Familiar Names, a New Location, and a New Attitude

April 19-20, 2017 (right before PaperCon 2017) Kristi Ledbetter, TAPPI’s Converting Division Manager, and I had the privilege to revisit a company that I had the pleasure of writing about several years ago.

 

Do these names ring a bell? Ron Diedeman (photo right), Chris Kyger, Paul Aliprando, and Greg Jones. How about SUN Automation Group?

 

Kristi and I spoke to owners every time we turned a corner. Every employee is an owner. Those same owners decided to make an even larger investment in their customers. 

 

By the way, Ron Diedeman came out of retirement two years ago to rejoin SUN as its new president. Plans were made with everyone singing out of the same hymnal and, as they say, the rest is history. And, in this case, the future. 

 

Their 183,000 sq. ft. facility is designed to give the company’s customers what they need, when they need it. The new facilities allow for more growth and innovation for the owners and customers.

 

Take a look at this place (photo on the left)! Space galore and the shiniest floors on the planet due to what Ron refers to as SUN’s answer to the Zamboni.

 

Speaking of innovation, while we were there a camera crew was filming a spot on Innovation, Renewability, and Sustainability in the packaging industry. If all goes well, this segment should run on The Discovery Channel later this year.

 

In the words of Chris Kyger, current vice president, "the future of SUN Automation is bright." Chris is heir apparent to the position of president in 2018, upon Ron Diedeman’s second retirement.

 

In addition to Ron and Chris, our thanks go out to Paul Aliprando - VP of Digital Technologies, Greg Jones - director of Sales and Marketing, and Simona Georgescu of Adduco Communications.

 

More information about SUN Automation is available online.

 

More information about TAPPI also is available online. 

 

Remember, there are two types of people in this industry--TAPPI members and those who should be.

 

Until next  time...Larry

 

(More photos below)  

 

 

 SUN setting expectations to meet customer demands.    State-of-the-art finishing spray booths and drying rooms.

 

 

 

Manufacturing:from lead edge feeders to new rotary        CorrStream digital print station  testing the latest print         

die cutters.                                                                                  solution.  

 

 

 

New SUN 625 Rotary Die Cutter soon to be delivered      Asahi platen die cutter was in full display and running 

to the next lucky customer                                                       board.