Maxcess International -Fife, MAGPOWR, and Tidland present Converting Blog

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Filed under: General Business Topics --- khevenor @ 09:41 PM

Is the success of a show always an indicator of the industry it represents? After a slower first day, Pack Expo picked up steam on Monday and crowds in many of the main areas built steadily throughout the day. But it's not just the size of the crowd that matters...for many exhibitors, the quality of the crowd can be even more important. That's a lesson that has been hard for many observers to accept after the heyday of the late '90s and early 2000s. As total numbers dropped in most of the converting, packaging, and printing shows, many felt that perhaps the shows had peaked. But indications this week from Pack Expo are that the packaging industry is alive and well and robust growth is on the horizon.
As I get out in the market to talk about CMM 2007, I hear many supporters speculating that the health of the converting industry is likewise beginning to gain momentum and that the timing of CMM next June is perfect to capitalize on the trends of increased spending from exhibitors and attendees alike. As new owners of CMM, initiatives we have underway to bring running equipment back to the show floor through a variety of "Technology Centers" represent an important step in delivering the experience attendees tell us they want.
What do you look for in a show?
- Keith Hevenor
Editorial/Conference Director
CMM International

Filed under: General Business Topics --- khevenor @ 01:17 PM

Early sessions at this week's AIMCAL Fall Technical Conference in Reno, NV focused on a variety of safety issues for converters. Some of the topics are "no-brainers," but others may not come immediately to mind when considering the safety of both employees and facilities. For individuals, personal protective equipment (PPE) is the most important component of a safety program--clothing, face shields, gloves, footwear, head protection, etc. Another aspect to employee safety is an ergonomic study, which includes analyzing the way your employees lift, move, sit, etc. and finding ways to change the process to avoid potential injury.
Equipment maintenance and making sure that all the safety features of those devices are in place is another key in the safety plan. Too often, operators may remove or bypass equipment safety features to make a process "easier," but that only puts everyone at risk. And finally, one of the speakers related his story of a devastating plant fire earlier this year. Fortunately, no one was injured in the four-alarm blaze, and although a storage building was completely destroyed, having worked closely with local emergency responders paid off. All businesses should plan regular drills with first responders and have a comprehensive emergency plan in place for dealing with the unthinkable.
Do you have an emergency plan? Are there other aspects to consider in plant and employee safety?
- Keith Hevenor
Editorial/Conference Director
CMM International

Filed under: General Business Topics --- khevenor @ 05:57 AM

I may have just made up that term, but my point is that successful education today must take advantage of the full variety of media available. For example, most industries have independent and association conferences, tradeshows, magazines, user groups, newsletters, webcasts, and blogs, and the user community can choose what works best for its needs. I've been involved in many of these media as a content provider, and have found that each has its own pros and cons. The converting industry has dozens of key associations, such as AIMCAL, PLGA, TAPPI, FTA, and IADD to name just a few, offering educational opportunities. Likewise, shows such as CMM and magazines such as Paper, Film & Foil Converter and Converting all offer additional educational opportunities. And this blog (in which I hope more of you will participate!) as well as the AIMCAL blogs, also enable a discussion among industry influencers.
I've been thinking about all these outlets for education because I am about to launch a series of CMM webcasts, and my goal is to make them valuable and relevant for attendees. Finding timely topics and knowledgeable speakers can be a challenge, but I think we're off to a good start with our first event. This free event takes place at 1:00 EDT on Thursday, October 12, and I invite you to join us. If you can't make it on the live date, check out the archive.
Where do you go for education?
- Keith Hevenor
Editorial/Conference Director
CMM International

Filed under: General Business Topics --- khevenor @ 01:25 PM

One of the things I hear over and over again as I begin to organize our conference program for CMM next June is that I will have trouble getting converters and package printers to participate because they prefer to keep their experiences, and particularly their successes, secret. I haven't made enough inquiries yet to know if this is true, but I'm hoping that it's not. I've always found that a great way to share information and strengthen an industry is through panel discussions at events that enable attendees to interact with their peers and find out what's working for others. If a service provider is truly a trusted partner with its clients, there is no risk in talking about specific projects and processes. If as an industry, converters and package printers can work together to help their customers make the most of available technology, everyone wins.
- Keith Hevenor
Editorial/Conference Director
CMM International