Issue link: http://palletcentral.uberflip.com/i/1141207
W e seem to talk a lot about how fast life is moving. Whether it is watching our children or grandchildren graduate, or get married, or when we see how quickly technology is changing our lives. On the flight back from the Ligna tradeshow in Hannover, Germany (the world's largest trade fair for woodworking machinery), I spent time soaking in the experience. We saw more than 1,500 exhibitors and 90,000+ visitors in one place. The week was somewhat surreal, and it felt like a chapter from The Tipping Point, by Malcolm Gladwell. For those of you that read the book, you know he spends time describing that magical moment when an idea, trend, or social behavior crosses a threshold, tips, and then spreads like wildfire. The technology innovations at Ligna were everywhere and, in many ways, represent significant leaps forward. Digitization, automation, robotics, and Industry 4.0 were the hot topics as people met with us at our Pallet Design System™ (PDS) booth. We got to know and provide PDS demos to nearly 50 pallet manufacturers from 28 countries. These companies specifically sought out PDS as they searched for technology to optimize and gain operating efficiencies and to customize their wood pallet offerings for their growing global customer-base. We also presented at Ligna's Wood Industry Summit on how to use PDS software to meet sustainable goals. There is so much emerging about our industry (a lot being funded by The Pallet Foundation), that it feels like we're at a tipping point. This past year, we've shared the Virginia Tech research which concluded that 95 percent of wooden pallets are recycled, making wood pallets the most recovered and recycled packaging product. Wood pallets became USDA Biopreferred, with USDA saying, "Biobased certification for NWPCA members' pallets is an important step in demonstrating the sustainability of wood products." A recent National Association of Manufacturers/INFORUM study quantified the wooden pallet industry's contribution to the U.S. economy, with $31 billion in economic activity, and supporting 173,000 jobs. We shared these studies and our industry's record of accomplishments during our Congressional Fly-In in June. In addition to a full day of meetings on Capitol Hill, eight Members of Congress spent time with our members who ventured to DC for the event. These U.S. representatives spoke on how Congress knows the importance of our industry, and how wooden pallets are used to safely transport, support and rack, a wide range of products in a wide range of environmental conditions. Given the speed at which goods move from manufacturer to retailer to customer, we're pleased to work with government decision-makers, end-users, universities, and others as the information source on wood packaging design and unit-load solutions. That's our kind of a tipping point. Sincerely, PUBLISHED BY THE NATIONAL WOODEN PALLET & CONTAINER ASSOCIATION BOARD OFFICERS Chairman Jordan Piland, Atlas Pallets/ A Div. of Williamsburg Millwork Corp Chairman-Elect Frank Shean, Valley Pallet. Past Chair Larry Howell, Cottondale Wood Products Secretary/Treasurer Mike Hachtman, Relogistics Services Director at Large Carolyn Beach-Skinner, Westside Pallet President/CEO Brent J. McClendon, CAE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Peter Berry, Berry Industrial Dominick Davi, Greenway Products & Services Kathleen Dietrich, Commercial Lumber & Pallet David Grimes, Pallet Resources of NC Bernie Kamps, Kamps, Inc. Bryan Kesting, Madison County Wood Products Jeff Lewis, Atlanta Pallets & Services Joe O'Brien, Industrial Pallet Shane Thompson, WestWind Logistics Howe Wallace, PalletOne Nick Wenner, Pallet Service Corp. International Director Mike Vrugteveen, Niagara Pallet & Recyclers Associate's Representative Randy Panko, Wood-Mizer International Director Emeritus Jan Fredell, Fredells Travaru AB NWPCA 6 PalletCentral • May-June 2019 palletcentral.com 2019 SEASON SPONSORS Kiln-Direct.com tel: 910-259-9794 | kiln-direct.com Mid Continent Steel and Wire Corporation tel: 800-867-6245 | mcswusa.com Pallet Machinery Group tel: 540-644-9220 | palletmachinery.com Pendu Manufacturing, Inc. tel: 717-354-4348 | pendu.com Profile Technology Inc. tel: 800-369-4242 | profiletech.com Rotochopper, Inc. tel: 320-548-3586 | rotochopper.com Smart Products tel: 800-401-0099 | smartproductsinc.com Smith Sawmill Service tel: 800-598-6344 | smithsawmillservice.com Universal Fastener Outsourcing tel: 800-352-0028 | 911-nails.com Viking Engineering & Development tel: 800-328-2403 | vikingeng.com MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT Tipping Points Brent J. McClendon, CAE NWPCA President/CEO