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Pallet C e nt ral • Janu a r y -Fe b r u a r y 2 0 24 17 same is true in many markets we serve. As a result of the increased demand, we have been in investment mode at Tru-Pac, upgrading our cut stock capabilities as well as installing high-speed nailing machines to open our finished product capacity. As unfortunate as it is to have wars around the world, it does mean that more money will be spent and the demand for supplies will increase, leading to increased demand In forecasting the wood packaging industry and markets next year, we turn to the voices that matter most—our members. In this special feature, PalletCentral asked our industry thought leaders to share their insights on the anticipated trends and factors influencing the industry, promising to be our most-read segment of the year. We invited our members to weigh in on the overall demand for wooden pallets, the factors shaping the industry landscape, and the potential opportunities and challenges for manufacturers. This collection of insights unveils all the dynamics that will help define the path forward for the wood packaging industry in 2024 and beyond. Chris Stickney, CEO, Tru-Pac, Inc. A s we step into a new year at Tru- Pac, Inc., we're looking forward to the opportunities that will come. roughout 2023, we experienced steady growth and increased demand for new pallets, and we're projecting the same for 2024. With home construction ramping up, the customers we service in those markets are forecasting an increased demand for pallets. e for the pallet industry. We are also seeing the warehousing industry grow. ese warehouses are storing/ moving more products that have been imported or are simply trying to avoid supply chain interruptions, especially coming out of the pandemic. is too requires more from the pallet industry. As a nation, it would be beneficial to make it more attractive for companies to have factories within the United States. Retention and expansion of factories in the USA would lead to growth across various markets, including wood packaging. We believe it's important to educate our customers on the many benefits of wood products. Despite the misconception that the wood products industry is environmentally unfriendly, keeping the facts in front of the customer is an important part of sustaining and growing the industry. It's our responsibility to explore alternative packaging materials that can match the performance of the wooden pallet, but "Nature's Packaging" has proven hard to beat. Overall, we're very optimistic about what our future holds.

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