Sales Managers Derek DeGroot and Jordan Langley headed down to sunny Orlando, Florida last month to Sioux Rubber & Urethane’s first foray into the SuperCorr Expo, the largest gathering of vendors and corrugated solution seekers in the Western Hemisphere. They joined more than 300 industry suppliers and thousands of industry leaders from 70 countries for a four-day event spearheaded by the corrugated industry’s two leading associations, TAPPI and AICC.
Like the Olympics, the SuperCorr Expo happens every four years, so there is a lot going on under one roof, including a place to view corrugated and honeycomb machinery, innovations, products, and keynote speakers throughout the industry. “SuperCorr is a huge international trade show and a new business venture for us,” said DeGroot. “It was nice for us to see what is out there.”
“Since it was our first time at the show, we didn’t know what to expect,” adds Langley. “This show focused on corrugated more than honeycomb, but there were some things relevant to both industries.”
Sioux Rubber & Urethane attended the SuperCorr Expo to showcase its latest product, the HawkPad, a revolutionary die-cut press pad that has been proven to last over 3x longer than conventional gum rubber pads. Primarily used in honeycomb packaging and processing, the HawkPad uses a proprietary blend of hardened urethane and strong, multi-layered hardwood to create an exceptionally resilient project.
In the past, the company has had a pretty steady presence in The GEAPS Exchange, an annual trade show that primarily focuses on the grain handling industry and the machines and companies that support it. “Compared to GEAPS, SuperCorr was dominated by an international presence,” said Langley. “It was interesting to be able to see the variety of packaging products and solutions available from countries all over the world.”
“The potential to work with international clients on this level will be huge for Sioux Rubber,” said DeGroot. “We weren’t as familiar with corrugated packaging up until this point, and we now have firm connections with new contacts in the industry that could prove to be quite valuable.”
Make sure to follow Sioux Rubber & Urethane on Facebook as we continue our trade show circuit. To learn more about the HawkPad, click here.