Spotted this sign in Harrisburg earlier this week. Timely, don't you think?
This morning I discovered a post about the fact that reshoring isn’t going as well as we’d think. While I appreciated the solid statistics, timely citations, and overall clarity of the article; I couldn’t help but feel a little lost after that.
“What do I make of this?” I thought. “If the numbers are down on both sides, doesn’t that still mean it’s not over? What can we DO with this information?”
Those and other thoughts led me to this: what does everyone else think about the manufacturingrecovery?Read the rest of this entry »
We’re excited at the growing number of new Twitter users we’re finding in the packaging, converting, and manufacturing industries.
As a promotional outlet, Twitter is as relevant to B2B as it is to any B2C establishment. It is a chance to build brand awareness, connect with customers, and stay abreast of industry news & trends.
When used properly, Twitter can also be a great source of leads and relationships you might never have found otherwise: it just requires a different approach than traditional sales tactics.
Are you thinking about testing the Twitter waters for your B2B operation? Maybe you’ve got an account, but don’t know how to make the most of it? Our latest 8 Tips for B2B Twitter Beginners – offers insights taken from our own experiences & lessons learned:
Machine knives are some of the unsung heroes of the manufacturing process.
They are silent, dedicated workers that help cut and shape our products from raw material to packaged product.
Without them, all the engineering skill, all the experienced labor, and all the automation in the world would yield a whole mangled heap of unfinished everything.
I’m not sure why the tools and parts that make our processes work don’t get more attention. Maybe they’re not as fun to watch as high-tech robotic automation. Maybe they’re less easy to relate to than a line of skilled workers laboring at a factory. Maybe both are true, but that doesn’t make knives any less important.
To illustrate my point, here are just five simple things we use every day that without machine knives would be, at the very least, much less convenient. At the very worst, they’d be impossible to use. Read the rest of this entry »
To sum up what’s already been said, this report sheds light on the truth that while certain pressures have sent many manufacturers full steam into packaging reduction, failing to consider all the side-effects can be more harm than good.
Namely, under-packaging can be as much a detriment to your bottom line as over-packaging may make you seem a pariah. Read the rest of this entry »
Is the future of US Manufacturing a new day or an eternal sunset?
US manufacturing has garnered more and more mainstream attention lately. A recent New York Times post about the return of US Manufacturing poses the question of whether this historically crucial industry will return to its original splendor. The article comes during an extra-volatile week for the slowly recovering sector.
In part, it is a direct response to recent developments in China, including decisions to “loosen up” control over their currency and the increase in wage-related strikes by Chinese workers. More importantly, it discusses a major point that has eluded so many over the past years:
The true cost of manufacturing reaches far beyond the price of making the product itself.Read the rest of this entry »
It goes without saying that innovations in packaging materials and the evolution of packaging as we know it are great things.
We’re evolving with the expectations of a new breed of consumer. We’re reducing waste, saving cost and resources as we invent, test, and improve new materials; making us leaner, meaner, and greener than before.
But did you ever consider how changes-for-the-better in package materials can spell changes-for-the-worse when it comes time to cut that material down to size?
Back in March we talked about some hopeful news and positive statistics in US Manufacturing’s slow but optimistic turnaround.In the two months since, it seems to have only grown more positive. For every dark cloud, we seem to find two with silver lining; the consensus being that factory output/ domestic manufacturing are, in fact, leading the way in our domestic economic recovery.
We could spend a lifetime aggregating all the great thoughts and news we’ve seen as of late. Here are just 5 optimistic points on the present state of US manufacturing: Read the rest of this entry »
Would you believe we’re almost halfway to 2011 already?
Honestly, it seems like just last week I was telling you about the overall success of PACK EXPO 2009 in Vegas – and now here I am announcing our 2010 PACK EXPO appearance.
For the uninitiated, PACK EXPO is an annual trade show devoted to the packaging industry and serving suppliers and buyers of packaging machinery, materials, components and servicesAdd to that a colocation with Converting and Package Printing Expo (CPP) for the premier trade show for all things packaging.
“Deciding whether or not to implement a PM program for your slitter or splicer is really simple: Do you want quality or not?” …packageprinting.com
There is a great article over on Package Printing on the importance of keeping your slitters & splicers optimized and safe. Actually, slitters and splicers are the subject of example – the writeup is an excellent overview of preventative maintenance programs anyone running machines should consider.
On top of talking about the why and how of implementing an effective program (including the “where” of hiring professional help) – The article makes good mention about machine knives, and how their wear time varies between applications. On that note, I don’t think I could have said it better myself. Read the rest of this entry »
The loss of one of the converting industry’s leading voices in print is compounded by the subsequent closure of the resource rich convertingmagazine.com, which officially closes April 30,2010. For what excellent insight and content the print edition provided, the site itself quadrupled in up to date news posts, discussions on converting sub-topics, job postings, and even additional e-newsletters.
RBI has made mention of making the intellectual property associated with these pubs available for sale, but only time will tell if that turns out to anything.
So here’s to you, Converting Magazine: thanks for over a quarter century of insight, opportunity, and dedication to the converting industry and all us manufactures, suppliers, and everyone in between.
Earlier this week, I came across a post on The Converting Curmudgeon which resonated with me in a lot of ways. In his post, author Mark Spaulding offers 
It goes without saying that innovations in packaging materials and the evolution of packaging as we know it are great things.
Back in March we talked about some 
Would you believe we’re almost halfway to 2011 already?
We’re