PPC’s Folding Carton Boot Camp is back in person this fall, taking place December 9-10! Our two-day program is essential for those new to cartons or the industry and for non-plant personnel eager to deepen their knowledge beyond a single-plant operation.
Unlike any other training, the Folding Carton Boot Camp delivers a highly interactive, hands-on experience that immerses attendees in every key aspect of the folding carton process. Attendees will gain a practical understanding of essential topics, including windowing, rigid boxes, automatic packaging, cold and hot foil stamping, tooling, laminating, and much more.
The in-person format is a game-changer. It allows participants to engage directly with the materials, machinery, and processes that make the folding carton industry so unique. You’ll connect with industry experts, observe real-time demonstrations, and participate in discussions that take you from the fundamentals of paper production to the complexities of customer delivery. Our comprehensive, real-world learning experience fosters a richer, deeper grasp of each “folding carton” point along the production chain.
Join us to build foundational skills, network with leaders in the field, and gain the hands-on expertise needed to excel in the dynamic world of folding cartons.
Materials
STUDENT REMINDER: To ensure you have enough space for Boot Camp course materials, it’s important to plan ahead and leave some extra room in your suitcase or carry-on bag.
Handbook: Each participant receives a copy of the popular Ideas and Innovation Handbook ($180 value!), as well as a binder full of paper and carton samples, instructional information, speaker presentations, a comprehensive glossary of printing terms, as well as a certificate of completion, ready for framing.
Binder: The Folding Carton Boot Camp Binder includes paper copies of all 20+ presentations, the 2024-25 Trends Industry Outlook & Market Data Report Summary by Fast Markets RISI (Full report available to download for PPC Members), the most recent Carton Competition Book, and samples of various types of paper board.
Paperboard Samples: All samples a located in tabs 1-9 of the Folding Carton Boot Camp Binder.
1. Hardwood & Softwood Pulp
2. Virgin, (Fresh) Solid Bleached Sulphate, SBS, Chemical
3. Virgin, Coated Unbleached Kraft, CUK, SUS, Chemical
4. Virgin, Uncoated Unbleached Kraft, Chemical
5. Virgin, Folding Box Board (fbb) Bleached, Mechanical
6. Recycled, Coated Recycled Board, CRB
7. Recycled, Uncoated Recycled Board, URB, Chip
8. Laminated Flute
9. Foil
Additional Materials: All participants will receive a PPC branded washable paper bag, a printers loupe, a PPC ruler, an ejection rubber, and PPC pins.
How to Register
Register on PPC’s Member Portal. Follow the instructions below.
Please enter your email address into the Find Me field below. If your email is in our database, it will auto-populate with your first and last name. If your email is NOT in our database, you will receive a message that reads Looks like you’re new here! Continue by filling out the information below. Please fill in your first and last name, and proceed with registration. Once you have registered, we will add you to our Member Portal, and you will receive an email inviting you to create your account.
If you have any questions, please reach out to us at info@paperbox.org or call us at 413-686-9191. We are available Monday–Friday from 8:00 am–5:00 pm ET.
Schedule
Schedule times are subject to change.
December 9, 2025
7:30 AM – 4:30 PM
BREAKFAST
Introductions
Industry News
Virgin Paperboard
Recovered Fiber
Recycled Paperboard
Processes & Formats (Web & Sheet)
Sheeting & Rewinding
LUNCH
Structural Design & Workflow
Color Theory
Inks & Coatings
Printing Processes
Digital Printing
Litho Laminating
DINNER – 6:00 PM
December 10, 2025
7:00 AM – 3:00 PM
BREAKFAST
Tooling
Sheetfed Diecutting: Blanking, embossing, stamping
Digital Diecutting
Rotary Cutting
Applications in Cold & Hot Foil
Air Hammer Stripping
Gluing & Adhesives
Windowing
Carton Styles
LUNCH
Folding & Gluing
Automatic Packaging
Rigid Box
Graduation Ceremony – Make sure you’re camera ready!
Travel & Lodging
Location
PPC World Headquarters, 1350 Main Street, 9th Floor Art Gallery, Springfield, MA 01103
Hotels
Marriot Springfield Downtown
2 Boland Way Springfield, Massachusetts 01115
Rate: $159/night
MGM Springfield
One MGM Way Springfield, MA 01103
Parking
The easiest way to access the hotel from the parking garage would be to park on Level C and enter through the main hotel entrance. You can take the elevator down to the lobby for check-in.
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner on Tuesday & Breakfast and Lunch on Wednesday are included.
Breakfast and Lunch will be provided at PPC HQ, and Dinner will be held at Nadim’s Mediterranean Grill right next door to PPC HQ.
“Breakfast with Ben” on Wednesday will be held at the Springfield Marriott Downtown.
Travel
The closest airport is Bradley International Airport (BDL), about 20 minutes away from PPC HQ. We recommend booking a flight that departs no earlier than 5:30 PM.
Transportation
Uber services are available from Bradley Int’l. Lyft is also available in the area, operating at similar rates.
Dress
Business Casual
Diamond Sponsor
Sapphire Sponsor
Sapphire Sponsor
Sapphire Sponsor
Platinum Sponsor
Platinum Sponsor
Platinum Sponsor
Platinum Sponsor
