No Boom Boxes (Carton Converter Profiles)

The new year's profits picture appears a little more murky, with just over one third of respondents anticipating greater folding carton profits in 2001 than in the past year, and another third foreseeing flat returns. Twelve percent predict lower profits than in 2000.

Business issues pressing most fervently on carton converters' consciences include maintaining profit margins (cited by 52 percent); controlling operating costs (cited by 50 percent); and finding/retaining skilled labor (cited by 48 percent). Threat of consolidation generated the least concern (cited by 21 percent). Indeed, 2000's merger activity seemed concentrated in the larger integrated players, such as Caraustar's acquisition of Milpak, Arrow Paper Products and Crane Carton; Westvaco's purchase of Mebane and IMPAC Group; and International Paper's merger with Shorewood Packaging.