7/09/2010 |
(en una verdadera perspectiva global)
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The paper industry in Wisconsin has long been an important part of the economy of Wisconsin. The first paper mill in Wisconsin went into operation in 1848, three months before Wisconsin became a state. The mill produced paper for the Milwaukee Sentinel & Gazette. Because of the abundant forests, ready availability of water and water power and a skilled labor force, the paper industry grew into the most important segment of the Wisconsin economy. For the past fifty years, Wisconsin has been the #1 paper making state in the United States.
Although papermaking continues to be a major part of the economy, the Wisconsin paper industry has suffered as a result of the capital and energy intensive nature of papermaking. Coupled with industry wide corporate consolidations and divestitures, the manufacturing facilities in the state have experienced considerable difficulty maintaining a continuous supply of innovative products to the market. Strategic initiatives creating sustainable competitive advantage for the Wisconsin paper industry are needed in order to maintain and enhance the prosperity of the industry, the state and the nation.
Concerns about the future vitality of the Wisconsin paper industry spurred the establishment of a Paper Technology Transfer Center located at the University of Wisconsin – Green Bay. The purpose of this Center is to support the paper industry of Wisconsin. In order to provide immediate support to the paper industry, the plan is to form a “virtual” organization that brings together selected resources to address industry needs. Within the state, resources that directly support the paper industry are the USDA Forest Products laboratory in Madison, and the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point, but there are many other resources that could be directed toward industry needs. These include resources in the University of Wisconsin system, the Wisconsin Technical College System as well as resources in private colleges and universities. In addition, there are technical resources residing in some of the suppliers to the paper industry that have offices, labs and manufacturing facilities in the state. These resources have the potential for providing technological solutions to industry problems, workforce development programs to enhance the performance of employees, and collaborative programs to address industry wide areas of interest such as environmental and energy issues.
Wisconsin is unique in having “clusters” of allied industries residing in the state. Within a one hundred mile radius of Green Bay, there are more paper mills than anywhere else in the United States. Similarly, within a 250 mile radius of Milwaukee there are over 11,000 printers. Wisconsin also has a high concentration of suppliers to the global paper industry. These include machine manufacturers as well as suppliers of other materials and chemicals to the paper industry.
Although these companies share a geographic proximity, historically there has been limited collaboration between the companies within an industry segment, and between different industry segments. It is felt that the industry could benefit from greater collaboration between companies and between segments. A suggestion has been made that a specific emphasis on tissue making might provide an initial area of common interest. Of the more the 100 or so paper machines in Wisconsin, 28 are tissue machines. These represent a variety of types of machines employing a range of technologies, both on the forming end as well as the drying end. The Paper Technology Transfer Center could serve as a center of tissue technology. Initially this would be primarily collecting information about tissue manufacture and converting, but in the longer term could include development of courses and research in tissue technology.
The Paper Technology Transfer Center is a part of the University of Wisconsin –Green Bay. It was established in September of 2004 under a grant from the United States Small Business Administration. The Center maintains offices in Green Bay as well as on the UW-Green Bay campus. Staff consists of a Director, an Assistant Director and a part time Program Assistant. The Center maintains a website (www.uwgb.edu/pttc ) and sends out a biweekly e-newsletter.
This project is funded by a grant from the U.S. small Business Administration (SBA). SBA’s funding should not be construed as an endorsement of any products, opinions or services. All SBA-funded projects are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis.
The picture shows the staff of the Paper Technology Transfer Center:
Dr. David Hollenberg, Director; Lynette Foellmi, Program Assistant, Dr. John Katers, Assistant Director
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