Belkorp Group. Purchase price is $44.5 million (U.S) plus working...

Heidelberg.(People Update)(Brief Article)
December 6, 2003... Holger Reichardt resigns as director of marketing, sales and service at Heidelberg. Reichardt has been a member of the company's management board since 1998. The contract was cancelled amicably and by mutual agreement, the company reports, and...

Register early for 2004 AICC courses.(Save Up To $150)
December 6, 2003... The Association of Independent Corrugated Converters (AICC) encourages participants to register early for upcoming AICC training courses to save up to $150 per course. Early registration deadlines are: * Dec. 20, 2003, for Comprehensive...

Dollar's decline helps box demand.(Sales And Profits Benefits)(Paperboard boxes)
December 13, 2003... As expected the tug of war over currency values between Wall Street analysts and manufacturers escalated in late November when the dollar declined sharply in relation to the Euro and to a lesser extent the yen and Canadian dollar. Europeans...

Transacted containerboard prices.(Brief Article)
December 13, 2003... Average transacted price levels are tabulated by obtaining paid prices from independent converters purchasing linerboard and medium. All prices are intended as a reference standard only. Transactions may be concluded at any time at any price...

Student builds paperboard house.(University of Sydney, Association of Independent Corrugated Converters Innovator)(Brief Article)
December 13, 2003... Armacel, winner of this years Association of Independent Corrugated Converters Innovator of the Year award, has a new application for its polymer coating process--homebuilding. University of Sydney, Australia, architecture student Adriano...

Intertape to buy Tesa Tape operations.(Slitting And Packaging)(Brief Article)
December 13, 2003... Intertape Polymer Group Inc., Montreal, is rolling out a retail presence with a deal to buy the masking tape and duct tape operations of Tesa Tape Inc. The acquisition includes a three-year agreement to supply duct tape and masking tape...

AF&PA receives recycling award.(Recovery Goal Cited)(American Forest & Paper Association )(Brief Article)
December 13, 2003... The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA), Wash., D.C., recently was selected as a National Recycling Coalition 2003 Recycling Works Recognition Award recipient. The Award recognizes organizations for their commitment to recycling through...

Market report: champagne or ice water in 2004?(Paper products industry)
December 13, 2003... Few box plants in the East Central region will regret closing the books on 2003. But the last couple of months certainly were an improvement over the first part of the year. Don't buy the good French stuff yet--but there just might reason to...

McLean Pkg installs Inkontrol.(Viscosity And PH)
December 13, 2003... McLean Packaging Corp., Pennsauken, N.J., installs an Automatan Inkontrol automatic viscosity/pH control system for its seven-color Gopfert press. McLean Packaging chose file Inkontrol to consistently measure and control viscosity and pH...

Integrity Packaging Inc.(Noteworthy News)(Brief Article)
December 13, 2003... Integrity Packaging Inc., Houston, is honored by the Houston Business Journal as one of the top 50 woman owned businesses in the city. In business for 18 years, Integrity is a custom folding carton manufacturer. The business employs 80 people...

Wassar-Stat 730 high-gloss agueous overcoat.(Product Update)
December 13, 2003... ADMTronics Unlimited, Inc.'s Wassar-Stat 730 high-gloss aqueous overcoat has a high degree of water resistance when exposed to moisture, is a superior film former and is repulpable under conventional alkali repulping processes, the company...

CompuSheeter II.(Product Update)
December 13, 2003... The new CompuSheeter II from Contech sheets paper, corrugated, foil, plastic and other materials. It features a new variable-frequency vector drive; the rate of speed depends on size and type of material and desired tolerance. The sheeter...

SDFK sheeter.(from Maxson Automatic Machinery Co)(Brief Article)
December 13, 2003... The SDFK sheeter, new from Maxson Automatic Machinery Co., sheets lenticular plastic at higher speech than conventional drop shear equipment while ensuring the square, accurate dimensions required by the industry, the company says. In this...

Mac and PC plug-ins for Adobe[R] Illustrator[R].(Product Update)(Brief Article)
December 13, 2003... Esko-Graphics, Gent, Belgium, announces ArtiosCAD Mac and PC plug-ins for Adobe[R] Illustrator[R], ensuring the streamlined integration of CAD with graphic design files in the prepress workflow. Until now, an EPS file had to be exported from...

Paperboard food containers continue to grow.(Remaining On Top)(Brief Article)
December 13, 2003... Paperboard will continue to remain the largest rigid food container material based on its strength, stiffness, competitive pricing structure, and favorable environmental profile, reports the Freedonia Group, a Cleveland-based industrial market...

NPA reports Oct. sales decrease.(Carton And Rigid Box)(National Paperbox Association's report)(Brief Article)
December 13, 2003... Folding carton sales for the month of October decreased 2.11 percent to $35 million, and rigid box sales decreased 4.14 percent to $4.3 million, according to the National Paperbox Association's (NPA) monthly billed sales report. This report...

Wide-mouth balers.(Product Update)
December 13, 2003... American Baler's line of wide-mouth balers has standard features, including the Pathfinder Plus color touch screen for operator interface, automatic tensioning controls to help maintain optimum bale density on all materials, and a five-tie...

Form roller.(Product Update)
December 13, 2003... The Clean Image (TM) form roller from Harris and Bruno International uses a textured roller through an eccentric motion to scrub unwanted hickeys from the plate. Its lateral oscillation alleviates ghosting by delivering a consistent ink...

Vacuum powered hoist.(Product Update)
December 13, 2003... VacuHoist [R], from Ergonomic Handling Systems, is the most ergonomically advanced vacuum powered hoist on the market today, the company says. The system, which can lift, maneuver and lower objects up to 600 pounds, combines with the company's...

Transacted paper stock prices--low grade.(Brief Article)(Illustration)
December 13, 2003... Transacted Paper Stock Prices--Low Grades Mixed Boxboard Paper Cuttings News News (1) (4) (6) (8) Chicago $45-50...

Mixed paper prices level off.(Market Report)(Brief Article)
December 13, 2003... A number of readers have expressed surprise that mixed paper prices rose by $5/ton in the Northeast earlier this month. While there are a couple of mills that were paying more than $45/ton, it was a mistake to increase mixed paper prices in the...

RFID toolkit available in January.(From Aim)
December 13, 2003... AIM North America, the chapter organization for automatic identification and data capture (AIDC) technologies, launches an RFID informational toolkit in early January. Intended as an RFID educational piece, the kit will help solution providers...

Transacted paper stock prices--high grades.(Brief Article)(Illustration)
December 13, 2003... Transacted Paper Stock Prices--High Grades For detailed chart explanation, see page 11 White Coated Hard New DLK News Soft Wht. White ...

Register now for AICC Sales Forum.(Feb. 19-22)
December 13, 2003... AICC is acccepting registrations for its l0th annual Sales Manager's Forum, a training program for sales managers in rite corrugated industry, held Feb. 19 21, in Clearwater Beach, Fla. Early registration deadline is Jan. 21. The forum, led by...

Digital plate capping.(Product Update)
December 13, 2003... Creo Inc.'s DigiCap[TM] digital plate capping improves print quality in solid areas, the company says. DigiCap simulates the traditional plate capping technique digitally by applying a pattern of small reverse dots in the surface of die plate....

Compression strappers.(Product Update)
December 13, 2003... Dynamic Packaging Systems' compression strappers are constructed with compact design, a maintenance-free guide system of the press platen, reproducible pressure, and a nonabrasive tension system with an interval tension option. Options for...

Swedish cos. collaborate on card.(Metallic Board)(Iggesund Paperboard Ltd.)(Brief Article)
December 13, 2003... This year's Christmas card from Iggesund Paperboard, Iggesund, Sweden, is constructed with the company's Invercote Albato MetalPrint solid bleached board as the base, incorporating diecut embossed Swedish gingersnap shapes that pop up from the...

MeadWestvaco enhances Printkote.(Absolute Whiteness)(Printkote Advantage, paperboards.)(Brief Article)
December 13, 2003... MeadWestvaco Corp.'s Packaging Resources Group enhances the aesthetic characteristics of its Printkote Advantage[R] family of C1S and C2S bleached paperboards. Most significant, according to the company, is a new styling that gives each product...

VirtuRS wins Product of the Year.(SGIA/DPI '03)(Brief Article)
December 13, 2003... The VirtuRS[TM] printer from Leggett & Platt Digital Technologies is selected DPI Product of the Year for Rigid Substrates in Best of Category, Best Color, Best Tonality and Best Detail categories at the Sceenprinting & Graphic Imaging...

Sonoco pack center opens in Germany.(For P&G)
December 13, 2003... Sonoco, Hartsville, S.C., opens a new pack center in Euskirchen, Germany, where it packs point-of-purchase displays for Procter & Gamble Co.'s (P&G) Europcan Babycare division. The pack center will handle thousands of displays annually and can...

Harper takes training on the road.(Free Seminars)(Brief Article)
December 13, 2003... Harper Corp. of America, Charlotte, N.C., plans free regional Flexo Education Symposiums for February through June 2004. These training sessions bring anilox, prepress and flexographic printing experts from the company to local venues for...

Bobst retains Griffin Communications.(For Marketing)(Brief Article)
December 13, 2003... The Bobst Group, USA, Roseland, N.J., has enlisted the services of the marketing communications firm of Griffin Communications, Townson, Md., to develop and execute marketing programs in the United States for Bobst's Folding Carton, Corrugated...

Ship to Graph Expo for flat rate.(Based On Exhibit Space)(paperboard industry)(Brief Article)
December 13, 2003... Companies exhibiting at Graph Expo[R] and Converting Expo[R] 2004 in Chicago can ship unlimited machinery to the event for a flat rate, based on the square footage of exhibit space purchased. This machinery material handling package, offered by...

PharmaDial achieves highest rating.(Child-Resistant Packaging)(Brief Article)
December 13, 2003... Colbert Packaging Corp.'s PharmaDial[TM] packaging achieves an F1 child resistance rating, the safest U.S. government rating for pharmaceutical packaging awarded by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. The PharmaDial, first introduced in...

Laser flatness kit.(Product Update)
December 13, 2003... Pinpoint Laser Systems' new MG 2000 laser flatness kit checks and adjusts machine beds, rollers, web assemblies, X-Y stages, and mechanical slides to 0.0005 inches. The kit includes a precision laser supported on a rotational mount, a locking...

MAN Roland committed to print.(Unveils New Slogan)(Brief Article)
December 13, 2003... MAN Roland is reinforcing its commitment to web offset and sheetfed systems with the slogan: "MAN Roland-We Are Print!" The German company will introduce the slogan at DRUPA in May, says GeM Finkbeiner, chairman. "We provide our customers...

Georgia-Pacific Corp.(People Update)(Brief Article)
December 13, 2003... Georgia-Pacific Corp., Atlanta, promotes Julie Schertell to vice president--customer service for the company's North American retail consumer products business. In tiffs role, Schertell, formerly senior director--customer service, will assume...

Smurfit-Stone Container Corp..(Noteworthy News)(Brief Article)
December 13, 2003... Smurfit-Stone Container Corp.'s Stevenson, Ala., mill reaches one full year and one million hours worked without a recordable incident as measured by the Occupational Safety and Health Association (OSHA). This is the first time the mill has...

Norampac Inc.(Noteworthy News)(Brief Article)
December 13, 2003... Norampac Inc.'s Drummondville, Quebec, plant receives the Grand Pfix Quebecois de la Qualite award in the large manufacturing enterprise category. The Grands Prix are Quebec's highest distinction offered in corporate management. The...

Norampac Inc.(People Update)(Marc-Andre Depin )(Brief Article)
December 13, 2003... Marc-Andre Depin is promoted to president and ceo of Norampac Inc., Montreal. He has served as executive vice president since 2001. Depin joined Norampac in 1997 as vice president and coo, corrugated products, and vice president, sales and...

The Royal Group.(People Update)(Scott Clary )(Brief Article)
December 13, 2003... The Royal Group, Cicero, Ill., promotes Scott Clary to vice president of finance. In his new position he is responsible for the company's accounting, finance, and information services divisions. Clary joined ABC Shipping Supply Co., a division...

Corrugated demand will grow: driven by nondurables.
December 20, 2003... Demand for corrugated and paperboard boxes is projected to climb 2.8 percent per year to over $35 billion in 2007, rebounding from a low base in 2002. Advances will be stimulated by an expected upswing in shipments of nondurables, which account...

Transacted containerboard prices.(Brief Article)
December 20, 2003... Average transacted price levels are tabulated by obtaining paid prices from independent converters purchasing linerboard and medium. All prices are intended as a reference standard only. Transactions may be concluded at any time at any price...

MeadWestvaco to cut 1000 jobs.(Brief Article)
December 20, 2003... MeadWestvaco, Stamford, Conn., will cut about 1000 full-time jobs as part of a plan to add $250 million in annual earnings before interest and taxes by the end of 2005. The company says the job cuts, which will affect 3.3 percent of its...

Greif to cut jobs, close plants in 2004: 4Q, FY2003 results.(Brief Article)
December 20, 2003... As part of Greif, Inc.'s plan to become a leaner, market-focused and performance-driven company in 2004, it estimates eliminating 700 additional positions and closing several facilities. This final phase of the company's restructuring would...

NAM sponsors fly-in: voicing your concerns.(National Association of Manufacturers' Manufacturing: Making America's Future)(Illustration)
December 20, 2003... On February 10-11, the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) is sponsoring a "Fly-in" to Washington, D.C., for all manufacturers to meet with their representatives and senators and discuss the issues facing U.S. manufacturing. Called...

How student interns can help you: they're a great investment and an effective means for bringing in new talent.(A Win-Win Strategy)
December 20, 2003... Is your corrugated container or folding carton business looking to recruit employees and promote a positive corporate image? If yes, then consider hiring a student intern. Student internships are common at colleges and universities and are...

Nov.'s actual shipments drop: Same Old story.(containerboard's shipments data)(Illustration)
December 20, 2003... November's actual shipments of corrugated products fell 2.8 percent when compared to November 2002's numbers, reports the Fibre Box Association (FBA). When accounting for one less shipping day last month (18) versus November 2002, shipments...

Transacted paper stock prices--low grades.
December 20, 2003... Transacted Paper Stock Prices--Low Grades Mixed Boxboard Paper Cuttings News News (1) (4) (6) (8) Chicago $45-50...

Paper stock price chart notice: delayed a week.(Brief Article)
December 20, 2003... Because the first issue in January 2004 falls on Saturday, January 3rd this year (and in an effort to report actual January prices as accurately as possible), OBM will wait until the second issue (January 10th) to report that month's pricing....

Coleman upgrades to SQL server: from amtech.(Coleman Containers, Imaginera)(Illustration)
December 20, 2003... Coleman Containers, Etobicoke, Ontario, upgrades to the SQL Server version of Imaginera, from Amtech. Amtech provides seamless data conversion for the upgrade. Amtech is based in Bensalem, Pa. For more information, call 215-639-9540 or visit...

NA containerboard production declines: pppc reports.(North America, Pulp and Paper Products Council)(Brief Article)
December 20, 2003... Last September North American containerboard production declined by 175,000 metric tons, or 6.1 percent, compared to the same month in 2002, reports the Pulp and Paper Products Council (PPPC), Montreal. During this period North American mills...

CPA launches new Web site: consumer and business data.(Corrugated Packaging Alliance)(Illustration)
December 20, 2003... The Corrugated Packaging Alliance (CPA) has launched a new Web site at www.corrugated.org. The corrugated.org URL, established by the Corrugated Packaging Council (CPC) in 1996, now forms an umbrella over separate but linked content areas...

Transacted paper stock prices--high grades.(Brief Article)(Illustration)
December 20, 2003... Transacted Paper Stock Prices--High Grades For detailed chart explanation, see page 11 White Coated Hard New DLK News Soft Wht. White ...

ST1-CB high speed corrugated bundler.(Product Update)
December 20, 2003... Dynaric, Inc.'s ST1-CB high speed corrugated bundler straps up to 30 packages per minute with a strap width of 5-9 mm adjustable, with no additional parts required. The bundler features an automatic strap feeding system, a strap end-sensing...

American Forest & Paper Association.(People Update)(Ann Wrobleski appointed )(Brief Article)
December 20, 2003... Ann Wrobleski joins the American Forest & Paper Association as vice president of its International division. Since 1990 she has worked with a number of international clients and foreign governments with The Jefferson Group, Jefferson Waterman...

Anderson & Vreeland, Inc.(People Update)(Brief Article)
December 20, 2003... Darin Lyon is appointed national sales manager for Anderson & Vreeland, Inc., Bryan, Ohio. He previously served as regional sales manager and an assistant regional manager for the company. In this role he supervises sales and support for A&V...

George Koch Sons LLC.(People Update)(Brief Article)
December 20, 2003... Steve Church is named president of engineering at George Koch Sons LLC, Evanswille, Ind. David Carl is named vice president of engineering at the company, and former president James Muehlbauer becomes chairman. The company designs and...

Linerboard inventories drop: discipline remains.(Brief Article)
December 27, 2003... In yet another confirmation that containerboard mills are determined to maintain their relatively newfound inventory discipline, the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) reports that linerboard inventories at these mills fell 3.3 percent...