Metal to the core Sonoco Alcore

METAL TO THE CORE

Global tube and core solutions provider Sonoco Alcore has a dedicated metal division that delivers a broad range of innovative products and services. Emma-Jane Batey spoke to commercial segment leader Jordi Casas and technology leader Marko Ilomaki to learn more.

Established in 1899, global consumer packaging, industrial products, protective packaging and supply chain services giant Sonoco today employs over 21,000 people, has annual sales of $5 billion and over 330 operations in 34 countries. Well-known for serving some of the world’s leading brands in over 85 countries, Sonoco is listed on the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index.

Sonoco Alcore is Sonoco’s tube and core solutions division, with its focus on delivering products and solutions to customers in the paper, film, man-made fibre yarn, metal and construction industries. Packaging Europe spoke to decision makers in the metal segment of Sonoco Alcore, who are dedicated to the metal capabilities of the division. Commercial segment leader Jordi Casas introduced the interview by giving us an overview of the division and how it fits into the global Sonoco family. Mr Casas said, “Sonoco is well-known globally for being an innovator and a technical leader, so we are no exception to that. Where I feel Sonoco really excels is in taking a different approach, focusing on different segments in order to actively serve customers in best ways and offering not just packaging but total Supply Chain Solutions. So for us here at Sonoco Alcore’s metal division, this means that we can be fresh-thinking and innovative while still having the multi-national strength of the Sonoco family behind us. It’s a great position to be in and one that benefits both us as a company and our customers.”

Hello Metallan

The Sonoco Alcore metal division – called Metallan – is a rather lately formed segment, even though many of the team have worked for the company for many years. With a smart marriage of long-established Sonoco employees and highly driven new employees, the division manages to be the most forward-thinking yet proven. Mr Casas explained, “We identified lots of opportunities for a dedicated metal team within Sonoco Alcore and realised that we could better serve our customers’ needs and find them the best possible solution. With

Commercial segment leader Jordi Casas

myself and Marko at the helm, we have highly specific metal core experience that is reliably and effectively transferred to our customers with every interaction. As with all Sonoco Alcore division, the Metallan Segment offers a sales and technology team that is entirely focused on this specific market, with the knowledge to identify and solve our customers’ issues in a performance-focused manner.”

This focus on metal sees Sonoco Alcore’s Metallan division launched officially in Q3 2016 with Q1 2017 and beyond clearly labelled as an exciting time for rapid growth. Mr Ilomaki explained, “It’s important for us to say that Sonoco Alcore’s dedicated metal solutions division is here, ready to share our long-established knowledge in this sector with existing and potential customers. We are not a new business but we are a new division, focused solely on metallan cores and solutions. It’s a huge sector with huge opportunities, so it makes sense for a global innovator and technology leader in the core sector to offer a customised, totally dedicated team. We are ready to find optimal core solutions to our customers!”

Aligned to the market

As befits a member of the Sonoco family, the Metallan division is fully committed to ‘always improving’. Excited by the potential to grow this newly-defined division, Mr Casas noted that the importance of understanding exactly how metal cores behave underpins its day to day activities. He said, “Part of our thinking is that very high value coils needs to be precisely aligned to the needs of the market. We have identified that a large number of potential customers are using cores that don’t necessarily have the ability to support their winding actions, with perhaps unsuitable engineering being used. We know how important it is to have the right cores for the job, especially when winding high value metal rolls, you don’t want to make a mistake! So that is where our expertise is most valuable. In addition, we are developing specific solutions with the intention to launch this innovation with a distinctive brand concept to the market. It will focus on steel and aluminium, producing the correctly engineered carrier solution for each metal application, optimising its value and increasing the safety of metal coils up to the final converter.”

As a packaging leader across Sonoco’s active markets, the Metallan division is keen to connect with customers and potential customers that are possibly using their current cores without the right performance properties. Mr Ilomaki concluded, “We use a scientific approach to specify a core that meets our customers’ needs for optimum core performance at a suitable cost. We’re continually testing and developing our solutions to ensure we have the largest possible palette from which to draw answers – all totally focused on metal-industry cores. Our engineered carriers may also be part of a machine element, an important component in the winding process from the cold rolling mill to the final user, so this means our ability to design and create a precise solution is not just desirable but critical.” n Contacts: jordi.casas@sonoco-alcore.net or marko.ilomaki@sonoco-alcore.net