Packaging

SCE 2024: In Tune with the Future of the Corrugated Industry

JAN BOTTIGLIERI

the packed sce exhibit floor was a hub of activity
The packed SCE exhibit floor was a hub of activity.

Energy was high and the mood was positive, both on and off the exhibit floor, during SuperCorrExpo® 2024 (SCE) in Orlando, FL, September 8-12. This once-every-four-years event featured a panoply of special events, three keynote speakers, a dynamic executive panel, and a show floor filled with new technology and working machinery. Attendance reached almost 4,000, with a mix of suppliers, manufacturers, and industry experts from around the globe taking advantage of the opportunity to learn and network. TAPPI and AICC collaborated to produce the event, which also hosted the 2024 Box Manufacturing Olympics (A full list of winners is available online.)

DAY 1: SETTING THE TONE

TAPPI President and CEO Larry N. Montague and John Semenske, chairman of TAPPI’s Corrugated Packaging Division, officially kicked off SCE’s programming at TAPPI’s Monday morning Awards Breakfast. Both thanked volunteer leaders from within the corrugated industry. “You are the very reason we are able to produce incredible events like SuperCorrExpo®, CorrExpo, and Corrugated Week,” said Montague. “Without our volunteers, much of what we experience this week would not be possible.”

TAPPI’s Corrugated Packaging Division Awards recognized those who had made outstanding contributions, including five outstanding student scholarship winners. The highest honor, The CPD’s Lifetime Achievement Award, was posthumously awarded to Richard J. “Rick” Croker, a visionary leader and dedicated innovator. (See article on page 32.)

Following the Awards Breakfast, “Paper and Packaging Board: Making the Consumer-Customer Connection” provided a roundtable panel discussion exploring advancements in corrugated box technology and their impact on sustainability.

Jake Hall, the “Manufacturing Millennial,” offered a high-energy keynote presentation that outlined the unique hiring challenges for manufacturing industries like corrugated packaging. “We have 8.5 percent of the workforce—and yet manufacturing represents 11 percent of the US GDP,” Hall said. “Manufacturing is the backbone of our economy!”

Providing examples of how manufacturers can use technology to attract young workers, Hall also clarified what millennials value in a career: a common purpose, work/life balance, and a company willing to invest in their future.

Attendees had plenty of time to explore the busy exhibition floor before the day’s final offering, a collaborative training session tailored for TAPPI Young Professionals and AICC Emerging Leaders. The course provided interactive learning, dynamic discussions, and valuable connections.

DAY 2: PICKING UP THE PACE

AICC recognized outstanding contributions to the industry with Tuesday’s Awards Breakfast. A video presentation introduced the finalists for AICC’s “Innovator of the Year” award, showcasing the new technology on display at this year’s exhibit. As voted onsite by AICC associate members, the winner was Geo M. Martin Company for its SmartShingle system, which helps corrugators increase productivity by reducing feed interrupts during stack or bundle discharges. A technical presentation on current trends in “Paper, Testing, and Profitability” followed breakfast.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) was a frequent buzzword at this year’s event, and two expertled sessions exploring AI opportunities for corrugators set the stage for SCE’s second keynote presentation: “Leading in an AI World,” presented by Shawn DuBravac, president of Avrio Institute. Attendees appreciated DuBravac’s practical examples of AI in action, and gained insight into how this emerging technology will impact the future of manufacturing for leaders and line workers alike.

Again, the exhibit floor attracted plenty of attention. “It’s been a very good show,” commented Gokul Kumar, VP, technology and business development with Sun Automation. “People on the supplier side have really invested a lot of energy in bringing good solutions to SuperCorrExpo®, and customers have come thirsty for new ideas, so it’s been a great breeding ground for both.”

Tuesday’s evening special event, the “House of Blues Rock Star Experience,” was a hit with attendees and exhibitors who enjoyed food, music, and a chance to network in a fun, casual atmosphere. High attendance helped create a memorable evening at SCE.

event attendance was high
Event attendance was high, and the schedule offered targeted time for networking.

DAY 3: EXPLORING HARMONIES

Wednesday morning included a lively networking breakfast for women in corrugated, co-sponsored by TAPPI and AICC. Christine Little, director of corrugated machinery sales for Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), was in attendance; she appreciated the effort to showcase the industry’s opportunities for women: “We had one speaker this morning that said she had no idea that there was an entire industry that focused on boxes; now she’s at Clemson doing their corrugated program, and she’s super excited about it.”

Attendees had a choice of three engaging presentations to customize their SCE experience. Each covered a critical area of interest for corrugators:

  • “How Do Innovations and Automation of Equipment Reduce Training Time?”
  • “Building Expansion, Capital Expenditure, Equipment Acquisition, and Installation Panel Discussion”
  • “Cyber Security Strategies: Safeguarding Your Digital Assets”

A well-attended Executive Panel completed the information-packed morning. Again, AI was a critical topic. Using AI to leverage what today’s workers need “is real—but small changes can help,” commented one panelist.

Panelist Mike Lafave, senior VP and COO for Kruger Packaging, spoke to OEMs in attendance. “Why don’t you challenge us when we are not achieving our agreed-on goals? You have access to that data… I’d like to see our relationship as an ongoing partnership, not a one-time sale.”

Sustainability, another hot topic at this year’s SCE, was also addressed. “We know we want to get to net-zero,” commented Lafave. “Do we know how? No—but let’s start exploring that vision now.”

Panelist Jeremy Cohen, VP and general manager for Acme Corrugated, wants data that focuses on decision-making, i.e., “business intelligence,” he said. “We’re trying to bring together all of our systems—ERP, SalesForce, and more—to find opportunities we can’t otherwise see.”

DAY 4: FINAL BOWS

On Thursday, SCE’s final keynote speaker was Cris Carter, a former NFL wide receiver for 16 seasons (1987-2002) who was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2013. He shared his insights into leadership, teamwork, and overcoming adversity—an inspiring message for the corrugated professionals in attendance.

Attendees had a final chance to make connections on the exhibit floor before closing out their SCE experience. A plant tour at the Orlando facility of Dusobox, a leading producer of custom corrugated products and retail displays, was available for international attendees.

During SCE, attendees could choose from several bonus program opportunities and networking events. One of the most impactful was an onsite, two-day course titled “Effective Methods to Maximize Diecutting Productivity.” Course instructor Rick Putch was impressed by the level of engagement. “We had a wide range of people, including (attendees from) several box plants, large and small,” he said. “We try to break the course information into three things: the substrate, the equipment, and the tooling. The three have to work in harmony.”

Though a first-time exhibitor, Bowman Mitchell, VP of national accounts for software provider RedList, perfectly summed up the SCE experience. “We had lots of action at our booth. A lot of our current and potential customers just naturally come to SuperCorrExpo®. We’ve been in this space over the past four years and have gained a lot of corrugated customers; we decided we’d come to SCE because that’s where our customers were going to be. I’m a big fan of the opportunity to meet customers in person.”

Want More SuperCorrExpo® 2024?

Better Together: Conversations with Innovative Leaders is the podcast designed just for Paper360° readers and TAPPI members. Editorial Director and Better Together host Jan Bottiglieri was on hand at SuperCorrExpo to talk to a range of industry experts. For October, we’ve created two fun episodes of Better Together that capture some of the energy and excitement of this once-every-four-years event.

Download our SCE episodes, then SUBSCRIBE TODAY to Better Together wherever you get your podcasts to join the conversation!

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