Board Converting News, May 16, 2022

Board Converting News, May 16, 2022

BoardConverting Serving the North American Corrugated and Folding Carton Industries for 38 years May 16, 2022 VOL. 38. NO. 20

The ‘Great Resignation’ Myth: Why People Are Quitting Jobs BY BRUCE FEILER I’m a sucker for a good origin story. Anthony Klotz may have the best one going right now. Klotz, a professor of management at Texas A&M and an expert on why people quit their jobs, was being interviewed by Bloomberg re- porter Arianne Cohen early last year about how people could deftly

Pratt To Establish $200M Innovation Center In Texas Pratt Industries, Inc., through its subsidiary Pratt Corrugated Holdings, Inc., will locate a Regional Manufacturing & Innovation Center at High Point 67 in Cedar Hill, TX. Pratt will be the primary tenant on the High Point 67 cam- pus, occupying one-million square-feet and investing more than $200 million in equip- ment, inventory, and building improvements. Pratt’s Cedar Hill facility will employ 150 full- time workers to manufacture corrugated box- es and custom packaging solutions. Pratt is America’s fifth largest corrugated packaging company and the world’s largest, privately-held producer of 100 percent re- cycled containerboard. The Georgia-based company operates an extensive recycling company to supply five of the most modern, 100 percent recycled paper mills in the U.S. “We’re very honored to be in Cedar Hill and we’re committed to the great state of Texas – in fact this is our fifth box factory here,” said Anthony Pratt, Executive Chairman of Pratt In- dustries. “We have long prided ourselves on the fact that we employ 11,000 Americans in well-paying, green-collar manufacturing jobs and we have now invested in America to the

walk away from their jobs during the pandemic. He described what happened to Adam Grant on his WorkLife podcast. “I was sharing my research and mentioned that I think it’s really valu- able that she’s doing this story, because I think there’s going to be a great resignation in the US and the coming months.” Boom! A meme, a consensus, and an era-defining phrase was born! But is it right? The U.S. Labor Department recently released its monthly report on labor participation. What’s called the “quit rate,” the number of people who quit their jobs every month, reached an all-time high. In March, 4.5 million people quit their jobs. They weren’t laid off, furloughed, or fired; they voluntarily walked away. Multiply that figure times the number of months in the calendar, and that means 50 million people are now quit- ting their jobs every year. That’s a third of the workforce! A great resignation, indeed. Not so fast. That narrative is actually quite misleading. The Labor Department has been monitoring this figure for years. When you pan out, it turns out that the quit rate has increased every CONTINUED ON PAGE 24

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

WHAT’S INSIDE 5 NAM: Activity Strengthens In April, Despite Challeneges 8 Greif Announces $50/Ton Price Hike On URB, CRB 14 Max Solutions To Invest $27M, Create 150 New Jobs In NC 32 PPSA Safety Conference Slated For June 12-15 In FL

U S A MANU FA C T U R E R W I T H E X T E N S I V E WOR L DW I D E S E RV I C E AND S U P P OR T

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Highcon Euclid 5C

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S UN I S T H E O F F I C I A L R E P R E S E N TAT I V E F OR TA I WAN  B A S E D L AT I T UD E MACH I N E R Y COR POR AT I ON , I TA LY  B A S E D PA R A , AND I S R A E L  B A S E D H I GHCON

EVERYTHING CORRUGATED UNDER

Machinery and Handling for the Corrugated Board Industry

2 May 16, 2022

AVERAGE CONTAINERBOARD PRICES The average prices reported are tabulated from prices PAID by various sources throughout the United States the week previous to issue. Prices in some areas of the country may be higher or lower than the tabulated average. The prices tabulated here are intended only for purposes of reference. They do not connote any commitment to sell any material at the indicated average. Transactions may be completed at any time at a price agreed upon by seller and purchaser.

REGION E. Coast Midwest Southeast Southwest

42# Kraft liner

26# Semi-Chem. Medium

$1005.00-1010.00 $1020.00-1030.00 $1020.00-1030.00 $1020.00-1030.00 $1050.00-1060.00 $1023.00-1032.00

Short Ton Del. Short Ton Del. Short Ton Del. Short Ton Del. Short Ton Del. Short Ton Del.

$940.00-990.00 $955.00-975.00 $955.00-975.00 $955.00-975.00 $975.00-995.00 $958.00-978.00

West Coast U.S. Average

The Price is Right

SHEET PRICES BY REGION (AVERAGE) Per 1MSF, local delivery included, 50MSF single item order, truckload delivery. Sheets

E. Coast Midwest South-SW S. CA N.CA/WA-OR US Aver.

200# 275#

$62.26

$72.05

$62.69 $82.80

$85.35 119.54

$73.13 101.29

97.32

99.89

90.86

113.65

OYSTER UP-CHARGE 8.34

8.34

8.34

8.34

8.34

8.34

275# DBL-WALL 350# DBL-WALL

107.46 118.45

114.69 129.32

116.54 137.25 117.82 145.56

141.08 148.46

122.76 131.80

More box makers and brokers are relying on the containerboard pricing in Board Converting News to negotiate their contracts with end users.

CANADIAN SHEET PRICES (AVERAGE) In Canadian Dollars, per 1MSF, local delivery included, under 50MSF single item order, truckload delivery. 200# 275# Oyster UC 275#DW 350#DW $78.56 $99.18 $9.00 $96.32 $105.83 CANADIAN LINERBOARD & MEDIUM The average prices reported are tabulated from prices PAID by various sources throughout Canada. Prices may be higher or lower in various areas of the country. The prices tabulated here are intended only for purposes of reference. They do not connote any commitment to sell any material at the indicated average. Transactions may be completed at any time at a price agreed upon by seller and purchaser. Prices are Canadian $ and per metric ton.

SEE THE CURRENT PRICES IN PRINT OR ONLINE AT WWW.BOARDCONVERTINGNEWS.COM.

Len Prazych at 518-366-9017 [email protected]

42# Kraft Liner 26#

Semi-Chem Medium

East West

$970.00

$960.00 $995.00

$1,015.00

3

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May 16, 2022

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www.ProferoSystems.com

704-923-0990

PO BOX 950 DALLAS, NC 28034

4 May 16, 2022

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Pratt To Establish (CONT’D FROM PAGE 1 )

value of $10 billion. Cedar Hill will be our 71st factory in the United States.” “We are excited to partner with the city of Cedar Hill and its officials to open this state-of-the-art facility and bring new, green collar jobs to the area,” said Mike Tansey, President of Pratt’s Southwest Converting Division. Pratt plans to sponsor a training and development pro- gram in collaboration with the city and school district. “Pratt believes in investing in our employees and the communities where we live, work and serve,” said Tansey. “We have a strong history of providing continuous educa- tion, apprenticeships and on-the-job training opportunities for our employees. This joint collaboration with Cedar Hill and the school district is a great opportunity for us to en- courage and invest in the community’s young talent and to help them find meaningful employment and long term financial stability.” High Point 67, located on S. US-67 south of Mount Leb- anon Road, is a Class A logistics and manufacturing center with up to two-million square-feet on more than 180 acres. Developed by Hillwood Investment Properties, the project is expected to generate more than $200 million in capital investment and support the creation of hundreds of jobs in Cedar Hill. The project’s location provides excellent high- way visibility and access, proximity to an abundant work- force, and easy connectivity to the region. “The city’s partnership with Hillwood on the High Point 67 project is already bearing fruit for our commu- nity through significant capital investment and well-pay- ing green-collar jobs,” said Mayor Stephen Mason. “I am thrilled to welcome Pratt Industries to Cedar Hill as a com- pany that shares our values of community partnership and environmental sustainability. Pratt’s Regional Manufactur- ing and Innovation Center is one more example of oppor- tunities growing naturally in Cedar Hill.” Early Bird Registration Now Open For ICPF’s Holiday Weekend In New York Early Bird registration is now open for ICPF’s 2022 Holi- day Weekend in New York, scheduled for Friday through Sunday, December 9-11, 2022. Register by July 31, 2022, to save $200. Bring your spouse or guest for holiday shop- ping, sightseeing, dining, a Broadway play, and enjoying New York City during the holiday season, all while support- ing the International Corrugated Packaging Foundation’s educational mission. This year’s event will begin with a Friday evening recep- tion, sponsored by Pratt Industries. ICPF guests will enjoy a Saturday matinee (to be announced) of one of the latest Broadway hits, sponsored by BW Papersystems. Saturday night, participants will be treated to a reception and dinner at a special New York restaurant. The reception is spon- CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

5

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May 16, 2022

ICPF Early Bird (CONT’D FROM PAGE 5)

Box Shipments ( U.S. Corrugated Product Shipments) Industry Shipments In Billions of Square Feet Month March 2022

sored by Fosber America and the dinner is sponsored by WestRock. Greif, Inc. also is a sponsor of the weekend. In addition to saving by registering by July 31st, ICPF’s New York holiday event always sells out early. Space is limited to a first-come first-serve basis. ICPF recommends you register by June 30, but no later than August 31 to ensure participation. Request additional information and a registration form by e-mailing [email protected] or download at careersincorrugated.org . AF&PA Releases Q1 2022 Containerboard Quarterly Report The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) re- leased its Q1 2022 Containerboard Quarterly report. • Total Containerboard production in Q1 increased two percent compared to Q1 2021. • Q1 2022 production of containerboard for export in- creased nine percent compared to the Q1 last year. • The containerboard operating rate was 94.3 percent, essentially flat (+0.4 pts.) from Q1 2021. • Mill inventories of containerboard at the end of March decreased 102,000 short tons from the end of the pre- vious quarter and were up 63,000 short tons compared to March 2021.

Year

Actual

Percent Change Avg Week Percent Change

2022 2021

37.675 37.992

-0.8

8.190 8.259

-0.8

Industry Total

Year-to Date

March 2022

Year

Actual

Percent Change Avg Week Percent Change

2022 2021

102.648 102.938

-0.3

8.019 8.170

-1.8

Industry Total

Containerboard Consumption (Thousands of Tons)

Year

Month

Percent Change Year-to-Date Percent Change

2022 2021

3.1027 3.0967

0.2

8.4866 8.4625

0.3

Container Board Inventory - Corrugator Plants (Thousands of Tons)

Corrugator Plants Only

Date

Percent Change Weeks of Supply

Percent Change

Mar. Feb.

2.2693 2.3081

-1.7

3.4 3.5

-2.9

Shipping Days

Year

Month

Year-to-Date

2022 2021

23 23

64 63

SOURCE: Fibre Box Association

www.boardconvertingnews.com

6

May 16, 2022

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AICC Schedules Live And Virtual Events For May

and tips and tricks during Maximizing Productivity Through Effective Plant Scheduling on Thursday, May 19. Hear from keynote speaker, Adam Peek, Host of the People of Packaging Podcast and Vice President at My- ers Printing during the Midwest (Region 6) Spring Meeting 2022 on Tuesday, May 24. This event is co-located with the TAPPI trade fair. Register for these trainings or events at www.AICCbox. org/Calendar . Direct questions to Taryn Pyle, Director of Education & Leadership Development, [email protected], or Chelsea May, Education and Training Manager, cmay@ aiccbox.org or (703) 836-2422.

AICC, The Independent Packaging Association, is hosting live and virtual events this May. AICC Technical Advisors Tom Weber and Ralph Young will discuss the basic equip- ment, testing, and costs for establishing an in-house test- ing lab in What Testing and Requirements are Best Suited in the Packaging Industry on Wednesday, May 11. Managing employee absences can be a daily chal- lenge. The challenge is compounded by “presenteeism” – when an employee is present but not engaged or perform- ing satisfactorily. Add to those trends sweeping the nation as states, and local jurisdictions enact laws that require various types of paid and unpaid leave, in addition to fed- eral mandates like the ADA and FMLA. Learn how these changes impacts company policies and practices in Man- aging Disability and Leave Issues on Wednesday, May 18, AICC Emerging Leaders can register for the Q2 2022 C-Suite Leadership Webinar to hear from Economist Rob- ert C. Fry, Wednesday, May 18, on current market >Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48

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