We're excited to bring listeners our second of two episodes recorded at TAPPICon 2025 in Minneapolis, MN, May 4 - 7. 

TAPPICon 2025 was a huge success, with strong attendance and a revised multi-track program that let attendees plan exactly the experience they needed. As always, there was a high level of learning and engagement, people meeting new friends and solving problems together.  

To try to capture some of that energy, I set up my podcast table right off the exhibit floor and talked to folks from throughout the industry. Our three guests for this episode include: 

Priya Venkat—Co-founder and COO of Haber: "There is so much pressure in terms of costs, maintaining a workforce, achieving net zero—the only way our industry can get there is by leveraging AI." 

Rich Ermlick—Principal at Boring Excellence: "If you find yourself doing the same improvement projects every three to five years, you're not improving. That indicates there is not an underlying system." 

Curtis Stone—Application engineer, Pulp & Paper, at Schaeffler Group:  "Bearings in a paper machine are one of the most highly engineered pieces of equipment... there is no one silver bullet." 

 Thanks to our three guests for sharing their perspectives with Better Together listeners. Be sure to check out our first TAPPICon 2025 Episode as well, where we meet three more of our TAPPICon attendees.  

I hope we were able to capture some of the excitement of a live event – but to really get it, you need to be there in person. So if you were not able to make it to Minneapolis this year, we hope to see you in Atlanta for TAPPICon 2026 – put it on your calendars, April 22 – 26, 2026. 

We're excited to bring listeners this first of two special episodes recorded at TAPPICon 2025 in Minneapolis, MN, May 4 - 7. 

 We had a great turnout for TAPPICon 2025 and there was more than enough positive energy to go around. TAPPICon’s multi-track program is planned and executed by real working papermakers, and it shows – always a high level of learning and engagement, people meeting new friends and solving problems together.  

Here is YOUR change to experience some of that energy! We've assembled three interviews recorded with attendees at the event. Our eclectic group of guests for this episode includes: 

Frank Mignano—Manager, condition monitoring and Industry 4.0 solutions, Schaeffler Group:  "This kind of technology and toolsets are the things that entice and encourage the younger folks to get involved in the paper industry." 

Robert Bustin—Business development manager at Radix Engineering:  "We are taking data at mills and making it more valuable, useful, and available." 

 Thierry LeBlanc— Software and EHS Expert at CONFORMiT:  "AI is going to continue to evolve—it's going to be much more integrated into everything we do." 

 If you've never been to TAPPICon, what are you waiting for? Mark your calendars for April 22 – 26, 2026, and plan to join us in Atlanta, GA, for TAPPICon 2026. We hope this podcast captured some of the excitement but to really get it, you need to be there. 

Thanks to these three professionals for sharing their knowledge and stories. Be sure to check out our second TAPPICon 2025 Episode as well, where we meet three more of our TAPPICon attendees.  

This episode was recorded on-site at TAPPI's 2025 Student Summit in St. Petersburg, FL. More than 300 attendees—including pulp and paper engineering students from 13 different universities—enjoyed panel discussions, a Career Fair, and Engineering Challenge, and so much more. We asked students to "take the mic" to host their own interviews and share their unique voices.

Our first guest hosts are Tabitha Newberry, Katelyn Gyurich, and Shelby Conley, three students studying Paper Engineering at Western Michigan University. "I think my favorite part of student summit is making connections," says one of our students, as they discuss what makes this industry truly special. Their enthusiasm for TAPPI is contagious... and they may just have the next billion-dollar idea in specialty tissue. 

Next, Jacob Levesque, a chemical engineering student in the pulp and paper program at the University of Maine, interviews TAPPI's own Sidney Onyekwere, Standards Project Coordinator, about the tremendous knowledge-growing possibilities for students within the Standards and TIPs process. "We offer a Swiss army knife of knowledge and information—there's something for everyone," Sidney says.

This is the second of two episodes hosted by student volunteers at the 2025 Student Summit. Subscribe today to Better Together and share this episode to spread the word about the amazing opportunities available to students who choose a career in pulp, paper, and packaging.

This episode was recorded on-site at TAPPI's 2025 Student Summit in St. Petersburg, FL. More than 300 attendees—including pulp and paper engineering students from 13 different universities—enjoyed panel discussions, a Career Fair, and Engineering Challenge, and so much more. We asked students to "take the mic" to host their own interviews and share their unique voices.

First up, Western Michigan University students Parker Langellier and Toby Archer interview Dr. Med Byrd, Professor and Undergraduate Coordinator for the Paper Science and Engineering program at North Carolina State University.  "The paper process is very unique, very specific, and—let's face it—delightfully funky," Dr. Byrd tells our hosts, as they explore what makes pulp and paper such an amazing career choice.

Next, veteran Student Summiteers Tanner Stogner and Michael Reuss interview first-time Summit attendees Conyers Preveaux and Gavin Knight. All four are students at Auburn University in Auburn, AL. As one student comments, "You see familiar faces all around. It's really nice that we have 300 people here and we all want the same thing: to grow our industry." 

This is the first of two episodes hosted by student volunteers at the 2025 Student Summit. Make sure to Subscribe to Better Together so you won't miss the next episode!

On this episode of Better Together, host Jan Bottiglieri speaks with Naomi Gehling, Academic Programs Administrator for Auburn University in Auburn, AL. A former Auburn alum herself, Naomi shares her knowledge about what students in the pulp and paper sciences really want from a career in our industries. 

Our students are amazing—they're so smart, and they're ready to go," she says. "I've not met anyone in our Pulp and Paper program who is not excited about going into our industry. They're invested."

Auburn has an undergraduate specialization that focuses on pulp and paper industry training; that specialization is open to students from a variety of engineering disciplines. The Alabama Center for Paper and Bioresource Engineering, hosted within Auburn's Department of Chemical Engineering, has a complete, controlled-conditioned, wettest laboratory for chemically and physically evaluating pulp and paper.

The Auburn Pulp and Paper Foundation (APPF) provides scholarship support for students  on the way to becoming highly skilled, entry level engineers in the pulp, paper and allied Industries. The APPF connects those students to engaging Co-op or intern experiences within papermaking or supplier companies, and then finally with full-time employment in the industry for those students as they graduate. 

The annual TAPPI-PIMA Student Summit is the premier event for students in engineering and technical programs nationwide. No matter where you are in your academic journey, it’s the perfect chance to network with fellow students, industry experts, hiring companies, and potential mentors. The 2025 Student Summit will take place January 18-20 in St. Petersburg, FL. 

Welcome to the second of two special SuperCorrExpo 2024 episodes, recorded on site and unscripted at this amazing event. We do these event episodes to capture some of the energy you might experience if YOU were there: meeting peers, learning new things, and expanding the limits of your professional life. 
Today's guests are:

Bowman Mitchell, VP national accounts at Redlist Software:
"In this world, operations is king. You've got to get as many boxes out that door as possible."

Jason Hooston, CEO & co-founder at Two10 Technologies:
"If I'm going to make a decision, the most important thing is that I want to have confidence in that decision... data is a big part of that."

Christine Little, director of sales, corrugated machinery, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries:
"We're focusing on what we're calling Declaration of the Independents. We're looking at the independent market a little differently."

Jeff Buchanan, director of sales and market development; and Tyler Haggard, director of business development, for HarperLove:
"If we can help improve productivity and reduce waste, it's huge in the marketplace not only for us, but also for our customers' savings."

Teemu Salo, managing director at Adara Pakkaus Oy:
"You need to rely on your partner. You need to keep good contacts and whatever comes up, you have to take it to the table and run through it."

Rick Putch, director of technical services and process improvement, National Steel Rule:
"If there's one thing in the corrugated industry that everybody's looking for, it's productivity gains. In class, I break it into three things."

These conversations were captured at SuperCorrExpo 2024, held September 8 - 12 in Orlando, FL. Occurring only once every four years, SCE is the premier trade show and conference dedicated to the corrugated packaging industry. It is organized by TAPPI and AICC. 

SAVE THE DATE for SuperCorrExpo 2028, which will again take place September 8 - 12 in Orlando, FL.

Please remember to share, like, and subscribe! 
And join us again for Better Together.

Welcome to the first of two special SuperCorrExpo 2024 episodes, recorded on site and unscripted at this amazing event.  Maybe you missed this year's SuperCorrExpo... maybe you were there and want to recapture some of the awesome energy... maybe you just love corrugated professionals for the cool and interesting people they are. Whatever the case, this episode is for you!

 Our guests include:

 Steve Rote, technical development director, Metsä Board Americas:
"We need to adapt to the changing times, whether it's market demands or technology."

Sharon DiRé, senior product marketing manager, Advantive:
"So as circumstances change... the machines automatically update (to) keep things moving efficiently, which helps minimize waste as well."

Igor Tkalenko, CEO, Corruga.expert:
"We get many messages about how to bring young people to the industry, so for    SuperCorrExpo we came up with the idea of... a game."

Gokul Gopakumar, VP, technology and business development, Sun Automation: "It is very important to understand AI as a tool and not mystify it so much."

Jerry Vivlamore, corrugated end of line process application partner, Signode:
"We can provide the customer with a dashboard of how well their equipment is running."

Ludovic Tremblay, product expert, ConformIT: 
"You meet people that have been in this industry for 30 years—and for a reason. Once you're in it, you get it."

These conversations were captured at SuperCorrExpo 2024, which was held September 8 - 12 in Orlando, FL. Held only once every four years, SCE is the premier trade show and conference dedicated to the corrugated packaging industry. It is organized by TAPPI and AICC. 

SAVE THE DATE for SuperCorrExpo 2028, which will again take place September 8 - 12 in Orlando, FL.

Share, like, and subscribe!  We truly are.... Better Together.

Safety is not just a buzzword for the pulp, paper, and packaging industries—it's critical to our operations and to our collective future. For an inspired group of TAPPI members and safety professionals, that was the motivation behind a new TAPPI Technical Information Paper (TIP) that outlines a proven approach to safety training that any mill can use. PIMA TIP 1502-01 Improving Safety Training - A Hands-on Approach represents a new category for TIPs and the first from the PIMA division. 

Our guest for this episode is Kurt Mehlberg, quality solutions manager for Domtar, Resolute, and Paper Excellence, and a recipient of the Division Leadership and Service Award for TAPPI's PIMA Division. He alsohad a big hand in developing this new TIP with other members of PIMA's Safety Committee. As Kurt says, "We're all on that safety journey towards zero"—there is no other acceptable goal for any mill or plant. Kurt shares more about this TIP's development process and why the effort has been so beneficial.

Learn more about PIMA, or any of TAPPI's other volunteer-led divisions.

Grow professionally by getting involved in the TAPPI Standards and TIPs process.

Access TAPPI Standards and TIPs online 24/7 through either Individual or Company license. 

"Dark, dirty, dull, dangerous, and dumb"—that's a common misconception about careers in manufacturing, says guest Jake Hall on this episode of the Better Together podcast. Yet, according to Hall, "manufacturing is an industry that creates so much opportunity... I think it's the foundation of our economy."

 As the Manufacturing Millennial, Hall talks to corporate clients and audiences around the country about automation, technology, and what they can mean for modern manufacturers when it comes to attracting young professionals. He is an experienced sales professional with deep insight into the millennial mindset—as well as the tremendous opportunities manufacturing can offer for companies willing to make the connection.

Hall graduated from Grand Valley State University with a bachelor’s in Product Design and Manufacturing Engineering and a minor in Biomedical Engineering. He will serve as the keynote speaker at the upcoming SuperCorrExpo in Orlando, FL, September 8 - 11. Check the links below to learn more about Jake Hall and the SCE event. 

 Homepage for Jake Hall, the Manufacturing Millennial: themanufacturingmillennial.com

SuperCorrExpo details, including program updates: supercorrexpo.org

Register for SuperCorrExpo.

Strong attendance, special events, and a sold-out exhibit hall kept the energy high at TAPPICon, held April 28 - May 1 at Cleveland's Huntington Convention Center. Better Together host Jan Bottiglieri was in Cleveland to try to capture that energy at the podcast booth. In this episode, we bring you six fun, short interviews—here's a sampling of what you'll hear:

Brian Mock—President, Event Capture Systems:
"We want to reduce waste and delay... and we want to do that in such a way that allows the paper maker to increase efficiencies of the overall process."

 Heather Jennings—Director, Huma Environmental and
John Rudd—Director of Operations, IoT-MFG Company:
"Let's look at that entire ecosystem and then once we understand it, we can start reacting to it in a positive way."

 David Strobhar—Principal Human Factors Engineer, Beville Engineering:
" At the very time when you want the alarm system to help you, it's actually working against you. And then of course, the operators were getting blamed."

 Shih-Chin Chen—retired, recipient of 2019 Gunnar Nicholson Gold Medal:
"The knowledge of all the participants is just amazing. So you learn every time, from a very broad spectrum of people. You get pulled in!"

 Herman Quon—Sales Manager, Esko:
"Sustainability is what this industry is all about and innovation in the paper industry is what will sustain this industry."

 John Weiler—Sales Manager, Boston Dynamics:
"Part of the reason why I'm at the show is to talk about how mobile robots are creating safer tissue and paper and pulp operations around the world."

 Other resources mentioned on this Episode of Better Together include:

·      View Brian Mock's Chalk Talks on Near Infrared LEDs for pulp and paper mills.       

·      Learn more about the Center for Operator Performance that David mentions.

·      Try out Esko's oil viscosity calculator.

·      See Spot the Robot Dog in action.

Strong attendance, special events, and a sold-out exhibit hall kept the energy high at TAPPICon, held April 28 - May 1 at Cleveland's Huntington Convention Center. Better Together host Jan Bottiglieri was in Cleveland to try to capture that energy at the podcast booth. In this episode, we bring you seven fun short interviews—here's a sampling of what you'll hear:

Bobby Hyde—Application Specialist, Valmet:
"If your heart rate doesn't get up... because you're in an uncomfortable spot, then really at the end of the day, are you learning anything?"

Lu Athnos—Regional Sales Manager, Pulp & Paper, ABB Automation:
"It's not enough just to fix a problem. You have to document that knowledge and you have to be able to share that knowledge in an actionable way."

Peter Kayser—Managing Director, Krafft Walzen:
"I find it personally quite amazing, what this business is capable of doing—to be reinvented for the future."

Sneh Patel—Chief Operating Officer, JMC Paper Tech USA:
"This has been amazing for us as a family. It was our grandfather's dream to open up our own mill again... it's great knowing that we're able to keep that legacy going." 

Elliott Bell—Global Head of Pulp & Paper, Radix Engineering and Software:
"I love pulp and paper... It is some of the most interesting technology, some of the most interesting challenges that you'll see in any industry."

Vera Hallikainen—Development Manager, Finnish Forest Products Engineers' Association:
"I think innovation is the key... while we keep innovating together, I think the future is very bright." 

Ludovic Tremblay—Product Expert, CONFORMiT:
"We're talking about taking all the data from the mill—all the valves, all the disconnects, switches, all the breakers—putting 'em in the system and making them work for the plant." 

Other resources mentioned on this Episode of Better Together include:

·      Check out Bobby Hyde's free webinar about Tissue Drone Services.

·      Meet amazing women in our industry with ABB's Unstoppable series.

·      Visit Germany's Modellfabrik Papier, an industry consortium working toward climate goals.

·      Access the Finnish Forest Products Engineers' extensive Forest BIoFacts Series.     

·      Learn more about TAPPI's Divisions, Committees, and Special Interest Groups.

In this episode, host Jan Bottiglieri speaks with Bud Chase and Alfredo Sarli, members of the TAPPI Tissue Division Dust Mitigation Committee. This growing, active group of professionals meets to discuss a critical issue: managing the risk of tissue mill dust fires. Listeners will learn more about the science behind dust combustion; how vendors and manufacturers are working together to identify new mitigation goals and techniques; the potential risk involved; and what top things our experts feel every tissue mill must do to manage this risk.

Bud Chase is vice president—tissue at EDT (Enzymatic Deinking Technologies), responsible for all tissue enzyme applications. He has spent his entire career in the paper industry, beginning in 1989 with roles in tissue production, paper machine clothing, automation, and chemicals. Chase received a Bachelor of Science degree from University of Wisconsin Stevens Point Pulp & Paper/Chemical Engineering program.

Alfredo Sarli is a mechanical engineer from McGill University with over 30 years’ experience in the paper industry on machinery and process applications ranging from the wet end to the dry end of the paper machine. He is currently an applications specialist for the Air Systems division of Valmet and is based in Montreal, Canada.

To learn more about the Tissue Division or the Dust Mitigation Committee, visit the TAPPI Website.

Read about TAPPISAFE and the new Dust Mitigation course—or any of the more than 170 courses TAPPISAFE offers— at tappisafe.org. 

 Which Division or Committee is a perfect fit for your career? TAPPI has more than a dozen Technical Divisions targeting specific segments of the industry. Each Division and its corresponding Technical Committees work to share knowledge and provide solutions for the industry through a variety of products, services, and opportunities including publications, events, and online discussions. TAPPI members can join any of our Technical Committees. 

 To become a TAPPI member, please join online or contact the Member Connection Center at 1-800-332-8686 (US), 1-800-446-9431 (Canada), or +1-770-446-1400.

 Don't forget to Subscribe, Post, and Share this podcast! We appreciate your support.

WIN Division Panel Discusses Leadership Models in the Pulp, Paper, Packaging & Tissue Industries. In this special episode of Better Together, host Jan Bottiglieri is joined by three guests from TAPPI's Women in Industry Division. This dynamic group provides programming, events, and networking opportunities for women and men throughout the industry, with a focus on personal growth and career development

For this Episode, our panel includes

·       Amanda Kernan of Valmet, who is our WIN Program Chair and a WIN Division Vice Chair;

·      Gabriele Pinckney, a WIN Division member and DEI senior manager for Solenis LLC; and

·      Deanna Duram, managing consultant with Trinity Consultants and the WIN Division's 2022 Woman of the Year.

The WIN Division is gearing up for its 2024 International Women’s Day Panel, held via Zoom on Friday, March 8, from 9:30 to 10:30 am EST. Moderated by Gabriele Pinckney, the panel will focus on Navigating Gender Equality in Industry, and will share real examples on how to implement successful inclusion strategies in your everyday life. Register here for this free event. Though only one hour out of your day, this discussion will make a lasting impact. Please join us and help #InspireInclusion!

If you have missed the Women's Day Panel—or if you're simply interested in supporting leadership opportunities and career growth for women in pulp, paper, and packaging—the WIN Division invites you to its 2024 Women's Summit in Cleveland, OH, on Saturday, April 27. Held in conjunction with TAPPICon, this year's Summit will include a keynote presentation from Cyd Rechtin, Founder and CEO of The Creator’s Attaché (TCA). Learn more here.

THANK YOU for listening to Better Together: Conversations with Innovative Leaders; don't forget to follow and subscribe to our podcast wherever you get your podcast content. Remember that, as the pulp, paper, and packaging industries face a future full of possibility, we really are Better Together.

Welcome back for the second of two episodes of Better Together recorded at CorrExpo 2023 in Cleveland, OH, August 29 and 30th. More than 1,200 people attended the event, which featured an active exhibit floor, memorable networking events, and an expert-led technical program. Whether you were lucky enough to be there or not, these mini-interviews capture some of the engagement and excitement on site.

In this episode, we'll be speaking with:

·      Matt Condon, business development manager, digital printing, Domino 

Host Jan Bottiglieri asks Matt about new developments in digital printing. 

·      Christine Little, director of sales/Corrugated Machinery Division,                Mitsubishi Heavy Industries

Learn about one of the biggest causes of plant downtime—and what can be done. 

·      Joe Slattery, Midwest regional sales manager, Fosber America, Inc.

Joe and Jan talk about exciting developments in corrugated technology.

·      Ron Gracy, territory manager, Walla Walla Environmental 

Ron wraps things up discussing how wastewater treatment can save your plant money.

Click to read more about CorrExpo 2023, and view slideshows of the Awards Ceremony and the networking event at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

SAVE THE DATE for SuperCorrExpo, September 8-12, 2024 in Orlando, FL. This HUGE, only-once-every-four-years event is not to be missed!

This episode of Better Together welcomes Bob Chapman, chairman and CEO of St. Louis, MO-based Barry-Wehmiller, a $3B global capital equipment and engineering solutions company with more than 12,000 team members. Over the past two decades, Chapman's approach has evolved from traditional management practices to Truly Human Leadership—a people-centric approach where his team members feel valued, cared for, and integral to the company’s purpose. Bob Chapman will also be the opening keynoter at CorrExpo in Cleveland, OH, August 28-30. 

In this inspiring conversation, Bob talks with Better Together host Jan Bottiglieri about the transformative effect this unique approach can have on the pulp, paper, and packaging industry—and how caring about people is not just successful, but absolutely necessary.

 More about Barry-Wehmiller: www.barrywehmiller.com

More about Chapman & Co. Leadership Institute: www.ccoleadership.com

TAPPICon 2023 was a huge success with attendees and exhibitors. Boasting high attendance and a top-notch program, the conference offered plenty for attendees, including a multi-track technical program and an exhibit floor packed with new technology. The event took place April 22 - 26, 2023 at Cobb Galleria in Atlanta, GA. 

Better Together Host Jan Bottiglieri was right there at TAPPICon interviewing exhibitors and attendees to capture some of that energy live, while it was happening. The energy and enthusiasm from the folks she met make these interviews lively and informative.

Here are the four professionals you'll meet on this episode of "Better Together"--and just a taste of what they'll be sharing in our conversation:

·      Calvin Bembry, Clearwater Paper: "You can't recruit for this industry unless you can really explain to someone what they'll be doing. Recruiters paint pictures."

·      Rebecca Boyd, Jedson Engineering: "You can simulate a lot of things virtually that you'd never want to do in person. We make that (technology) part of our work process."

·      Alos Almeida, Deublin: "We've been hearing more and more about energy efficiency—not just in North America, but everywhere."

·      Tony Tobatto and Tony Magnusen, ABB: "Working with (pulp and paper) customers in 2020—utilizing everything they had on site, trying to do more with less—led us to where we are today."

Here are a few links related to this episode that may interest listeners:

·      Learn about the Women in Industry (WIN) Division, and access presentations from past events

·      Check out opportunities available with TAPPI's subject-specific Technical Committees

·      Read the popular Paper360° article, "Nine Things Your Company Can Do to Find, Keep, and Support Young Talent"

Check out the 2023 highlight real on tappicon.org, then bookmark for updates on next year's TAPPICon, April 28 - May 1, 2024, in Cleveland, OH

TAPPICon 2023 was a huge success with attendees and exhibitors. Boasting high attendance and a top-notch program, the conference offered plenty for attendees, including a multi-track technical program and an exhibit floor packed with new technology. The event took place April 22 - 26, 2023 at Cobb Galleria in Atlanta, GA. 

Better Together Host Jan Bottiglieri was right there at TAPPICon interviewing exhibitors and attendees to capture some of that energy live, while it was happening. For this special "Live from TAPPICon 2023!" episode, she's joined by guest host Mark Rushton, senior editor with Paper360° and the editor of Tissue360°.

Here are the folks you'll meet on this episode of "Better Together"--and just a taste of what they'll be sharing in our conversation:

·      Jeff Peters, BTG: "The biggest growth (in the tissue sector) has been through improvements in tissue technology." 

·      Alfredo Sarli, Valmet: "Tissue is one of the most energy intensive processes... but that creates opportunity."

·      Naomi Ballenger, Jacobs: "We've set up employee networks that help employees feel ready to make that next move up."

·      Pat Dixon, Pulmac: "Say you have a Z-Span tester or a shive analyzer—you're producing data, but what do you do with it?"

·      Yesha Patel, JMC Paper Tech USA: "As a company new to the NA market, we offer our own strengths... this industry will continue to grow."

Even if you missed TAPPICon this year, this episode will let you virtually join the nearly 1,700 industry professionals, students, and others who gathered to learn and network in Atlanta. Make sure to subscribe and share—and join the conversation on Better Together!

Here are a few links related to this episode that may interest listeners:

 ·      Access the latest issue of Tissue360° magazine

·      Learn more about TAPPICon 2023 Keynoter John Dyck and Smart Manufacturing in the March/April issue of Paper360° or on this previous episode of "Better Together"

·      Read about the new Industry 4.0 Lexicon developed by the PIMA Division's IT Committee 

·      Check out the 2023 highlight real on tappicon.org, then bookmark for updates on next year's TAPPICon, April 28 - May 1, 2024, in Cleveland, OH

In this episode we welcome John Dyck, CEO of CESMII - The Smart Manufacturing Institute, a post he has held since June of 2018. CESMII is a Manufacturing USA Institute chartered with transforming the US manufacturing market and increasing global competitiveness through the democratization of Smart Manufacturing technologies, knowledge, and business practices. Join Mr. Dyck and Paper360° Editorial Director Jan Bottiglieri as they discuss some of the innovative ways that CESMII is working to make that happen--and what it may mean not only for the leading companies in the pulp and paper industry, but for our critical small- and medium-sized operations as well, on both the manufacturing and supplier side.

Mr. Dyck will also be the keynote speaker for the upcoming TAPPICon 2023 in Atlanta, GA, April 22-26. “We are at an inflection point," he says. "The ecosystem is beginning to partner and collaborate to solve some of these big problems. (At TAPPICon), I'll be excited to articulate that in some tangible ways.”

For TAPPICon 2023 program highlights and registration: https://tappicon.org

In September, 2022, TAPPI and AICC came together to put on another outstanding CorrWeek event. Jan Bottiglieri, editorial director for Pape360 ° magazine, set up the podcast booth on site to capture some of that Texas-sized energy from the floor. Here are the professionals you will meet on today’s podcast:

·      Jonathan Lust, corrugated industry manager, for Signode Industrial Group, will tell us why IIoT and Industry 4.0 are the future for box makers.

·      Christine Little, senior sales manager, Corrugated Machinery Division, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries America, discusses whether new technology can help attract new talent to the industry.

·      Brian Kentopp, vice president sales, Sun Automation Group, will talk about on how machine learning can help corrugated plants keep up with supply chain stress, labor demands, and more.

·      And finally Sergio Menchaca Flores, director general, Eko Empaques Containerboard and Chairman of AICC Mexico will offer his perspective on working together for a strong industry

Also please check our first “Live from CorrWeek” episode from last month to capture some of that on-site magic. Don’t forget to subscribe and follow our podcast, share with friends and colleagues, and spread the word about Better Together: Conversations with Innovative Leaders. 

Click to learn more about CorrWeek 2022—and bookmark for the latest information about CorrExpo 2023, August 28-30, 2023 in Cleveland, OH.

More than 1500 industry professionals were on hand for 2022 CorrWeek in San Antonio, TX, this past September. For those who were not lucky enough to be there in person, Better Together offers the next best thing: live-from-the-show-floor interviews to capture some of that show excitement. In this episode, we welcome four guests to the podcast booth to share their perspectives on the industry and this stellar event. They are: 

·      Shlomo Nimrodi, CEO of Highcon, will share a leader’s perspective on transforming the corrugated industry from analog to digital.

·      Jonathan Fore, commercial lead, Baldwin Technology (a Barry-Wehmiller company), will tell us about some giant-width solutions offered by its new spectral UV technology for drying and curing.

·      Aleks Zlatic, general manager, packaging at E-Productivity Software, will talk about how boxmakers can save time with software and control systems.

·      Sarah Meiburg, director of industry outreach, Paper + Packaging Board, will discuss a terrific program that’s free to manufacturers and can help spread the word about the environmental performance of corrugated products.

 We hope you enjoy the first of our two planned episodes capturing a few of the sights and sounds of CorrWeek 2022.  We will be bringing you another set of CorrWeek interviews on our next episode, so please subscribe and follow to make sure you don’t miss it. 

Click to learn more about CorrWeek 2022—and bookmark for the latest information about CorrExpo 2023, August 28-30, 2023 in Cleveland, OH.

For this special “double episode” of Better Together, we’ve rounded up four interviews conducted live at TAPPICon 2022 in Charlotte, NC earlier this year. Our guests represent the range of attendees who were at the event, and each offers a different perspective on what TAPPICon is and why it’s so popular with industry professionals. Guests on this episode include:

·      Earn Sakornpan, Cosasco, on how he and his company have grown since their first TAPPICon last fall;

·      WMU paper science students Olivia Price and Emma Norwood, on what drew them to our industry and why they love studying pulp and paper;

·      Dan Schott, Panther Systems, on being a mentor – how it benefits the individuals involved, and how it can help strengthen our industry; and

·      Brian Hayes, Andritz, who offers a vendor perspective on TAPPICon and discusses digital technologies for pulp and paper mills.

 These shorter, casual interviews capture some of the energy of our live TAPPICon event and offer four unique perspectives about what the future holds for pulp and paper.  They were recorded between May 2 – 4, 2022, in Charlotte, NC. 

Learn more about next year’s TAPPICon in Atlanta, April 22 – 26, 2023, at tappicon.org.  We hope to see you there – maybe YOU can be a guest on Better Together!

In this episode we explore ForestBioFacts, a new “digital learning platform” from the Finnish Forest Products Engineers’ Association (PI). Covering 16 different learning themes (see list below), ForestBioFacts is based on PI’s popular and comprehensive Papermaking Science and Technology book series. 

Paper360° Editorial Director Jan Bottiglieri is joined by Markku Herrala, director, corporate communications, UPM; Heli Kankare, development manager at PI; and Dr. Antti Lindqvist, managing director at PI as well as the publishing company Paperi & Puu Ltd.

We’ll learn about the development of this innovative offering and how users can leverage the digital platform to educate those in both technical and non-technical fields—and our guests will also share their thoughts about exciting things ahead for our “wood-based future.”

To learn more, visit: https://forestbiofacts.com

 The 16 themes within the ForestBioFacts learning platform:

·       Introduction to Forest-based Bioeconomy

·       Wood Products

·       Natural Fiber Products

·       Recycled Fiber

·       Pulping and Biorefining

·       Energy and Biofuels

·       Process Control and Automation

·       Biomass Chemistry and Physiology

·       Forests and Other Biomass Resources

·       Supply Chain

·       Material Testing and Product Properties

·       Man-made Bio-based Fiber Products

·       Bio-based Nanomaterials

·       Business and Investment Planning

·       Asset Management 

·       Environmental Control and Management 

In this episode, Olli-Pekka Riippa, a product manager for AFT, tells us more about a challenging project – a new product developed the company developed during the COVID-19 pandemic. With team members in Ireland, Finland, Japan, and elsewhere, the team leveraged digital technologies to launch the product successfully.

 In the end, Riippa says he found the process very positive. “Even if we were asking people to get up early or stay up late, everyone was willing to participate, because the project was very interesting.”

 We’ll also hear about why the new product—a high-performance refiner—was designed to be exceptionally adaptable for papermakers. Join Paper360° Editorial Director Jan Bottiglieri and AFT’s Olli-Pekka Riippa for a success story that shows that, thanks to both practical and virtual technologies, we really can be Better Together.

To read more about the MaxEdge refiner in the November/December 2021 issue of Paper360°, click here.

Welcome to Paper360°’s Better Together podcast, and our second “Live From TAPPICon” special episode. Designed and run by working professionals in the industry, TAPPICon features multiple program tracks, an exhibit floor, networking events, and more. 

In this episode, we capture some of this exciting event for listeners by welcoming these guests:

·      Claire Hammontree, fifth-year student at NCSU, who tells us about TAPPI’s interactive Mentor Match event held right at this year’s TAPPICon;

·      Chris McMillen, senior product manager - condition monitoring at Bentley Nevada, discussing how condition monitoring can help papermakers make informed decisions;

·      Dustin Ziegelman, pulp and paper engineer at Footprint, sharing why molded pulp offers huge potential for replacing single-use plastics; and

·      Lu Athnos, account manager at ABB, who tells us about the very cool technology on wheels that ABB drove right onto the show floor at TAPPICon.

 Be sure to check out “Live from TAPPICon—Part 1” as well, and mark your calendars for TAPPICon 2022, which will be held May 1-5 in Charlotte, NC. Learn more at www.tappicon.org.