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Category Archive: Uncategorized

Celebrating Black History Month

Feb, 2021

Did you know? Dr. Carter G. Woodson, known as the Father of Black History Month, is a Historian who recognized an absence in the educational system of impacts made by African Americans in the United States and sought to change that fact by creating Black History Week in 1915.  Carter kicked it off with the “Journal of Negro History” in 1916.  The February week was chosen because it coincided with the birthdays of Frederick Douglas and Abraham Lincoln.  The week was celebrated and spread by HBCUs until it grew into a month.  Black History Month has been officially celebrated in the US when President Gerald Ford declared it Black History Month in 1976.

Hood Container recognizes Black History month and the many contributions that African Americans have made across the US and at Hood Container.

Hood Container participates in ICPF’s Virtual Student / Executive Dialogue Dinner

Jan, 2021

Hood Container’s very own Jeff Craig, VP of Marketing and Sales, recently participated in International Corrugated Packaging Foundation (ICPF)’s VIRTUAL Student /Executive Dialogue Dinner Series, the first of which was hosted on December 16th, 2020. As a response to the pandemic, moving this series to a virtual platform allowed for over 35 students from 10 universities across the country to participate. These students all have education or interest in packaging engineering & production, sales, packaging design, graphic design, chemical engineering, supply chain management and related areas. Jeff Craig joined in the panel discussion and break out sessions in which students were able to gain executive level insight into the industry. Of the experience, Jeff commented “I was thoroughly impressed by the students who attended the virtual event. It gives me great hope for our company and industry. I believe we owe it to the industry to mentor such talent in order to see continued success.”

ICPF’s dialogue dinners are directed towards enabling top students who already have interest in corrugated packaging to learn more about the industry and its operations. Many of the participating students in each of the eight past years were recruited for internships and full time positions through the company contacts they made during the dialogues, and through referral to ICPF’s Career Portal.

Through the ICPF Career Portal, Hood Container has already recruited several hires for our early career programs and we look forward to continuing to provide training and learning opportunities to students. Engaging in these type of discussions to foster new talent in the industry is one of many ways Hood Container is investing in a new generation of corrugated professionals.

Hood Container Corporation partners with Indeed for virtual hiring event

Dec, 2020

On December 9th Hood Container hosted it’s first ever virtual hiring event with great success. Partnering with Indeed, we sourced 77 interviews and made offers to 37 new team members. This event was coordinated through our Human Resources departments across nine different facilities in order to recruit talented machine operators. Due to such a positive response, other team members from other non-participating facilities also jumped in to lend a hand screening applicants. With such overwhelming interest and hiring outcome, stay tuned for more events like this from Hood Container in the future. Growing with a company committed to  current and potential employees’ safety is essential and we are proud to offer such virtual opportunities now and in the future.

Honoring Our Veterans

Nov, 2020

Today we would like to take a moment to thank and acknowledge all who have served this country, but in particular all of our veterans within Hood Container.  We would like to express our deep gratitude and appreciation to our veterans for their brave service to our country. We acknowledge the sacrifices that our servicemen and women make, as well as the sacrifices of their families.  We offer our heartfelt thanks for their commitment to duty, selfless service to this country,  and their courage to protect our freedom and liberty. From all of us at Hood Container, we honor you.

Hood Container now Amazon APASS certified!

Nov, 2020

 

Hood Container is now Amazon certified to design frustration free packaging! Now listed on their website, Hood Container can offer frustration free packaging to those looking to meet those qualifications. With the goal of lowering costs, enhancing sustainability efforts, decreasing environmental impact and enhancing customer experience, Amazon has made this a growing need. Frustration free packaging carries the requirements of protecting against damage, designed to reduce waste, recyclable, and easy to open. While Hood Container has always designed our products with these goals in mind, we are proud to have participated in Amazon’s Frustration – Free Packaging Program and look forward to offering those solutions to our customers.

Learn more at: https://www.aboutamazon.com/packaging/design

Hood Container Chicago Installs New Fosber Corrugator

Oct, 2020

Hood Container continues to invest in our future growth. Introducing our newest installation, a state of the art 98” Fosber Corrugator. This investment will allow us to better serve our clients with a greater breadth of products and faster speed to market.

We can provide:

  • Corrugated Sheets – multiple flutes
  • Rod Coated Sheets – capability to provide full coverage printed sheets
  • Asitrade – capability to provide top-sheeted stock for sheet plants
  • Digital – capability to provide digitally printed sheets to sheet plants

 

 

 

 

 

 

HCC and Breast Cancer Awareness

Oct, 2020

This month kicked off Hood Container’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month spotlighting the importance of preventative and diagnostic screening. Bringing attention to this topic is personal to so many of our employees as Breast Cancer affects 1 out of every 8 women. To highlight awareness, each team member received a HCC pink logoed water bottle with a handout on key information about screening and the importance of not waiting to see a doctor. Employee wellbeing is of the utmost importance as a company and keeping everyone educated and informed helps everyone stay healthy.

“Never underestimate the power of a simple card, text or message to someone fighting cancer. The outpouring of support from my family, friends and HCC family helped me stay strong and positive in my fight against breast cancer. Thank you all!”

– Kathy Donahue, Director of Financial Systems

Saint Francisville Mill Expansion in Louisiana

Jul, 2020

H1 Press Machinehttps://gov.louisiana.gov/index.cfm/newsroom/detail/2589

Gov. Edwards, Hood Container Announce $50 Million Mill Expansion

Company to expand paper capacity, retain 306 jobs at West Feliciana Parish mill

Today, Gov. John Bel Edwards and Senior Vice President Wayne Morgan of Hood Container of Louisiana LLC announced the company’s paper mill in West Feliciana Parish will complete a $50 million efficiency upgrade and capacity expansion. With the project, Hood Container will retain 306 existing employees and a $23 million annual payroll at the mill on the Mississippi River, near St. Francisville, Louisiana. The expansion also is expected to support 75 construction jobs.

“Since acquiring this legacy paper mill in West Feliciana Parish, Hood Container has consistently upgraded the quality of its equipment and the efficiency of its manufacturing process,” Gov. Edwards said. “Those investments are also an important investment in people, with Hood Container now reaching the highest employment at the plant since it was closed by an international company more than a decade ago. This represents another important win for our economy in rural Louisiana.”

Hood Container acquired the 61-year-old former Crown Zellerbach and Tembec mill in 2015, after it emerged from federal bankruptcy protection filed by an interim owner. Since the acquisition, Hood has committed more than $100 million in capital investments to upgrade the facilities.

“I am pleased to announce the next step in the re-purposing of the St. Francisville Mill,” said Senior Vice President Wayne Morgan of Hood Container’s Mill Division. “Hood Container thanks the good people of West Feliciana Parish and the State of Louisiana for continuing to support our business and employees during this period of growth in our company.”

The project will increase the efficiency of Hood Container’s pulp-refining operation through the installation of two digester blow-line refiners. The expansion also will include installation of a secondary headbox and additional dryer cans, which will allow increased paper production with better paper quality.

“We welcome Hood Container’s commitment to modernize the St. Francisville paper mill,” said West Feliciana Parish President Kenny Havard. “Manufacturing is important to our economy. Hood Container’s operations stimulate local spending and provide good jobs for West Feliciana families. Through an investment in state-of-the-art technology, this project secures the future of the mill for our area.”

Louisiana Economic Development began discussions about the potential expansion with Hood Container of Louisiana in May 2019. To secure the project, the State of Louisiana offered the company a competitive incentive package that includes a $200,000 Modernization Tax Credit, which will be allocated in equal amounts over a five-year period. Hood Container also is expected to utilize the state’s Industrial Tax Exemption Program.

In addition to linerboard for box packaging, Hood Container’s St. Francisville mill also produces kraft paper. LED estimates the mill’s economic activity yields 479 indirect jobs, for a total of 785 jobs that make Hood Container one of the Capital Region’s most significant economic driver companies.

“Hood Container’s continued investment in its operations is welcome news both for the Capital Region and the wood products sector, a core industry for the region and the state,” said President and CEO Adam Knapp of the Baton Rouge Area Chamber. “Rural businesses like Hood are important drivers in their local economies, and we thank our partners at LED and in West Feliciana for supporting this expansion.

About Hood Container of Louisiana
Hood Container of Louisiana LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hood Companies Inc. Hood Companies is a privately owned, closely held holding company and is the parent to operating subsidiaries involved in the manufacture and distribution of forest and wood products, building and construction materials, and flexible and corrugated packaging products throughout North America. For more information, visit HoodContainerOfLouisiana.com.