Inside PPC’s Spring 2025 Boot Camp: Two Days of Immersive Learning and Industry Expertise
On May 20–21, PPC welcomed professionals from across North America to our Spring 2025 Folding Carton Boot Camp—a two-day, hands-on training event designed to unbox the entire folding carton process, from fiber sourcing to final packaging.
Held at PPC’s Springfield, MA headquarters, the program brought together new hires, rising leaders, and non-plant personnel eager to build fluency in paperboard packaging. Over the course of two packed days, attendees engaged with subject matter experts, observed real-world demonstrations, and took a deep dive into every major step of the folding carton production lifecycle.
“Boot Camp is more than training—it’s a launching pad,” said Ben Markens, President of PPC. “In just two days, attendees gain a comprehensive perspective of our industry’s ecosystem, equipping them to communicate more effectively with clients, collaborate across departments, and return to their roles with renewed confidence about where they fit into the bigger picture.”
A Step-by-Step Look at the Folding Carton Journey
The experience kicked off with a state-of-the-industry overview from Ben Markens, followed by Steve Rote of Metsä Board Americas Corporation, who unpacked the environmental leadership of virgin fiber. Quinn Garber of Integrity Fiber gave attendees a practical understanding of recovered fiber and the complexities of the North American recycling system.
Rich Machovina and Jen Lechlitner of Graphic Packaging International expanded on this foundation with a detailed look at recycled board and substrate characteristics. Markens then returned to walk through converting formats and sheeting operations, highlighting distinctions between web and sheet-fed workflows.
After a networking lunch, Susie Stitzel of Esko laid the groundwork for effective prepress with a comprehensive session on structural design, workflow optimization, and color theory. Joe Lyons of Wikoff Color Corporation followed with insights on inks and coatings, while Eric Frank of diamond sponsor Koenig & Bauer (US/CA) Inc. wrapped up day one with a compelling overview of printing processes, cold foil, and rotary die cutting.
From Digital Printing to Rigid Box Construction
Day two began with Harold Leete of Bobst North America, Inc., guiding attendees through digital printing advancements. Leete explored laminating methods and continued with sessions on sheetfed die cutting, embossing, hot foil, and blanking techniques.
Tooling experts Fernando Pires and Miles Guessford of Marbach Americas, Inc. offered best practices for rule and die design. Leete returned for a review of digital die cutting systems before Markens introduced air hammer stripping. Kirsty Drury of Henkel followed with a session on adhesives and gluing techniques specific to folding carton production.
Later in the day, Gayle Harrop of Tamarack Products Inc. demystified the windowing process, covering machinery, film types, and sealing. Bill Rice of Heidelberg rounded out the technical sessions with a thorough presentation on carton styles and folder gluer operations, from lock-bottoms to 6-corner designs and everything in between.
“Boot Camp moves quickly, and that’s part of the value—it’s a concentrated opportunity to learn alongside industry peers and get curious about the parts of the packaging process that likely impact your job, even if they aren’t part of your day-to-day,” said Emily Leonczyk, PPC’s Executive Director and VP. “You’re not just hearing how things work—you’re seeing them, asking questions of industry experts, and building not only a clearer understanding of the ‘why’ behind each step, but also a deeper respect for the complexity and craftsmanship involved.”
Celebrating Achievement and Looking Ahead
Spring Boot Camp concluded with a graduation ceremony and a virtual keynote address from Graphic Packaging International CEO Mike Doss, who encouraged attendees to lead with innovation, collaboration, and purpose.
PPC extends sincere thanks to all presenters:
- Steve Rote (Metsä Board Americas Corporation)
- Quinn Garber (Integrity Fiber)
- Rich Machovina & Jen Lechlitner (Graphic Packaging International)
- Susie Stitzel (Esko)
- Joe Lyons (Wikoff Color Corporation)
- Eric Frank (Koenig & Bauer (US/CA) Inc.)
- Harold Leete (Bobst North America, Inc.)
- Fernando Pires & Miles Guessford (Marbach Americas, Inc.)
- Kirsty Drury (Henkel Corporation)
- Gayle Harrop (Tamarack Products Inc.)
- Bill Rice (Heidelberg)
Special appreciation goes to our partners and sponsors:
Diamond Sponsor:
Koenig & Bauer
Sapphire Sponsors:
Clearwater Paper Corp.
The Komori Group
Metsä Board Americas Corp.
Platinum Sponsors:
Bobst North America
Kallima Box
RM Machinery
Sappi North America
Ready to Join the Next Boot Camp?
Our next Folding Carton Boot Camp takes place December 9–10, 2025. Don’t miss this opportunity to immerse yourself in the complete world of folding cartons.
Register now or reach out to us at info@paperbox.org with any questions.