In 1966, the St. Louis Cardinals were preparing for a new era of baseball in a space age designed ballpark -- Busch Memorial Stadium. That same year, an upstart corrugated sheet plant -- Buckeye Boxes Inc. -- was founded in Columbus, Ohio, during this magic age of space travel. While the two events are unrelated except for their timing, the baseball reference reminds me that I love this Spring Training time of year, because it's the point when everyone has a perfect record. The true, sustainable winners won't step forward for some time to come.

Earlier this month, Eric Fletty and I had the opportunity to visit with one of the long time supporters of TAPPI's Corrugated Packaging Division, Craig Hoyt, who is a current member of TAPPI's Corrugated Packaging Council. Craig's father and three others, with an average of 15 years experience in corrugated, founded Buckeye in 1966. But why in Columbus? Back in 1966, there was only one sheet plant in the city.

Buckeye was quickly recognized for its quick service and adherence to the Buckeye Mission: We must improve our customer's bottom line by solving the customer's problems, especially ones they don't know they have.

"We baby our customers; we are just weird that way," Craig told us. And Buckeye doesn't just talk about doing so; they actually measure quantifiable and qualifiable improvements. One of Buckeye's slogans is the "Corrugated Solutions ROUND 2 IT: Bottom line, we get you around 2 more Profit."

ISO 9001 Certified since 1997, Buckeye practices a process of Customer Value Analysis (CVA). This team-selling approach examines both the customer's entire packaging system, as well as how that system can improve its customer's supply chain. Using Lean Enterprise applications, Buckeye discovers opportunities, creates solutions, and captures savings that sell its customized value propositions.

Craig began his immersion in the corrugated industry by working five of his high school and college summers in the Buckeye box plant. After graduating from college, he spent three years with Continental Can.

"I learned what products fit an integrated plant and what fits in an independent sheet plant," Craig explained, "I sold out of both types during that time of my career."

Craig also learned how capital expenditures are handled in some large corporations. He discovered that, in many cases, capital was spent to get boxes to fit a certain machine rather than to fit the customer's wants.  Craig feels that his competitors come from independents rather than the integrated plants. Buckeye has some employees and customers who have been with it for 40 years. The company's design lab and maintenance shop allows Buckeye to customize its equipment to meet a customer's needs. "In short, we just service our customers better than our competition," Craig explained.

Craig's take on TAPPI is that we are going in the right direction. He suggested that we somehow try to bridge the "disconnect" between the mills and the converter side of the business. The end customer should dominate the decisions made at the mill level, and he feels that TAPPI needs to be the LINK between the two.

Craig also recommends that TAPPI take more of a leading role in bringing information on new innovation and technologies into the converting side of the business.

"Independents need to find more value in their TAPPI memberships and understand how TAPPI's strategic plan includes their interests. Production professionals need to know what's in it for them," Craig said.

To that end Craig will help TAPPI's Corrugated Packaging Division update its strategic plan, and TAPPI will spread the word of its overall strategic plan to our entire membership. Going back to the baseball theme, Buckeye has and will continue to show how a true, sustainable winner steps forward.

My thanks to Craig Hoyt, president and CEO; Ken Churchill, vice president of Sales; and Chris Pieroni, assistant general manager, for making us feel welcome at Buckeye Boxes.

For more information on Buckeye Boxes Inc., contact Ken Churchill at kenchurchill@buckeyeboxes.com.

For more information on TAPPI, please go to www.tappi.org.

There are two types of people in our industry, TAPPI members, and those who should be.

Until next time -- Larry

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Offered for the first time in years, TAPPI is pleased to unroll the Tissue Runnability Course, April 19-21, 2010 – an essential program for paper professionals at TAPPI's Atlanta headquarters. This course offers a comprehensive understanding of the tissue making process at many levels that can be applied immediately on the job. Instructional topics are focused on helping attendees improve the quality of their products, diminish waste and poor output and reduce frustrating down-time. The course material is designed with the objective of helping participants thrust production into high gear.

The Tissue Runnability Course is designed expressly for engineers, machine supervisors, technical resources, lead operators and technical personnel in tissue and towel mills. The three-day event covers the impact of recycled furnishes on paper characteristics, the principles of wet-end chemistry with machine operation, cleaning and conditioning of felts and wires, causes of tissue runnability problems in the press/Yankee/hood drying systems, identifying improvement opportunities on the dry-end of the paper machine, and pinpointing problems with the Yankee dryer steam, coating, and hood systems to increase machine productivity. The course schedule is led by industry-recognized instructors.

Registration for this course has been so robust, the training room has moved to a larger venue – the Hilton Atlanta Northeast in Norcross, Ga. This means, you can stay in the same location as the training sessions for even more convenience. Lodge Where You Learn!
Hilton Atlanta Northeast
5993 Peachtree Industrial Blvd
Norcross, GA 30092
Telephone: +1.770.447.4747

Tissue Runnability is still open, but prompt registration is still encouraged for this course!

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Event: PulPaper 2010
Date: June 1-3, 2010
Location: Helsinki,Finland

For the seventh time, the global pulp, paper, board, and converting industry will meet in Helsinki for the PulPaper exhibition and conference.  The event, organized by Adforum in cooperation with the Paper Engineers' Association, AEL and The Finnish Fair Corporation, will be the largest show for the pulp, paper, board and converting industry worldwide in 2010. Exhibitors and visitors travel from all over the world to take part in this international event. The last PulPaper show in 2007 attracted more than 16,000 visitors from 78 countries. TAPPI is co-sponsoring the nanotechnology session.

Along with the exhibition, there will be a conference with the theme of "Implementing the new rise." The theme will cover topics that the forest products industry must address to maintain its position and improve results in a changing environment.

Registration is now open and early bird fees are valid until April 16.

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Nominations are being accepted for induction into the Paper Industry International Hall of Fame. The deadline for nominations to be considered for 2010 is March 31st. The 16th induction ceremony will be held September 23rd in Appleton, Wisconsin.

Any individual, living or deceased, who has pioneered and/or uniquely helped the world's paper industry flourish, is eligible for induction into the Paper Industry International Hall of Fame. Recognition will be based on contributions in the following categories: Academics; Economics; Entrepreneur; Founder; Leadership; Marketing/Sales; Research and Development; Service; and Technology.

The 2010 nomination form is available at www.paperhall.org. Contact Dave Lee, executive director, for further information at 920-380-7491 or dave@paperdiscoverycenter.org.

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What's high in the middle and round on the ends? Well, Ohio of course, and TAPPI's Ohio Local Section is high on planning for their next meeting (April 9, 2010 at Miami University, Oxford, Ohio). Ok, bad joke – but no where near a bad meeting!

Recently, Larry Montague and Eric Fletty had the pleasure of visiting Appleton's West Carrollton Mill and not only saw TAPPI members (from both Appleton and Ashland – Hercules) in action but discussed plans for the upcoming Ohio TAPPI Local Section Meeting. The Local Section has undergone a reinvention of itself and has a great event planned. For just $10, (register by March 26th for this early bird rate) you get:

• 9:00 AM - Upgrades and modernization of stock prep systems - J. Kerr, ANDRITZ
• 10:00 AM - Doctor blade setting - S. Cockerham, KADANT
• 11:00 AM - Paper machine water management for the Fourdrinier -S. Stewart, JOHNSON FOILS
• Lunch (provided)
• 2:00 PM - Automation: Color control & air systems, air dryers, heat recovery -T. Betteridge & M. Harrison, METSO
• 3:00 PM - How CD moisture actuators can save energy - J. Spachman, ABB

Registration couldn't be easier – just e-mail Prof. Doug Coffin at Prof. Doug Coffin at coffindw@muohio.edu. Additional information can be found at this link.

Pictured (Left to Right): Tom Maleike, Manager – Utilities, Process Control, Technical, Appleton
Jim Fuller, Quality Manager, Appleton
Bill Levenderis, Process Control Engineer, Appleton
Larry N. Montague, President & CEO, TAPPI
Nicole Hartley, Technical Sales Representative, Ashland-Hercules
Philip B. Keegan, Sales Team Leader, Ashland-Hercules
Eric Fletty, Vice President Operations, TAPPI

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Early discounted registration is now open for the 2010 BioPro Expo™ and Conference, slated for August 24-26 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta. Providing program content and comprehensive exhibits created with multiple industries in mind, BioPro Expo™ explores practical methods for transitioning a variety of biomass feedstocks into energy and biofuel. This unique event will bring together diverse communities ranging from forest, agriculture, and biorefinery operations to power companies and technology suppliers – offering the Southeast's most powerful educational and professional networking experience in the bioenergy arena.

BioPro Expo will include in-depth case studies and technical sessions from experts in a variety of industries. In addition, there will be a comprehensive tradeshow and hands-on technology interaction. Additional input from governmental agencies will supplement this experience with perspective on the rapidly changing regulatory and funding environment impacting renewable energy efforts.

Registration fees are $485 for TAPPI members and $746 for non-members, if confirmed by July 2, 2010. Onsite registration is $735 for TAPPI members and $1,125 for non-members. Registration information is available at www.bioproexpo.org.

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The 2010 International Bioenergy and Bioproducts Conference (IBBC) is now an important conference component of BioProExpo™. IBBC will include technical presentations, expert panels, case studies, and reports from projects that address the production of biofuels and bioproducts through: the use of forest and agricultural biomass resources; biorefining technology; feedstock and harvesting improvements to increase yield and quality of biomass; and leveraging forest products manufacturing infrastructure.

Presentations are being sought in the following topic areas:

Technology Track: Seeking strong technical papers with a focus on presenting new findings in Biomass Supply & Demand, Biomass Harvesting & Preparation, Advances in Conversion Pathways and Advances in Bioproducts.

Deployment Track: Seeking case studies and updates from pilot scale, commercial, and pre-commercial operations in Biorefineries, Repurposing the Traditional Pulp and Paper Mill, Harvesting and Preparation, Technical Economic Analyses, Commercial Collaborations for Enabling Technologies and Project Deployment Issues.

For more information on the IBBC Call for Papers, visit http://www.bioproexpo.org/ibbc_call.asp.

Abstract Requirements: Abstracts should be no more than 200 words.
Submission Deadline: March 22, 2010
Presentations Deadline: August 2, 2010
Submit Abstracts to: IBBC@tappi.org
Event Website: www.bioproexpo.org

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Date(s):
Spring 2010 -- April 12-14
Fall 2010 -- October 4-6
Spring 2011 -- April 4-6
Fall 2011 -- October 3-5

Location:
Crowne Plaza Hotel at the Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Airport

The Black Liquor Recovery Boiler Advisory Committee (BLRBAC) guides the safe installation and operation of recovery boilers at kraft paper mills. Their meetings draw attendees from all over the world, from the operating mills, the manufacturers of recovery boilers and associated equipment, to engineers from the insuring companies. Many members of BLRBAC are also TAPPI members that serve on the Steam and Power Committee.

Visit www.blrbac.org for registration information and additional details or contact David Parrish at david.parrish@fmglobal.com.

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A Call for Presentations/Posters has been issued for the 2010 TAPPI International Conference on Nanotechnology for the Forest Products Industry, 27-29 September, 2010, in Espoo, Finland. This annual, internationally recognized event brings together leading researchers, industry experts, government representatives, and other stakeholders to share  advances and perspectives on nanotechnology-based products for the forest products and related industries.

To leverage research advances and offer participants new opportunities for knowledge sharing, the 2010 Technical Program Committee invites contributions from participants working with nano-enabled bio-materials, products, and their processing. Analysis of challenges and trends in emerging markets for forest products that are based on nanotechnology are sought to provide a foundation for new research and industrial activities. The organizers also  encourage submissions on other aspects of nanotech products including law, policy, economics and environmental health and safety. View the Call for Papers.

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