Working with paper entails interacting with paper converting equipment. From running a newspaper to forming corrugated cardboard shipping containers, you need paper unwound, slit, rewound, sheeted, die-cut, folded, glued, laminated or printed. Depending on your particular corner of the industrial world you may have highly intricate paper conversion needs, consuming a substantial portion of your overall production budget.

Packaging your company’s product also needs careful consideration. Packaging stands at the intersection of product and promotion. Each package is a point-of-sale ad for your product as well as a product itself, requiring raw materials and a multistage process to reach its final version for use. So, like any other production process you manage for your company, you must mull over where to spend your budget most economically. Consider:

1. Contracting out to a paper converting industry service;

2. Buying your own paper converting machine;

3. Keeping your current machines fresh with new supplies for converting.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Engage a converting supply service for paper conversion needs

Work with a contract manufacturer to fulfill your paper goods or packaging requirements if you don't have the time, warehouse space or expertise yourself. Concentrate your efforts on research and design of product and packaging, and leave the execution of your ideas to the experts.

I recommend: EMI Specialty Papers converts and die cuts paper for a variety of industries including automotive, battery, filter, tile, air freshener and candle manufacturing. U.S. Paper Converters offers paper converting services that include custom paper converting, slitting, rewinding and rewrapping.

Purchase your own converting machines

Run the numbers and you may find it's more cost-effective to bring your paper conversion in-house. If you operate a lot of custom-made or special order products, box up products with non-standard dimensions or make frequent changes to packaging this may be a more feasible option for your operation.

I recommend: Advent Machine & Tool manufactures a full line of paper converting equipment, from hand equipment to fully automated machines. The Paper Converting Machine Company also incorporates a full product line including unwinders and rewinders, saws, core machines and facial tissue machinery, offering pre-owned equipment to save on cost.

Modernize your machines with updated converting supplies

Keep your paper converting equipment sharp with honed die cutters and blades. Maintain and even upgrade these complex machines with new hardware.

I recommend: Dienes manufactures knives and slitting systems exclusively. Stafford Corrugated Products offers a full range of products and supplies to work with corrugated cardboard. Montalvo manufactures paper converting web control products worldwide. They sell brakes, clutches, load cells, tension indicators, analog and digital tension controllers, ultrasonic tension controllers, safety chucks and web guiding equipment.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Look before you leap when considering the purchase of converting equipment. Before committing to the expense of new machinery, purchase used equipment to learn the ropes. Use the money saved to train personnel and experiment with physical layout and process time. Even if you change your mind and decide not to keep the paper conversion process in-house, you'll lose far less money in depreciation with used paper converting equipment than if you tried reselling new.