2023 ARC Annual Business Summit "a resounding success"

Attendees from across the R2R-converting spectrum learn to drive toward operational success as BMW Performance Driving School & Zentrum host key industry-expert speakers.

Greenville, SC (USA) – The 2023 Annual Business Summit, organized by the Association for Roll-to-Roll Converters (ARC) [formerly AIMCAL], was “a resounding success” for the scores of attendees from across the roll-to-roll (R2R) converting industry. The program was held May 16-18 at the BMW Performance Driving School and Zentrum in Spartanburg, South Carolina (above). Participants included upper-level managers from companies representing all facets of web converting — flexible packaging, labeling, pressure-sensitive tapes, specialty papers, batteries, printed and flexible electronics and more — and their machinery, raw-material and consumables suppliers.

“Summit attendees truly benefitted from coming together to connect, educate and grow the R2R converting industry,” says ARC Executive Director Chris Kerscher. “The concentrated two-day program offered knowledge-sharing and insights on the latest trends, innovations and challenges facing our industry, and I think participants went home with plenty of actionable information to help improve their operations.”

“The opportunity to network with fellow attendees and engage in wide-open group discussions on key business topics such as workforce motivation, team management and retaining young professionals was a highlight of the Summit,” adds ARC President Andy Jack of Emerson & Renwick, Ltd. “We believe our members make the difference.”

The 2023 Summit agenda kicked off May 16 with a Welcome Reception at The Packaging School and Packaging InSight LLC in downtown Greenville, South Carolina. Clemson University Professor Andrew Hurley spoke about the intricacies of package graphic design, the ideas behind “eye-tracking” technology and offered some preliminary results from an on-going survey of consumers in the retail environment.

Presentations on May 17 included “Lessons Learned in Advanced Roll-to-Part Manufacturing of Consumer Electronics” by Don Davis of Kent Displays; “Leveraging Digital Twins for the Converting Industry” by Thomas Finkbeiner of SIEMENS; and “Attracting and Retaining Young Professional Employees” by Kamber Parker of YoProKnow.

The May 18 session began with the official 2023 ARC Annual Business Meeting and wrapped up with presentations on “Motivating the Modern Workforce” by Alison Farr of Think Up Consulting and ARC Director of Education Alex Nevels; and “Must-Have Mindsets and Strategy for Next-Level Managers” by Dr. Natasha Ganem.

Platinum Sponsor for the 2023 ARC Annual Business Summit was INX International Ink Co. “The Greenville Business Summit was my first in-person event with ARC, and I can’t say enough about the professionalism, content of the summit and overall experience that I had,” says Jim Garvey, technical manager with INX International Ink. “The event checked all the boxes: great location and venues, excellent speakers presenting over a variety of topics very relevant to today’s manufacturing landscape and, most importantly, an opportunity for face-to-face meetings with friends and colleagues. I’m very happy to be part of this great association.”

The team-building highlight of the ARC Annual Business Summit was the chance to take part in the BMW Ultimate Driving Experience, where participants took advantage of networking rides, drives or timed races on five different courses at the BMW Performance Driving School on May 17. The manufacturing highlight was a guided tour of the BMW Plant on May 18, where attendees witnessed the final stages of both robotic and human assembly of a range of new BMW automobiles.

During the ARC Annual Business Meeting, voters elected a new director, Rob Malay of VDI (above), re-elected officers and directors and thanked three departing directors: Joe Heinemann of Rayven/Duraco, Kevin Sopczak of Leggett & Platt and Sarah Williams of Advanced Energy.

As technical manager at VDI, Malay leads all research and development work, and is responsible for all process engineering projects and initiatives. Prior to this, he was a doctoral researcher at Binghamton University, working on integrating flexible glass into R2R systems, as well as fabricating and characterizing electronic devices made with R2R techniques. He chairs ARC’s Vacuum Web Coating Committee and is an active member of the Society of Vacuum Coaters. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, as well as Master of Science and doctorate degrees in Industrial and Systems Engineering from Binghamton University. “ARC is fortunate to gain the expertise Malay brings to the Board,” says Vice President Bob Pasquale of New Era Converting Machinery, who chaired the Selection Committee.

In addition to Pasquale, the 2023 ARC Board consists of President Andrew Jack of Emerson & Renwick, Treasurer Greg Williams of Transcontinental Advanced Coatings, Past President Dante Ferrari of Celplast Metallized Products, Ltd., and six directors-at-large: Malay, plus Todd Luman of Interprint Group, Joseph Perdue of ECKART America Corp., Rodrigo (Rod) Sosa of Fres-co System USA, Inc., Martha Sloboda of Duraco Specialty Materials and Michael Sullivan of MTI Polyexe Inc., an Inteplast Group company.

Dates and venue for the 2024 ARC Annual Business Summit will be announced at the 2023 R2R USA Conference (Oct. 2–5 at The Baird Center (formerly The Wisconsin Center) in Milwaukee, WI). Registration is now open for the conference, ARC’s flagship technical program and exhibition.

More info is available at: https://www.rolltoroll.org/2023-r2r-usa-conference.