PPC Event Offers Mixed Forecast

Published: May 01, 2004, By Edited by Deborah Donberg

CHICAGO, IL — Hundreds of converters packed the Drake Hotel in Chicago March 14-16 for the annual event sponsored by the Paperboard Packaging Council (PPC). PPC reports a record number of attendees in an economic climate that is still in slow recovery.

Celebrating 75 years of service to the paperboard packaging industry, the association offered attendees information on the latest trends and growth strategies within the industry. Steve Dunning, chairman of PPC's Industry Information Committee, presented State of the Industry Trends 2003, offering “good news and not-so-good news.” Dunning maintains the economy is recovering and the manufacturing sector “will be the driver of growth in our business.” However, he cautions growth will be harder to find within the folding carton industry, with the long-term outlook “flat, at best.”

A recurring topic was the impact of Wal-Mart, America's top retailer, on the packaging industry. From discussions of its “mandate” to have its top 100 suppliers implement RFID tags on its pallets within the next year to criticism the “Big Gorilla” is pushing manufacturing outside the US, Wal-Mart was the hot topic of the event, even garnering its own break-out session Wednesday morning.

Winners of PPC's 61st National Paperboard Packaging Competition were announced at an award's banquet. Smurfit-Stone Container Corp., Chicago, IL, received the coveted President's and Innovation awards for its folding carton for Family Time Perfect Popper. For more on the award-winning design, read “Innovation on Board,” on p54 or visit PPC's redesigned Web site at ppcnet.org.