The Company
A Midwest-based folding carton manufacturer producing high-speed consumer packaging for food, beverage, and household brands. With automated lines and tight production schedules, adhesive problems that slow output or trigger costly rework aren’t an option.
The Logistics and Supply Chain Supervisor manages raw material sourcing for the plant, including adhesives.
“We compete against plants that own their own mills. That means we’ve got to stay lean, fast, and extremely reliable.”
The Challenge
The team had relied on Capital Adhesives for years, but when production spiked unexpectedly, adhesive performance became critical. Their main laminating adhesive wasn’t keeping up with increased demand.
In an effort to cut costs, the team trialed a lower-priced adhesive. It passed initial testing—but weeks later, problems surfaced. Operators noticed cartons delaminating, and machines had to slow down just to keep production running.
“The glue didn’t set up fast enough. If we ran at our normal speed, the paper started coming apart. We had to dial everything back.”
Compounding the issue, a few high-volume runs consumed more adhesive than expected. Inventory levels dropped without warning.
“I came back from vacation and realized we were almost out. The plant had run gangbusters while I was gone. That could have shut us down.”
When adhesives fail—or run short—downtime follows. Every hour offline costs thousands.
The Solution
Capital responded immediately. The Logistics and Supply Chain Supervisor worked directly with their sales rep and technical team to requalify adhesives, troubleshoot performance issues, and secure inventory.
A series of adhesive trials were run across various substrates and board combinations. When the lower-cost adhesive couldn’t sustain production speeds, Capital quickly reverted the plant to the original formulation and ensured a smooth transition.
Capital also helped evaluate adhesives beyond cost per pound, factoring in speed, throughput, machine uptime, and total production performance.
“Even though the original adhesive cost more, we got better speed and fewer issues. It ended up being the more cost-effective choice.”
When inventory ran low, Capital expedited emergency shipments to keep lines running. They also partnered with the plant’s product development team to test new solutions for cracking on fold lines—a recurring issue in specific designs.
“Our rep was just here last Friday, testing new adhesive ideas with our team. They’re always hands-on. Always honest about the tradeoffs.”
The Results
With Capital’s support, the plant kept production on track during a year of high volume and tight deadlines. Machines ran faster. Operators had fewer issues. Customers received consistent product quality without interruption.
Thanks to fast turnaround and open communication, potential downtime was avoided—even during inventory scares. The Logistics and Supply Chain Supervisor had peace of mind knowing adhesive supply was secure.
When performance mattered most, Capital didn’t overpromise. They showed up, solved the problem, and kept the line running.
“We’ve trialed other glues. But Capital’s runs clean. No clogging, no gumming up the lines. That alone puts them at the top.”
For this plant leader, reliability means more than price—it earns trust and keeps production moving.