Under the joint auspices of the Kerala Corrugated Box Manufacturers Association (Kerala CBMA), Kochi, and the Federation of Corrugated Box Manufacturers of India (FCBMI), Mumbai, a highly informative Technical Seminar was held on 19th September 2014 at 6 p.m. at Hotel Le Méridien, Kochi. The event attracted an impressive gathering of over 150 corrugators from across India.

Warm Welcome & Inauguration

The seminar commenced with a welcome address by Sri R. Suresh, Chief Editor of Master Carton, who also presented bouquets to the President and the guest speakers.
The session was formally inaugurated by Mr. Ramchand Arora, President of FCBMI, marking the beginning of an engaging and knowledge-rich evening.

Theme & Panel Discussions

The central theme of the seminar was:
“How to Progress and Prosper Both Automatic and Semi-Automatic Corrugation Units in a Growing Economy.”

This theme was explored through an insightful panel discussion, led by:

• Mr. M. L. Agarwal – Past President, FCBMI (Panel Leader)
• Mr. Anilkumar Reddy – Past President, FCBMI
• Mr. I. A. Peter – Chairman, Technical Committee, Kerala CBMA

Key Presentations

• Mr. M. L. Agarwal opened with an overview of the status, growth, and challenges of both automatic and semi-automatic corrugation units in India.
• Mr. Anilkumar Reddy delivered a detailed presentation on automatic plants, covering technology trends and efficiency improvements.
• Mr. I. A. Peter focused on semi-automatic units, providing practical insights and operational guidance.

All presentations were enriched with video support, ensuring better clarity and engagement. The session saw active participation, with numerous questions from the audience answered satisfactorily by the panel members, making it valuable for both types of corrugation units.

Additional Technical Presentation

Another highlight was an expert session on Kraft Paper & Duplex Board by Mr. N. Shanmugham, Paper Technologist at Saradha Paper & Boards Pvt. Ltd., Coimbatore. His presentation offered deep technical insights into paper properties and their impact on corrugated manufacturing.

Wide Participation

Being scheduled on the eve of the 4th Managing Committee Meeting of the Federation, the seminar witnessed participation from:

• Most of the FCBM Managing Committee members
• Members of Kerala CBMA
• Several non-members and industry guests

The seminar proved to be an enriching knowledge-sharing platform, contributing significantly to the technical growth of the corrugated packaging community.