Be Our Guest - AICC Great Lakes Members Welcome Corrugated Week Attendees

AICC & TAPPI members of the Great Lakes region hosted several plant tours and an Octoberfest themed reception for all attendees during the 2018 Corrugated Week conference and trade show, held September 24-27, in Indianapolis, Ind.

"Three great, local companies opened their doors to us – Litho Press, Flutes LLC and Capital City Container. Each showed in their own unique way the leading-edge technology and creativity that is a hallmark of the paper-based printing and converting industries as well as giving us a glimpse into their customer-focused operations. These tours go far in sharing insight into best practices due to the open nature of our member companies. Many thanks to them for allowing us such access," said Mike D’Angelo, AICC Vice President.

Seventy-five attendees from both AICC and TAPPI joined the three plant tours.

Litho Press has been serving the industry since 1953. Their tour showed four offset printing presses, the VETEK KX3 Pro Digital Printing Press, and two Kongsberg ESKO Cutting Tables.

Flutes LLC (Schwarz Partners), a specialty sheet feeder was established in 1998. Jack Schwarz, Schwarz Partners Chairman, and his Flutes Team provided personal tours of their facility's MWU Corrugator, Asitrade Lines and modernized (Vendor) Material Handling systems.

Rich Purcell, President, Capital City Container, shared the vision behind the decision to invest in the Solarco Short Run Box Machine. Finn MacDonald, VP Operations, Independent II, recalls, “I believe he said that the new Solarco is replacing one of the oldest Printer/Slotter machines in the industry -- and this delivers so much new value to his customers and to our Region. Jeff Jensen and his team at S&G have provided incredible sales support to Cap-City and really created an excellent boxmaking experience on this tour.”

The AICC Great Lakes Reception, held at the Rathskeller Restaurant and Bar, was open to all, and sponsored by Litho Press. The "Oktoberfest" themed event brought members from around the country to network and mingle.  

Finn MacDonald, VP Operations, Independent II, said, “Bernie [Lacey] and the entire Litho Press Team delivered a picture-perfect Great Lakes Region Reception at the Rathskeller Restaurant and Bar. The plant tour they hosted reinforced how vital full-service litho-plants are by demonstrating that their experience, their investments, and their efficiency provide customers with high-graphic sheets and brand management expertise not found elsewhere.”

AICC seminars, summits, and national meetings often include the opportunity to tour local member companies. They also offer great opportunities for members to learn, connect and engage.

AICC’s next National Meeting is the 2019 Spring Meeting, Sales Managers Forum, & Annual Independents’ Cup Charity Golf Tournament, April 1-3, being held at the Trump Doral Resort in Miami, Fl. Registration will open in December 2018. Learn more at www.aiccbox.org/calendar.

About AICC, The Independent Packaging Association

We are a growing membership association which has served independents since 1974, by providing access to education and information in print, in person, and online. AICC membership is for the full company- join and all employees at all locations have access to member benefits. In April 2017 AICC began offering free online education to all members to help the individual maximize their potential and the member company maximize its profit. When companies invest and engage, AICC will deliver success.