Official Board Markets articles from February 2006

Official Board Markets archives from February 2006

Board prices jump again.(News Analysis)
February 4, 2006... Independent corrugated box makers are now paying $40 per ton more for kraft linerboard and semichemical medium. Some have been paying the increase since January 1, while a minority has been paying more since the beginning of this month. ...

Transacted containerboard prices.
February 4, 2006... 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...

Boise buys Central Texas Corrugated.(Boise Cascade Corp.)(Brief article)
February 4, 2006... Boise Cascade, Boise, Idaho, has purchased the assets of Central Texas Corrugated (CTC), a single-plant sheet feeder business in Waco, Texas. Terms were not disclosed. CTC makes corrugated sheets for customers in Texas, Louisiana,...

Mid America buys RT facility.(IN DALLAS)
February 4, 2006... Mid America Recycling Co. (MAR), Des Moines, Iowa, purchased Rock-Term Converting Co.'s paper recovery facility in Dallas. Terms weren't disclosed. The Dallas plant will be combined with MAR's recycling facility in Dallas under the name Vista...

Workers want SSCC mill re-opened.(IN CANADA)
February 4, 2006... Former workers at Smurfit-Stone Container Corp.'s (SSCC) Bathurst, New Brunswick, corrugating medium mill want the company to speed up the search to find a new buyer, reports CBC News. Almost 300 people lost their jobs when the integrated...

Demand for boxes will continue.(CAN YOU ID BEST PROSPECTS?)(Brief article)
February 4, 2006... Despite uncertainty over energy costs, peace in the Middle East, and a growing trade deficit, the Timer suggests continued growth in the demand for corrugated boxes in the four months ahead. The accompanying chart compares the Timer with a...

Esko-Graphics develops new logo.(NEW WEBSITE TOO)(Brief article)
February 4, 2006... Esko-Graphics, Gent, Belgium, has developed an updated corporate identity. The brand identification is shortened to "Esko" and comes with a new logo that retains the company's green and grey color scheme. The corporate website also has been...

RFID labels will dominate.(NEW STUDY REVEALS)
February 4, 2006... The U.S. smart label industry, which includes electronic article surveillance (EAS), radio frequency identification (RFID), and interactive packaging labels, is currently dominated by EAS labels. However, starting in late 2004 a number of...

Roman seeks creditor protection.(CHAPTER 11)
February 4, 2006... Roman Corp., Toronto, has applied for protection from creditors while it restructures its operations, reports CBC News. "These restructuring measures are required because of industry-wide problems affecting North American paperboard and...

Average sheet prices.(Statistical table)(Brief article)
February 4, 2006... Average Sheet Prices Based upon a survey of sheet plants. Per 1000 sq. ft., 50,000 sq. ft. single tem orders, including delivery charges. Southeast/ East South North...

Fibre box shipments.(Statistical table)(Brief article)
February 4, 2006... Fibre Box Shipments United States corrugated/solid fibre product shipments, in billion square feet, as reported by the Fibre Box Association. Corrugated/ Solid...

Caraustar to increase prices.(UNCOATED RECYCLED PAPERBOARD)
February 4, 2006... Caraustar Industries, Inc., Atlanta, will increase prices on all uncoated recycled paperboard grades and mill converted products. Prices will increase by $40 per ton. The price increase will be implemented in two stages. The previously...

Rigid box market grew in 2005.(1.66 PERCENT)(Brief article)
February 4, 2006... In 2005, rigid box revenues were up 1.66 year over year at $44,358,280, a decline in growth from the 9.90 percent jump from 2003 to 2004, according the National Paperbox Association's billed sales statistical program. The Southern/Western...

Target honors Creative Carton.(VENDOR OF THE YEAR)
February 4, 2006... The marketing department of retail giant Target Corp., Minneapolis, selected Creative Carton as a recipient of its 2005 Vendor of the Year Award. Creative Carton is a Minneapolis-based corrugated sheet plant. "We are grateful for Target for...

Transacted paper stock prices--low grades.
February 4, 2006... Transacted Paper Stock Prices--Low Grades Mixed Boxboard Paper Cuttings News News (1) (4) (6) (8) Chicago $35-40...

Southeast still swimming in OCC.(old corrugated cartons )
February 4, 2006... The argument can be made that U.S. OCC prices have now bottomed out. Buyers at board mills have seen them fall to the point where they are concerned that if they squeeze every last nickel out of their suppliers in what everyone admits is a...

Clemson, FFTA to hold seminar in March.(PROCESS PRINTING)
February 4, 2006... The Foundation of Flexographic Technical Association (FFTA) and Clemson University will offer a Flexographic Process Printing Symposium March 29-31 at the Madren Conference Center in Clemson, S.C. The program provides a comprehensive...

Transacted paper stock prices--high grades.
February 4, 2006... Transacted Paper Stock Prices--High Grades For detailed chart explanation, see page 11 White Coated Hard New DLK News Soft Wht. White ...

Hitek celebrates 15 years.(Hitek Equipment Inc.)(Brief article)
February 4, 2006... Kenosha, Wis.-based Hitek Equipment, Inc. recently celebrated 15 years of service to the corrugated container industry. "We started this business with one goal in mind, to provide the industry with excellent equipment at fair prices and...

Advanced Software installs at Bradley Press.(SOFTWARE SALE)
February 4, 2006... Bradley Press, a Smithfield, R.I.-based folding carton plant, purchased the Windows-based packaging software system from Advanced Software Inc., Yardley, Pa. The software automates plant and office aspects of a box-making facility, including...

Diamond Pkg. is one of the best.(PIA/GATF AWARD)
February 4, 2006... Diamond Packaging, Rochester, N.Y., has again been recognized as "Best of the Best" in the 2005 Best Workplace in the Americas awards competition, sponsored by the Printing Industries of America (PIA) and Graphic Arts Technical Foundation...

Shorewood scores GRAMMY nominations.(RECORD PACKAGING)
February 4, 2006... Three of Shorewood Packaging's projects received nominations for the 48th annual GRAMMY Awards. Ani DiFranco's latest album "Knuckle Down" from Righteous Babe Records and Thievery Corporation's "The Cosmic Game" from ESL Music were...

Sonoco to hike tube, core prices.(6 PERCENT)
February 4, 2006... Sonoco will increase prices for its paper-based engineered carriers (robes and cores) and related specialty products by 6 percent in the U.S. and Canada, effective with shipments on or after Feb. 20. "Price increases and energy surcharges...

Mondi buys Bobst Masterflex.(Mondi Packaging)(Brief article)
February 4, 2006... Mondi Packaging, Durban, South Africa, recently purchased a Bobst Masterflex inline press. It has retrofitted this press with the InkSpec IIS system, which is composed of a touch screen interface for multistations, an in-line viscosity sensor...

RFID market to grow tenfold.(FROM $2.71 BILLION TO $26.23 BILLION)
February 4, 2006... Here's a piece of RFID trivia: cumulative sales of RFID tags for sixty years until the beginning of 2006 have totaled $2.4 billion. Here's a factoid that's not so trivial: 600 million tags were sold in 2005 alone, according to a new IDTechEx...

KBA installs at CARTONDRUCK USA.(RAPIDA 105)
February 4, 2006... CARTONDRUCK USA Inc., Fairview, N.J., has extended its capacity and scope by installing a new KBA Rapida 105 41-in., eleven-unit, nine-color sheetfed press with double varnishing units from KBA North America, Williston, Vt. The press was...

Meet tomorrow's stars today.(INTERN EMPLOYER DAY, FEBRUARY 28)
February 4, 2006... Interested in adding fresh talent to your design department? The Department of Graphic Communications at Clemson University is holding an Intern Employer Day February 28. It begins with an employer meeting and tour in the morning followed...

TAPPI seeks RFID Symposium presenters.(JUNE 7-8)
February 4, 2006... TAPPI is seeking qualified speakers to deriver educational presentations at its first RHD Symposium, which will be held June 7-8 in Atlanta. Designed in partnership with RFID4U, a leading provider of radio frequency identification learning...

China grew even faster in 2003-04.(economic growth)(Brief article)
February 4, 2006... Last month China released a further revision of economic data following a major upgrade in December, with the new figures showing the booming country grew even faster than first thought in 2003 and 2004, Agence France-Presse reports. After last...

Woodward installs at S.C. plant.(Protective Packaging purchased Woodward JoggerAerators Inc.'s S-500 aerator)(Brief article)
February 4, 2006... Protective Packaging's Lugoff, S.C., plant purchased a factory-rebuilt Woodward Jogger Aerator, model S-500. The machine cleans, aerates and aligns loads of paper, paperboard or corrugated sheets to a perfect side guide and gripper edge. It can...

MOD-PAC Corp.(People Update)
February 4, 2006... MOD-PAC Corp., Buffalo, N.Y., appoints David Lupp as cfo. He is the former senior vice president-finance, cfo, treasurer, and secretary of International Imaging Materials, Inc.

Canadian shipments flat.(CCCA REVEALS)
February 4, 2006... Fourth quarter 2005 corrugated box and wrapper shipments to Canadian destinations didn't change from the same quarter in 2004, the Canadian Corrugated Case Association (CCCA) reports. Annual shipments decreased 1.8 percent from the year...

Commercial printer moves into packaging.(WITH HEIDELBERG INSTALLATION)
February 4, 2006... The Brandt Co., Davenport, Iowa, recently expanded its offerings to include packaging services with the installation of a four-color Heidelberg Speedmaster SM 102 with Deflector and coater. The print shop also installed a Heidelberg Speedmaster...

People's Capital expects growth in '06.(TO $1 BILLION)(Brief article)
February 4, 2006... People's Capital, the Waterbury, Conn.-based financial services company, reported significant growth for 2005. "Our 2005 volume was approximately $350 million, a 30 percent increase over the previous year," says Kevin Hartney, senior vice...

CPP 2007 confirms plan for Vegas.(Converting & Packaging Printing Expo)(Brief article)
February 4, 2006... In 2007 CPP EXPO will co-locate again with PACK EXPO Las Vegas and PROCESS EXPO, says H.A. Bruno LLC, the organizers. It will take place Oct. 15-17, 2007. "We are pleased and excited that we are able to offer this--not only in Chicago in...

Low roll diameter detection design.(Product Update)
February 4, 2006... Maxson Automatic Machinery Co. has developed a low roll diameter detection design that helps an operator automatically slow a sheeter to a stop when a preset roll diameter is reached at the roll stand. This feature allows the operator to...

MeadWestvaco Corp.(People Update)
February 4, 2006... MeadWestvaco Corp., Stamford, Conn., appoints Timothy Powers, chairman, president and ceo of Hubbell, Inc., to the company's board of directors. Powers also serves as chairman of the National Electrical Manufacturers Association and IDEA, an...

Bobst Group USA Inc.(promoted Doug Herr )(Brief article)
February 4, 2006... Bobst Group USA Inc., Roseland, N.J., promotes Doug Herr to national sales manager, folding carton business area. In this role, all regional folding carton sales managers will report directly to Herr. He will continue to manage most national...

Psquared.(People Update)
February 4, 2006... Cordes Porcher, an expert in printing high graphics on corrugated, joins Psquared, Renton, Wash. The company serves the packaging industry through training, assessment, coaching, and implementation of lean strategies for sustained...

Sonoco is up, high input costs hurt IP, GPI.(FOURTH QUARTER)
February 4, 2006... Hartsville, S.C.-based Sonoco reported fourth quarter base earnings totaling $58.4 million for the fourth quarter of 2005, compared with $42.8 million for the same period in 2004. "Fourth quarter 2005 base earnings were robust due primarily...

Transacted boxboard prices.
February 4, 2006... Transacted Boxboard Prices 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...

Kiwiplan gets SAP certified.(ERP/PRODUCTION SOFTWARE)
February 4, 2006... Kiwiplan Inc. has partnered with SAP to integrate the enterprise software provider's systems with Kiwiplan's corrugated container industry production planning software. SAP is widespread in corrugated box plants in Europe, says Dirk...

Boxboard prices move.(UP AND DOWN)
February 4, 2006... Over the past few months producers of clay coated recycled and SBS grades have been trying to increase their prices. In certain regions they weren't at all successful while in others they were only partially successful. Changes have been made...

Zozzaro Brothers Inc.(People Update)
February 4, 2006... Zozzaro Brothers Inc., Clifton, N.J., appoints Kevin Tinney to the position of vice president, sales. He has been with the company for more than eight years. Tinney assumes responsibility for the company's grouting sales and marketing efforts.

Weyco plant reaches safety milestone.(4 YEARS)
February 4, 2006... Federal Way, Wash.-based Weyerhaeuser Co.'s Valley View, Ohio, packaging plant recently reached four years without a lost-time accident. Earlier in 2005, the facility was recognized for one year without a recordable incident, and that record...

Cascades on Wal-Mart committee.(IN 'GREEN' ADVISORY ROLE)
February 4, 2006... Cascades Inc., Montreal, is to help Wal-Mart Stores Inc. get its paper products on file green side of the ledger by acting as an adviser on environmental and social issues related to forestry products. Cascades was asked two weeks ago by...

Fighting to balance the playing field: this year's Washington Fly-In draws more than 40 converters to lobby for U.S. manufacturing.(NAM, AICC, FBA, AF&PA)
February 11, 2006... The third annual Washington Fly-In, hosted by the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), had its strongest corrugated container contingency yet--more than 40 industry executives attended last week's event. The Association of Independent...

Dura-Fibre to produce forte.
February 11, 2006... Dura-Fibre LLC, Menasha, Wis., has entered into an exclusive agreement with MeadWestvaco Corp. to manufacture and market its Forte[TM] solid fiber board. Under terms of the agreement, Dura-Fibre will produce Forte by laminating together...

Transacted containerboard prices.
February 11, 2006... 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...

Nine Dragons to offer Hong Kong IPO.(TO RAISE $500 MILLION)
February 11, 2006... China's largest containerboard maker by production capacity, Nine Dragons Paper Industries Co., is planning to raise up to $500 million (U.S.) from an initial public offering in Hong Kong in the next few weeks, a person familiar with the...

TI, Weyco report losses.(EARNINGS STATEMENTS)
February 11, 2006... Temple-Inland Inc., Austin, Texas, revealed fourth quarter 2005 net income of $24 million, compared with fourth quarter 2004 net income of $53 million. For the year, net income was $176 million, compared with 2004 net income of $160 million....

Tea boxes promote heart health.(NEW DESIGN)
February 11, 2006... Celestial Seasonings, Boulder, Colo., continues its heart disease awareness campaign with new packaging that features a red dress--the national symbol for women and heart disease awareness. The specialty tea maker has a partnership with The...

Boise mill to upgrade generator.(IN LA.)
February 11, 2006... Boise Cascade, Boise, Idaho, selected Invensys Process Systems to supply Triconex triple modular redundant (TMR) technology for upgraded turbine generator controls at Boise's DeRidder Packaging and Newsprint mill. Invensys will supply new...

China is a real threat.(HEARD AT CANADA'S PAPER WEEK)
February 11, 2006... World class paper mills on coastal China will dominate global paper production, says David Fung, chairman and ceo, ACDEG Group, Vancouver, at last week's Recycling Open Forum, held in Montreal as part of Canada's Paper Week International. ...

Containerboard mill inventories fall.(AF&PA REPORTS)
February 11, 2006... Total containerboard inventories at mills slipped 5.4 percent between the end of last November and December, the American Forest and Paper Association (AF&PA) states. Specifically, they went from 315,200 tons at the end of November to 298,200...

GPI uses Z-Flute for boxed wine.(FOR TEFFT CELLARS)
February 11, 2006... Fine wine has numerous distinguishing characteristics, but one that's often overlooked is a good container. That's why Graphic Packaging International (GPI), Marietta, Ga., has stepped in to help Tefft Cellars Winery, Outlook, Wash., with its...

The North Central's shipments win.(FBA REVEALS)(Fibre Box Association statistics)(Brief article)(Statistical data)
February 11, 2006... A review of industry shipment statistics from the Fibre Box Association (FBA) reveals that on an average week, year-to-date basis the North Central's corrugated shipments increased the most last year, rising 2.2 percent. This region just beat...

Dates set for PowerScore! 2006.(USERS GROUP CONFERENCE)
February 11, 2006... Dimensional Impressions, Los Angeles, will host its users group conference, PowerScore! 2006, Oct. 1-4 at The Canyons Grand Summit Hotel in Park City, Utah. The event includes training sessions presented by product experts, networking...

Rex Corp. achieves safety record.(1 MILLION HOURS)(Brief article)
February 11, 2006... Employees at Rex Corp., Jacksonville, Fla., an independent folding carton maker, achieved a new safety record on January 27 by working more than 1 million hours without a lost-time recordable accident. "This is a huge accomplishment for Rex...

Paperboard mill performance.
February 11, 2006... Paperboard Mill Performance U.S. paperboard production by furnish, current and cumulative totals in 1000 short tons, as reported by the American Forest & Paper Association. Unbleached ...

Europe wants better quality.(RECOVERED PAPER)
February 11, 2006... The recovered paper industry in Europe has issued new guidelines on the responsible sourcing of recovered paper. The idea is not only to improve recovered paper quality but also to contribute to its increased availability. In 2004 almost...

CNK Express Southeast opens.(MEADWESTVACO SERVICE)(MeadWestvaco Corp. )(Brief article)
February 11, 2006... MeadWestvaco Coated Board has opened CNK Express Southeast, an express warehouse in Atlanta. CNK Express is a stock inventory program with the four most popular calipers in various roll widths. Orders placed by 2:00 p.m. est can be picked up or...

New computer-based sales training available.(FOR NEWBIES)
February 11, 2006... The Association of Independent Corrugated Converters' (AICC) newest sales training, "Renewing Your Sales Force," is open for registration. The comprehensive, computer-based, individual training program is for new salespeople in the...

Transacted paper stock prices--low grades.(Statistical table)
February 11, 2006... Transacted Paper Stock Prices--Low Grades Mixed Boxboard Paper Cuttings News News (1) (4) (6) (8) Chicago $35-40...

Transacted paper stock prices--high grades.(Statistical table)
February 11, 2006... Transacted Paper Stock Prices--High Grades For detailed chart explanation. see page 11 White Coated Hard New DLK News Soft Wht. White ...

Answers in an hour: attendees of last week's "What's New In Corrugated?" meeting got a concise answer to that question.(CHICAGO TAPPI MEETING)
February 11, 2006... Technology vendors gave attendees of last week's Chicago TAPPI's "What's New in Corrugated?" meeting, held in Oak Brook, Ill., a concentrated dose of news in about an hour, introducing solutions to challenges found at every stage of converting....

Clarifying Average Sheet Price chart.(NOW ECT)(Brief article)
February 11, 2006... In last week's Average Sheet Price chart (page 10) the prices didn't change from what they were in January's first issue. However, the sheet designations did change from bursting strength (200#, for example) to ECT. Participants in the...

Chesapeake net sales down six percent.(CONFECTIONERY PKG DEMAND WEAKENS)(Financial report)
February 11, 2006... Chesapeake Corp.'s net sales for the paperboard packaging segment were $213 million for the fourth quarter of 2005, a decrease of $14.1 million, or 6 percent, versus the comparable period in 2004. Excluding changes in foreign currency exchange...

Rock-Term Co. to hike uncoated recycled paperboard.($15 PER TON)
February 11, 2006... Rock-Tenn Co.'s Paperboard Division will implement a $15 per ton increase on all uncoated recycled paperboard grades, effective with shipments March 6. This increase is in addition to the company's October 2005 increase.

Obituaries.(death of Eli Field and Charles Fazio)(Obituary)(Brief article)
February 11, 2006... Feild Container's founder and longtime Chairman of the Board Eli Field died Jan. 30. He was 95. Field started his carton business in 1942 with $500. He and his son Larry have grown the business to a multimillion-dollar packaging company that...

AICC is accepting safe shop applications.(SAFETY COMPETITION)
February 11, 2006... The Association of Corrugated Converters (AICC) is taking applications for the 2006 Operation Safe Shop Competition. Conducted every two years, the competition welcomes entries from four categories: independent corrugator plants, sheet...

Questex to manage Solutions!(TAPPI partnership)(Questex Media Group)(Brief article)
February 11, 2006... TAPPI has entered into a partnership with Questex Media Group to produce and distribute Solutions! magazine beginning this month. Newton, Mass.-based Questex is the parent company that publishes Official Board Markets and Paperboard Packaging....

MeadWestvaco unveils new structure.(FOCUSING ON CONSUMER PACKAGING NOW)
February 18, 2006... MeadWestvaco Corp. is realigning its packaging business, establishing a new research-focused Packaging Innovation Center in Raleigh, N.C., and consolidating and relocating its headquarters from Stamford, Conn., to Richmond, Va. The...

Transacted containerboard prices.
February 18, 2006... Transacted Containerboard Prices 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...

SSCC plans board price increase.
February 18, 2006... Last week Smurfit-Stone Container Corp. (SSCC), Chicago, told its customers that it plans to increase its containerboard prices by $50 per ton, effective April 1. The company has also announced a $30 per ton price increase for white-top...

Pratt opens box plant in Tulsa.
February 18, 2006... Pratt Industries, Conyers, Ga., has opened a box plant in Tulsa, Okla. It is geographically positioned to serve customers in the Midwest and Southwest markets and will be staffed and managed by Pratt's Love Box subsidiary. "The facility...

GP wants more for its containerboard.(EFFECTIVE MARCH 10)
February 18, 2006... Koch Industries' Georgia-Pacific Corp., Atlanta, has told its customers that it plans to raise its containerboard prices by $50 per ton, effective March 10. If successful, it would be the third containerboard price increase in six months. A $30...

Abbott-Action buys Minuteman.(Minuteman Corrugated Corp.)(Brief article)
February 18, 2006... Abbott-Action, Canton, Mass., has acquired the assets of Minuteman Corrugated Corp., Rochdale, Mass. Terms weren't disclosed. "This acquisition strengthens our capabilities in the short run market and packaging warehousing business that...

Three tycoons invest in Nine Dragons.(AT $20M APIECE)
February 18, 2006... Nine Dragons Paper (Holdings), the largest containerboard maker in China, plans to sell U.S. $60 million (HK $468 million) worth of shares to tycoons Lee Shau-kee, Cheng Yu-tung and Robert Kuok in its Hong Kong initial public offering,...

Price objections aren't equal.(CLARIFY THEM FIRST)(Brief article)
February 18, 2006... Price objections fit nicely into five categories: price, cost, value, games, and process. Each requires a different response strategy. Price objections are short-term objections, as the buyer may not have the budget or money to afford your...

Esko Users Groups to convene.(IN APRIL)
February 18, 2006... The Association of Esko Users Group (AEUG) and Artios Users Group International (AUGI) will hold their annual meetings April 23-26 at the Saddlebrook Resort near Tampa, Fla. The two groups will join for the opening session and social...

VISC1000.(Product Update)
February 18, 2006... Norcross Corp., Newton, Mass., offers a new viscosity control system for inline or in-tank processes like adhesives, coatings and inks. The VISC1000 can monitor and control from one to three stations and features a touch-screen interface that...

Fork extensions.(Product Update)
February 18, 2006... Vestil Mfg. offers fork extensions to provide extra support needed to lift long or large objects with a fork truck. The units offer all welded steel construction with cast steel tips. Full-loop, pin-style, rear-spacer, rounded, and...

Press-ready mounting material.(Product Update)
February 18, 2006... Dynamic Dies releases new press-ready mounting material for Hamada presses. Dynamic Dies now manufactures and stocks ready-for-press Hamada mounting material. The assemblies are made from 0.010-in. polyester with two-color strips adhered in...