President's Message
1st Quarter | 2023
Andrew Jack
AIMCALPresident of the Board
President's Message
Happy & Healthy New Year to all association members.I can’t believe it’s been almost a year since I became board president, so much has happened, so before we look forward, let’s recap on 2022.The year began with a slight hangover from the previoustwo years; we quickly got back to business, and the industry has seen good growth continue. Unfortunately, this optimism was thrown into chaos after the seemingly senseless invasion of Ukraine by Russia. Sadly, this had a profound effect on some of our members, causing supply-chain issues, etc. Thankfully, we seem to be overthe worst of this. As a consequence of the war, energy costs are rising, having a challenging, downstream effect on our industries. Talk of recession toward the end of 2022 became commonplace, although this has yet to fully materialize. Despite all of the above, AIMCAL (now the Association for Roll-to-Roll Converters) gained record membership numbers throughout the year. We held two R2R conferences in Europe and the USA and obviously rebranded our great organization. The new name gives us a better identity and recognizes all companies involved in and supplying to the R2R web-converting industry. Oh, did I mention the UK had no fewer than three different prime ministers in as many months? What a year! So onto the future, the rebranding to Association for Roll-to-Roll Converters is only the beginning of the changes you’ll see during 2023. We will have a new, informative, interactive website, allowing our members access to market-leading information. In addition, we expect to launch a new and exciting Converting School education program, again benefiting our members…and non members alike. We also are exploring other locations for conference events to expand our reach and grow further. The more we grow and reach out to other areas of the globe the more benefits to the members of the Association for Roll-to-Roll Converters. As usual, the latest issue of CQ is packed with great
• ICE Europe 2023, March 14-16, Munich, Germany
• , March 20-22, Denver, CO
• , March
2023, Amsterdam, Netherlands (event sponsor)
• interpack 2023, May 4-10, Düsseldorf, Germany
•Annual Business Summit,Members Only Event, May 16-18, Greenville, SC
To conclude, as president, I am lucky to have the support of an excellent board and hard-working association team headed up by Executive Director Chris Kerscher. I wish all our members a great 2023.Your humble servant,
Andy Jack
President of the Board - Association for Roll-to-Roll Converters
Scholarship fund needs your support
The Women’s Leadership Committee of the Associationfor Roll-to-Roll Converters (formerly AIMCAL) seekscontributions to its scholarship fund. Donations are neededto continue awarding anannual Women in IndustryScholarship for Excellence(WISE). The scholarshipfunds are applied directlytoward the winner’s studentloan balance. The WISE isawarded to women workingin the roll-to-roll (R2R) converting industry and recognizesthose who have overcome significant challenges, invested inSTEM degrees, and are making important contributions tothe industry.Established in 2021 to encourage and commend womenwho have chosen careers in the roll-to-roll industry, the firstWISE award was presented in September 2022 to Mary(Katie) Burdette-Trofimov, Ph.D,. of Franklin International(Ohio). Burdette-Trofimov joined Franklin International in 2021 asa product development chemist and formulates new waterbased, sustainably made, pressure-sensitive adhesives. Sheholds a Bachelor of Science and doctoral degrees fromClemson University. Her doctoral work focused on thesynthesis of polymer-based, drug-delivery systems. Whilein graduate school, she won the prestigious POLY award,which is given by the American Chemical Society to onegraduate student per university for outstanding research inpolymeric materials. An endowment goal of $100,000 has been set. Levelsof support include Diamond Sponsor ($10,000+), GoldSponsor ($5,000), Silver Sponsor ($1,000), and Friendsof the Scholarship Fund (any amount from individuals or businesses). Sponsors receive recognition on the associationwebsite, in social-media posts, and a scholarship sponsorplaque. Current sponsors include Davis-Standard LLC;Celplast Metallized Products, Ltd.; Nordmeccanica Group;Intellivation LLC; and Mahlo America, Inc. The deadline for scholarship applications is Aug. 1,2023. Forms may be found at www.aimcal.org (click on“Resources,” then “Scholarship”). For more informationabout the WISE or the Women’s Leadership Committee,contact 803-948-9470 or [emailprotected].
2023 Business Summit & Annual Meeting
replaces Executive Leadership Conference
The new 2023 Business Summit and Annual Meeting, thesuccessor to the Executive Leadership Conference, will beheld May 16-18 in Greenville, SC, headquarters of the Assn.for Roll-to-Roll Converters (formerly AIMCAL).The one-of-a-kind conference has been designed tosupport both converter and supplier members and theirorganizations. Highlights include networking programmingsuch as collaborative workshops and presentations fromindustry leaders, as well as a “behind the scenes” facilitytour at a prestigious manufacturer.More info: www.aimcal.org/summit
ICEC USA moves to January 2024The 7th edition of
theInternational ConvertingExhibition and Conference
(ICEC) USA has beenrescheduled from this springto 2024 (Jan. 9-11, 2024, Orange County Convention Ctr.,Orlando, FL). The Association for Roll-to-Roll Converters(formerly AIMCAL) will sponsor a member pavilion withdiscounted, turnkey booth space and present its popularseries of Fundamentals courses on coating, web handling,slitting/rewinding and more.After 2024, the show will continue to be held in even-numbered years. “The decision [to change dates provides]… a much more desirable timeline for our exhibitors andattendees alike rather than the original 16-month gap,” saysICEC USA Event Director Bob Chiricosta.“We are excited to return to Orlando in 2024 with an evenbigger and better event,” he adds. “Many of our exhibitorshave confirmed larger booth space than they’ve ever had inthe past, and most post-pandemic budgets are expected to bemuch larger for the show, making this a ‘can’t-miss’ eventfor the converting industry.”For more information, visit www.convertingshow.com.
Busy tradeshow, conference yearahead for association participation
The Association for Roll-to-Roll Converters (formerlyAIMCAL) will exhibit or participate at several industryevents in 2023, including:
• ICE Europe (March 14-16, Trade Fair Centre, Munich,Germany)
• AWA Global Release Liner Industry Conference &Exhibition (March 20-22, Grand Hyatt Hotel, Denver,CO)
• Tape & Functional Films Expo Europe (March 21-23, The RAI, Amsterdam, The Netherlands) (eventsponsor)
• FLEX Conference & Exhibition (July 11-13, MosconeCtr. San Francisco, CA)
• PACK EXPO Las Vegas (Sept. 11-13, ConventionCtr., Las Vegas, NV)
• Labelexpo Europe (Sept. 11-14, Expo Centre,Brussels, Belgium)
• The Battery Show North America (Sept. 12-14,Suburban Collection Showplace, Novi, MI)
View all industry events on our Calendar.
Popular Converting School courseshead to Green Bay (WI) in April
The Association for Roll-to-Roll Converters (formerlyAIMCAL) will present three in-person courses on April 11-12, 2023, at The Tundra Lodge Resort & ConferenceCtr. in Green Bay, WI. Options include one-day or half-daycourses:
• “Introduction to Coating, Drying, Laminating,” led byTed Lightfoot (eight hours)
• “Web Handling Fundamentals,” led by Neal Michal(four hours)
• “Converting Process Development Approaches,” ledby Steve Lange (four hours)
More information may be found at www.aimcal.org (click on “Education,” then “Courses”).
Association roster expands by six
Six firms have joined the Association for Roll-to-RollConverters (formerly AIMCAL) since the last quarter. The newcomers represent an array oftechnologies and geographies. The continued growth takesassociation membership to more than 300 organizationsfrom across the globe.
HB Fuller (Vadnais Heights, MN): Its specialty chemicalproducts portfolio consists of an array of adhesives,sealants, tapes, labels and coatings, including flexible packaging adhesives. (651-236-5345)
Inteplast Engineered Films (Livingston, NJ): Six NorthAmerican facilities support the production of high-qualityfilms for printers, converters and end users.(800-720-9458)
Leybold (Export, PA): A pioneer in vacuum technologysince 1850, the firm offers a comprehensive product line to aglobal market. (412-295-4235)
MMC Ryotec Corporation (Godo-cho, Japan): Part ofMitsubishi Materials Corporation Group, the engineeredcarbide-product specialist offers wear-resistant tools(including slot dies). (+81-058-427-1211)
Siemens (Alpharetta, GA): Operating company SiemensIndustry supplies automation and control products tomachine builders and end users. (www.siemens.com)
TKM United States (Erlanger, KY): This manufacturerproduces long-lasting doctor blades for gravure, flexo andcoating applications. (859-538-1287)
Ginger Cushing, Goddess, Describe your current line of work and what interestsyou the most about it. What areas of the R2R processing field are the mostexciting now and into the future?
AIMCAL Women’s Leadership Committee
Member Profile:
G Prime LLC
My work focuses on coatingsand adhesives used for flexible packaging. Most projectsinvolve developing sustainable replacements forconventional, multilayer plastic structures for food andmedical applications. I do a little formulating in my homelaboratory and run trials in the field on commercial rollcoaters. Nothing pleases me more than finding a practicalsolution to a technical problem.
It is no secret thatflexible packaging has been taking a beating with publicsentiment. We (the people in our industry) have the know-how and responsibility to turn things around. CPGs,converters, and machinery and materials producers arecollaborating across the value chain more than ever.Recycling and compostable solutions are emerging andmaking an impact. These are exciting times. There’s still along way to go and lots of innovation to be seen.
Did you have a female role model ormentor in your career, and what wasthis experience like? What career advice can you give to women coming intothe field to help assure their success?
It’s hard to comeup with one. There simply weren’t manywomen around to coach me. I haveoften been the sole female on teams andat meetings. Other women in the R2Rindustry have said the same, and this iswhy we started the WLC. We quicklydeveloped a network of like-mindedprofessionals who network and mentor each other. We’retwo years into it, and I’m amazed at the camaraderie,enthusiasm and creativity the group shares.
At the outset, Ispent too much time trying to blend in and be one of theguys. I believe my work became more valuable when Istepped away from the pack and became an individual.My career has been rewarding, but it wasn’t all funand games. There were times I was harassed by menwho were disrespectful, antagonizing, and, yes, offeredunwanted sexual advances. I regret trying to resolvethese issues on my own. Though I got through it all, itwas frustrating and exhausting to go it alone. My adviceto anyone experiencing any kind of discrimination is tomuster the strength to report offenders to superiors, humanresources…or a lawyer.
