Folding Cartons: Fighting on Several Fronts

John Zeiser, president/CEO of Southern Champion Tray, reported “a pretty good year, but most volume gains were offset by cost increases in board, supplies, and freight.” He believes that improved margins will be “difficult to come by until excess capacity is shut down.”

The significant rise in energy costs directly or indirectly impacted most of the cost increases. Jerry Van de Water, PPC president, acknowledges the impact that this has had on converters.