Highcon CEO Shlomo Nimrodi spoke to Jan Bottiglieri, host and editor of the Paper 360 Better Together podcast, at Corrugated Week 2022. The inspiring interview discussed what it takes to be a CEO of an innovative company transforming our industry, and the impact of Highcon’s technology on digital transformation.

Bottiglieri began her interview by inquiring about the requisite qualities needed to lead a technology company. Nimrodi replied that a CEO must have, first and foremost, vision. “The future is formed in our minds, in our dreams,” he explained, then emphasized that we are a backward-looking society. In practice, we move toward the future, while facing the past, using history as a guide.

He went on to say that some of us; a few of us, have the vision, to create the future. To be a good CEO you first have to make sure you have a very strong vision, that different stake holders can relate to and follow—whether it’s employees, whether it’s shareholders, whether it’s customers, or whether it’s the different vendors in the industry. 

Vision, he said, starts with a small group of energetic people who see a better world and “are crazy enough and willing to join you to change the world. That’s what Margaret Mead, anthropologist, said many years ago.” 

Nimrodi noted that Highcon operates in a conservative, risk-averse industry. “I think they are spending a ton of money on capital equipment, but they are not necessarily buying the right equipment.

“The good news is that you cannot fight innovation and you cannot fight change. Barnes & Noble tried to do that against Amazon and look what happened. “

A meaningful aspect of Highcon’s vision is adapting sustainability to the packaging industry. Currently, analog die production methods produce significantly more emissions when compared to Highcon’s cutting and creasing technology.  “Analog produces ten times the emissions,” said Nimrodi. He added that with Highcon’s digital finishing systems, “you can reduce the thickness of the substrate by 10-30% without compromising on quality or box strength which is a win-win for everyone. “

Sustainability is also achieved by production on-demand, which creates a virtual “no-MOQ” (minimum order quantity) capacity and allows for converters to run multiple jobs quickly and profitably. “It’s a technology which will improve your bottom line and grow your customer base simultaneously.”

Nimrodi stressed that future generations are concerned about the health of the planet. He mentioned his own grandson, who at eight years old, is well-informed as to the importance of environmental responsibility. Currently, converters in the United States are moving to sustainable production, but lag behind their European counterparts. Bottiglieri pointed out that “Europe is far ahead in [adopting] sustainability.”

Nimrodi emphasized the good news that multiple companies are driving digital innovation in printing and the post-press arena. This includes well-known companies like Westrock, Gondi, Schumacher and Pratt, which are already utilizing Highcon Systems, both in corrugated and folding carton

“Today, digital printing is almost everywhere. If you are a plant manager and you have already made a decision to buy digital print, the natural evolution will be to buy digital finishing because then you have an end-to-end digital process.  Nevertheless, our solution is [broadly applicable]. I don’t care if the print is flexo or digital, our system will cut and crease it all day long, regardless of where it’s from.”

When asked about his work-life philosophy, Nimrodi said that every day should be tackled with an attitude toward improving the status quo. Highcon is working to achieve this vision, by transforming an analog world to a world of sustainability, profitability—one where future generations will look back on this era and appreciate past strides and accomplishments.

He mentioned that there is another positive phenomenon— Highcon’s systems’ benefits are not limited to reducing emissions via digital plates versus analog plates. By producing on-demand, converters can increase efficiency. And there are a lot of benefits that digital manufacturing can deliver immediately, such as its agility, its erasure of the traditional MOQ, and its production flexibility.

One of the biggest challenges facing corrugated packaging is that the whole world is your customer base, and it is exceedingly diverse with varied expectations. Nimrodi sees an industry, now emerging from the pandemic, which values sustainability and on-demand capabilities. “For us, our goal is to identify the people that have this vision, and want to take this opportunity, to realize this vision. To adopt and drive change.”

Jan Bottiglieri inquired, “From your perspective, as CEO, how would you like others to think about the value of innovation?” His reply: “Every morning when I wake up I ask myself, why? I believe in living a life with a clear and strong reason for being.” Now, having just turned 65 years old, Nimrodi vocalized a raison d’etre which holds that regardless of the size of the company, leadership means sharing that reason for being. “In my opinion, you can make a difference and also make money. My hope is that more and more people will exert effort to achieve this difference and leave a better world for the future.” In conclusion, he expressed his belief that more business leaders will take chances and risks to transform society for a better future.

The post Highcon’s CEO Shares Views on Vision and Digital Innovation first appeared on Highcon.

Recall when we all waited seconds for computer screens to open, that doesn’t fly any longer. We expect this to happen in a fraction of a second. Recall when we mail ordered and it took weeks for delivery?  Amazon has gotten us accustomed to 48 hrs and even shorter delivery times. We “click” on items of interest on our smartphones while walking and are connected instantly. The expectation for results on actions has made us impatient, we more easily give up on sites that do not respond quickly to our internal demands. These same expectations carry into ordering finished packages. 8 week delivery on finished printed materials is no longer acceptable. Some printers have business models that deliver free 2 day shipping just like Amazon.

Is speed really necessary? We may want quick results but what value does this really bring?

There are three reasons speed is particularly important:

Holidays/Events

When a small business chooses to enter the holiday season with customized packaging speed becomes imperative. Missing the window of opportunity can break a promotion. Packaging printed/decorated/finished in holiday fashion will resonate with consumers. These also have the opposite effect when the event is over consumers want to move on. Unlike “left over” meals that may be beneficial, it is important to have the right package at the right time. The ability to adjust inventories so not to have left over seasonal packaging is important and can be done well when you have speed.

Leveraging Trends

The marketplace is more dynamic than ever. When new trends appear and they are hard to predict, brands need to be ready to respond.  Children’s toys, movie characters, athletic heroes can become popular overnight and if packaging can respond it will be rewarded.

Managing Inventory

Long lead print cycles play nemesis to forecasting. These lead to swings where some sku’s are out of stock while others result in excessive inventory. When speed in turn around time is kept short then forecasting is more predictable. Adjustments to fast movers keeps consumers supplied, as they desire, avoiding a reason to look at competitive products. Proper inventory management also results in system savings, avoiding remnant scrap that can be as high as 30%.

How to ensure you are competitive in delivering speed?

This is best answered by looking to those who have successfully accomplished this. Pocket Folders Fast, Hera, Wihabo understand the need for speed and have built their business to be fast, customized and personalized.  There is commonality in their methodology … investment in digital capability that goes beyond printing.  They have developed agile, all digital workflows that allow changes to occur freely and easily. Investment in new capability that delivers speed creates value for consumers that will reward you in business growth!

About the author … Mike Ferrari is Founder of Ferrari Innovation Solutions, LLC and brand package consultant. Retired after 32 years of service from The Procter & Gamble Co. He is dedicated to educate, guide, & inspire those in the packaging industry to grow.

Website: www.mike-ferrari.com   Follow me on twitter: gamechanger78

The post The need for speed first appeared on Highcon.