Adko

APR helps a leading supplier of plates for corrugated box plants stay on a path to growth

Customer: Adko is a premier supplier of polymer printing plates for some of the biggest corrugated box plants in the nation.

Situation: A growing dissatisfaction with the quality of mounting materials from their long-standing supplier leads them to seek out alternatives.

Solution: APR supplies Adko with a new mounting material that provides quality and affordability, as well as a reduction of waste.

Bottom Line: The new APR mounting material saves money, reduces wastes and results in great reviews and happy customers.


"Our customers immediately loved it for different reasons...

Some said they really liked the translucent quality of it, which might help if you use a grid to mount for sighting.

Others said that it seemed to last longer, score better and have a higher quality to it.

Whatever the reason, what's important is that we kept our customers happy."


- Mychale Tucker, Adko Chief Buyer

The Story

In the growing corrugated box market, one customer can mean a very significant piece of business. With companies such as Smurfit Stone, Temple Inland, International Paper and a host of industry powerhouses using their polymer printing plates, it was vital for Adko's bottom line and reputation to keep them highly satisfied. However, inconsistent quality from a longstanding supplier of mounting material began to suddenly result in delays and customer service issues.

"We had been using a .30 PVC mounting material for some time with no issues," says Mychale Tucker, Chief Buyer at Adko. "But suddenly they started arriving rolled backwards with a reverse curl. When we couldn't get resolution from our previous supplier, we knew we had to do something very quickly."

APR Mounts a Solution

Recognizing the need for swift action, Adko sought out a quick solution from APR. A supply of Akromount Vinyl Mounting Material in a blue semi-translucent finish was provided as a potential solution. Within a very short time, the results were clear.

"Our customers immediately loved it for different reasons," says Tucker. "Some said they really liked the translucent quality of it, which might help if you use a grid to mount for sighting. Others said that it seemed to last longer, score better and have a higher quality to it. Whatever the reason, what's important is that we kept our customers happy."


"It's pretty clear now that there were some pretty significant benefits to switching to the Akromount."

- Tommy Harpster
Technical Representative, APR

From their perspective, Adko also realized cost savings, not just in terms of greater pricing affordability, but less waste too. The previous mounting rolls were only available in a 62-inch size, resulting in cutting and wasteful discarding of unneeded materials in many cases. Akromount is available in 48-, 62- and 72-inch rolls, so they can order the size that best meets their mounting plate needs with less surplus material.

Plate Mounting Materials


APR provided Adko with a new mounting material, Akromount Vinyl, in order to rapidly resolve issues with their previous supplier:

  • Assessment: The first step was to make a quick assessment of the mounting material needed for problem resolution.
  • Initial mounting: Having determined that Akromount Vinyl in a blue color may be the best solution, materials were supplied and mounted on plates.
  • Customer feedback: Adko provided mounting plates with the new material to their customers; they responded with positive feedback.

The Benefits

"Although Adko had been using their previous mounting materials for a long time, it's clear now that there were some significant benefits to switching," says Tommy Harpster, Technical Representative, APR.

He cites the following results from Adko switching to Akromount Vinyl Mounting Materials:

  • Ease of cutting and scoring, which helps save mounting time and labor
  • More size options for reduced waste and cost
  • More affordable pricing

Most importantly, the switch to the new mounting material supplied by APR was quick and seamless, a crucial factor when satisfying the plate needs of high-output, high-value customers: "We tend to do things pretty hot around here, meaning it's important to have a same-day urgency to everything we do," says Tucker. "We were able to make the switch quickly, with the added bonus of even happier customers."


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