We're excited to bring listeners this second of two special episodes recorded at TAPPICon 2026, April 26-29 in Columbus, OH.

 We had a great turnout for TAPPICon 2026 and the new program format made it easy for people to engage, learn, and grow. TAPPICon’s multi-track program is planned and executed by real working papermakers, and 2026 brought Mill Monday, Technical Tuesday, and Workshop Wednesday to the forefront. 

 As TAPPI's official event podcast, Better Together is happy to bring you the opportunity to experience a taste of what makes TAPPICon special. We've assembled three interviews recorded with attendees at the event. Our guests for this episode are:

 Wayne Reinhart Jr., technical solutions manager at SPM:
"Bring me your issues and we're going to help you find a solution. And it could be anything from changing your process to certain types of equipment to help you monitor that equipment."

John Watkins, product sales manager for Andritz Inc.: 
"There is a tremendous opportunity to invest in automation and digitalization solutions because if we don't, the BRIC countries are doing it and we are going to fall behind. We have to adapt."

Kurt Mehlberg, quality solutions manager, Domtar:
"Continuously reducing risk, continuously challenging what we're doing, (using) a fresh sets of eyes or new tools like AI, that all makes us better. We've got to be able to listen and leverage that knowledge."

 YOU can get in on the conversation! Mark your calendars for April 24 – 28, 2027, and join us in Indianapolis, IN, for TAPPICon 2027. We hope this podcast captured some of the excitement of TAPPICon but to really get it, you need to be there.

Thanks to our amazing guests for sharing their knowledge and stories. Be sure to check out our first TAPPICon 2026 episode as well, where we meet three more of our TAPPICon attendees.