Case Study: Rewinder for G2 Paper
Appleton Companies Bring New Life to Old Paper Converting Machine
A 28 year-old rewinder that ran for the first time in the old Midtec Kimberly Mill has new purpose as it returns to Appleton for refurbishing and a new home.
Long before the global economy had significant effect on local Appleton industry, a paper converting machine was built in Europe. In the early 1980’s, using million-dollar equipment manufactured overseas was reserved for large manufacturing entities. Small, local companies rarely had the benefit of high-end technology. It was a purchase made by Midtec Paper in 1983 that began the journey of a paper rewinder that will find a new home back in the Fox Valley this week.
Midtec Paper which has since been known as Repap, Consolidated, and most recently, New Page commissioned this machine in 1983 from the Langston Company in Great Britain. It was shipped by boat and train to the Kimberly Mill. Yellowed purchase orders, fading blueprints, and typewritten ROI projections followed this historical piece of equipment to its new owners.
We could have hired any vendor to rebuild this machine. We had lots of bids and interest. In the end we wanted to bring this machine back to Appleton and what better company to rebuild it than a highly respected local company like C3.
– Robert Gioffredi
“This is a great story about a piece of history,” says new owner Robert Gioffredi of G2 Paper in Appleton. “The more history we uncover about this new piece of our business, the more excited I get about it.”
Joe Van de Hey of C3 Corporation, the company that has refurbished the machine, agrees. “I called my buddies at New Page and asked if they knew about the history of the machine. They didn’t have to look far to find all of the old records, photos, blueprints, and specs.”
As the two local business owners wrapped up final testing and approvals on Friday, they both knew that this machine was something special. “Maybe you have to be a manufacturing guy to fully appreciate it,” Gioffredi said. “But I think this is an amazing piece of history being returned and repurposed here in Appleton.”
C3 hosted a private open house for family members from both companies to see the machine in it’s final refurbished state. “It has come a long way, smells a lot better, and looks brand new,” Gioffredi joked.
Van De Hey said in his address to the audience, “What started off as a new client relationship months ago has resulted in an amazing finished product. We are glad to be part of the story of this machine.”
Gioffredi found the machine buried in a pet food company in Topeka, Kansas. He and his son Matt, who spearheaded the rewinder project, had no idea that the machine was originally from the Fox Valley. After discussions with C3, Gioffredi decided that the decision to purchase the old machine and have it refurbished was a better choice than buying a new rewinder to back up their existing equipment.
C3 took the old machine and breathed new life into it. Doing what they do best, they assessed the client’s needs and designed a custom rebuild that would make it like new. Upgraded hydraulics, retooled pneumatics, and complete refurbishing including new bearings, seals and a new paint job gave the machine a new look and functionality. But, the new brains are what will provide productivity and profitability to the new owner. Updated controls and drives which were custom designed and built by C3 engineers are what make this machine rebuild so innovative.
“C3 took an incredibly solid piece of engineering and made it new. We could not have purchased a new machine as good as this one is now,” Gioffredi said. “It gives us everything we wanted this rewinder to do. In fact, this machine may become our primary rewinder if it goes as expected.”
"1980’s quality with 2011 technology...we couldn’t be more pleased." – Robert Gioffredi
“We could have hired any vendor to rebuild this machine. We had lots of bids and interest,” Gioffredi said. “In the end we wanted to bring this machine back to Appleton and what better company to rebuild it than a highly respected local company like C3.”
Joe Van De Hey agreed, “We are honored to do business with a solid local company who values the same kind of working relationships we do. We are both family owned, and we both care about what we do. Excellence and solid relationships are values both of our companies share.”
Other local Fox Valley companies have a hand in this little piece of history as well. CR Meyer will be transporting and reassembling the machine at its new G2 home. Werner Electric and other local vendors provided parts, and even the bank that financed the project is local.
In times like these, where profit margins are squeezed by global markets, it is refreshing to know that local companies can work together to breathe new life into local business, provide new jobs, and bring manufacturing business back into the area. History has a way of repeating itself and in this case, a 126 inch Autotorque rewinder from 1983 is going to do just that as it starts its new life with new purpose and function in Appleton.
Media Gallery
For more information about this Case Study from C3 Corporation, please contact:
Joe Van De Hey, C3 Corporation
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Matt Gioffredi, G2 Paper
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
