Manchester Industries, a Clearwater Paper company, recently enhanced its production capabilities in Hagerstown, Indiana, by acquiring a new 73-inch SheetRunner from BW Papersystems. This advanced sheeting system, designed specifically for high-volume board production, will allow Manchester to optimize substrate use, reduce waste and improve production times.
“We bought the new SheetRunner to increase capacity and improve efficiency,” said Dave Clark, Production Manager at Manchester’s Hagerstown facility. “It was such a reward for Hagerstown, investing in our future and modernizing our equipment. The automatic slitter minimizes setup time, which is a huge benefit in reduction of overtime.”
The Hagerstown facility, known for serving commercial printers and folding carton industries, has already seen significant performance gains with the new sheeter. The installation process was seamless, with the machine fully operational within a week.
“The installation went better than expected,” said Dave Miller, Corporate Maintenance Manager, who has been with Manchester Industries for over 24 years. “There were absolutely no major road bumps. One week after the machine arrived, we were already in production.”
Miller also emphasized the strong partnership with BW Papersystems, noting the excellent service and collaboration that has been crucial to Manchester’s success over the years. The new SheetRunner's advanced features, such as its automation and safety enhancements, are expected to boost productivity while maintaining high-quality output. “The SheetRunner helps us build on our quick-turn value prop for customers with increased safety, quality and reliability,” said Miller.
Beyond the immediate productivity benefits, the SheetRunner also represents a significant upgrade in terms of operator efficiency. “We’ve had the SheetRunner installed and running for a few weeks, and the performance has significantly increased,” said Clark. “In one shift, we handled 13 job changes and reached an output of 30 tons, which is impressive for a new sheeter. The machine runs faster with less effort from the operators, allowing them to focus on programming, monitoring and quality control. The SheetRunner is definitely an efficient sheeter.”
“It’s been a privilege working with Manchester Industries over the years, and we’re thrilled to see how the new SheetRunner is already making a difference,” said Lucas Kok, Sheeter Sales Executive at BW Papersystems. “Our goal is always to provide solutions that not only meet but exceed our customers’ expectations, and we’re glad to see the machine delivering on that promise.”
Looking to the future, Manchester Industries sees this latest purchase as a continuation of its long-term growth strategy. By continually upgrading its equipment with cutting-edge technology, like the SheetRunner from BW Papersystems, the company ensures it remains at the forefront of the industry.
“BW Papersystems is pushing the bar for sheeters and converting, and we are proud to partner with them,” said Clark. “Their commitment to innovation and support allows us to meet our customers’ expectations while also increasing our productivity.”
Manchester Industries was founded in 1978 as a recycled paperboard mill. In 1981, the purchase of the first sheeter transformed the company's trajectory. Since then, Manchester has grown to become one of the nation’s leading suppliers of sheeted paperboard, operating five locations and shipping nationwide. With thirteen precision sheeters, two slitter rewinders, five guillotines and four carton packing lines, the company has the capacity to produce over 175,000 tons of finished products annually. Manchester Industries maintains thousands of tons of roll stock inventory, ensuring quick-turn, ‘Just in Time’ service for their customers’ paperboard needs.
With this latest addition, Manchester Industries continues its long-standing tradition of leveraging top-tier technology from BW Papersystems to meet evolving market demands and maintain its competitive edge.
For more information about the SheetRunner folio sheeter, visit www.bwpapersystems.com/products/machine/new/sheetrunner.