64th SPA Conference - 5th & 6th February 2007
At the opening session on 5th February of the well attended 64th Conference of the Sheet Plant Association, Raj Bhardwaj of the KnowItAll consultancy gave a presentation outlining the make-up of the UK sheet feeder/sheet plant sectors. His talk gave an overview explaining who the main players are, and how their share of the market has changed in recent years. The many closures, acquisitions and mergers have altered the face of both the sheet plant and sheet feeder market place, with mixed results.
Annual General Meeting
The Annual General Meeting was addressed by Chairman Graham Sutherland, who gave an account of the SPA’s activities, comparing the Association’s 2006 accounts with the previous year. Business Sessions Summary of Benchmarking and Lean progress Graham Sutherland opened the 6th February Business Session with a review of the past results of the Association’s benchmarking project, which involves the anonymous, independent comparison of a number of key business indicators. He stressed that the more members who joined this voluntary scheme the more meaningful and beneficial would be the results. As it was, those members who had been involved in benchmarking for some time had seen the benefits and would continue to take part in the regular analysis and comparison with like businesses. Members gave an update of their experiences in the implementation of the ongoing Lean programme. Controlling heating costs David Hilton of Vickers Electronics gave an outline of his company’s Energy Management System, which uses self-learning predictive programming coupled with high accuracy digital temperature sensing. The product is said to control existing forms of heating, using a zoning technique, in a way that ensures that required temperatures are attained and maintained in the right factory zones at the right time, whilst at the same time bringing about reductions in energy consumption. David gave a description of typical installations, and invited members to request a free site survey for their own plants. CPI Matters Andrew Barnetson, Corrugated Sector Manager for the Confederation of Paper Industries, gave an account of the aims and current activities of the CPI.
The CPI was formed in 2000 in a merger of the Corrugated Producers Association, the Paper Federation, the Recovered Paper Association, and the Association of Manufacturers of Soft Tissue Papers. Its main aim is: ‘To be recognised by UK Government, and the community at large, as the authoritative and effective voice of the UK’s paper-related industries, defending their interests and promoting their achievements and potential’.
Among the recent initiatives aimed at the promotion of the corrugated industry is the imminent release of a set of guidelines for Retail Ready Packaging. A free guide has been compiled by Efficient Consumer Response UK (ECR) after consultation with a range of companies throughout the supply chain, including major retailers and members of the corrugated industry.
In parallel with this work, the CPI has been involved in efforts to introduce a ‘common footprint’ for produce trays. The favoured UK design is fully compatible with the US standard, used throughout much of the world. However, the Fefco design, in use in much of Europe, is not as versatile and does not share the same compatibility. Discussions are ongoing.
The CPI has laid down a framework for the regular promotion of corrugated products throughout 2007, and this will include regular press releases.
The CPI is also promoting the widespread use of the ‘Corrugated Recycles’ logo on all corrugated products manufactured in the UK. (One SPA member present at the session vowed to go back to his plant the following day and to include the logo on all new stereos.)
5-Star - Health and Safety update Brian Bowers gave an update on recent changes in legislation that will need to be included in future audits. Members could not afford to be complacent. Members Session The final session of the conference featured a consultation exercise aimed at ensuring that future meetings are in tune with members needs. Raj Bhardwaj facilitated a lively focus group session, with members split into a number of discussion groups. The results of those discussions were then collated for further consideration by the SPA organising committee. Members appeared to be overwhelmingly in favour of the establishment of an annual conference, probably replacing one of the three existing meetings, with high quality speakers and with participation from outside of the SPA. Other ideas put forward were plant visits, a forum on corporate responsibility,the encouragement of members to bring along industry ‘friends’ who might subsequently join, a web site forum, more handouts and posters, mail shots or telephone survey of prospective new members and those who had left the SPA. Following the session it was agreed that every member would receive immediately four copies of the paper industry promotional posters recently issued by the CPI. Don Haines