Paperboard Packaging Council

Despite a decline in folding carton sales during 2002, recent statistics show an up-swing for the folding cartons market. A PERSISTENTLY SLOW economy, accompanied by higher energy and raw materials costs, put a damper on the 2002 end-of-year earnings of many folding carton converters. But, according to the results of packagePRINTING's Top Folding Carton Converters Survey for 2002, the future is showing signs of promise. Jerome Van de Water, president of the Paperboard Packaging Council (PPC), reported in a February press release that, at year-end, 2002 saw a 2.5 percent decline in nominal dollars of the overall sales volume for cartons. Despite this decrease,

Carton converters should use their economic head start to get a handle on sometimes-elusive niche opportunities. by Susan Friedman, Editor Folding carton converters, as well as other primary packaging producers, typically have the unique, though sometimes stomach-wrenching, opportunity to see and experience what will happen to the general economy before it takes hold at large. According to Jerry Van de Water, president of the Paperboard Packaging Council, the U.S. folding carton industry is generally regarded as a harbinger of economic cycles because cartons are produced and entered into the supply stream months in advance of consumer goods production. What carton converters see now, he

Bert-Co Graphics uses a keen creative instinct to produce highly visible, highly celebrated offset packaging. by Jessica Millward, Associate Editor MAYBE IT'S THE water. Not only does Los Angeles breed an inordinate bevy of beauties and budding starlets, even the packaging produced by and for the Southern California market seems especially ready for its next close-up. Take Bert-Co Graphics, based at two locations in Los Angeles. As sheetfed offset packaging printers, the company's folding cartons have dominated pP's last two Excellence Awards competitions, and managed to nab numerous awards from the National Paperbox Association, the Paperboard Packaging Council, and the Software Publishers Association, among

The carton industry posted modest gains in 1999, but could renewed strategic smarts bring major momentum in 2000? By Susan Friedman At first glance, the folding carton's economic health could be summed up as simply "all good." According to Liz Hill, director of industry information at the Paperboard Packaging Council, "the national economy is still in an upswing, and the folding carton economy is following." Hill's rundown of folding carton gains in 1999 includes a .7 percent rise in annual sales, and a 2.3 percent increase in tonnage. She also reports a .5 percent export volume increase, as carton companies pooled their strengths through

Continued economic strength, new end-use market opportunities and better production strategies all paint a bright picture for this once over-shadowed segment. By David Luttenberger By most accounts, the U.S. folding carton industry had a banner year in 1998. According to Gary Stanley of the U.S. Department of Commerce (DoC), segment records were set for both quantity and value of product shipments. DoC figures estimate the value of shipments at $9.7 billion. That's a 3.5 percent increase over '97. Much of the good news for the paperboard carton segment can be directly attributed to the strength of the national economy and a better-than-expected export climate.