BW Converting’s Packaging Innovation Center in Green Bay functions as a dedicated hub for practical training, customer collaboration and equipment demonstrations in the field of flexographic printing and package converting. The facility is designed as a fully equipped pressroom environment to support operator development, provide structured hands-on learning and showcase production-scale technology in operation. By combining live equipment, experienced instructors and guided production demos, the center aims to help printing and converting companies improve operator confidence, strengthen troubleshooting skills and enhance overall pressroom performance.
The center is equipped for platemaking, plate mounting, flexographic and digital printing, as well as bag converting. Its technical infrastructure allows participants to move directly from theoretical instruction to live production exercises, reinforcing process fundamentals with practical application. A recently installed PCMC Meridian Elite+ laser anilox cleaner extends the scope of training and demonstrations to the maintenance of anilox rolls. The system can clean four 52-inch rolls simultaneously and operates without water, chemicals or compressed air, supporting BW Converting’s focus on sustainability, operator safety and reduced downtime in the pressroom.
BW Converting positions the Packaging Innovation Center as an open resource for the industry. Training opportunities are available to those who want to deepen their understanding of the flexographic printing process, including press operators, pre-production staff, press assistants, customer service representatives and maintenance personnel. In addition to structured seminars, the center provides a setting for converters to evaluate equipment and processes in a realistic production environment, with direct access to current technologies and process know-how.
Hands-on seminars and tailored instruction
The Packaging Innovation Center regularly hosts three-day seminars delivered by Fox Valley Flexo Services. Instruction is provided by two former educators from Fox Valley Technical College who contribute both teaching experience and decades of practical work in flexographic printing. According to BW Converting, these instructors tailor each training event to the specific needs and experience level of the group in attendance, rather than following a fixed, one-size-fits-all agenda.
Small class sizes support an instructional format built around hands-on work on the press, one-on-one troubleshooting and direct interaction with key pressroom components. Participants are able to engage with the full workflow, from setup to printing and conversion, under guided supervision. This structure is intended to accelerate skills development for both new and experienced operators by linking classroom content to observable changes on press.
Mark Keller of Fox Valley Flexo Services describes the approach as adaptive to each group’s priorities. He notes: "Every session is shaped around the specific needs of the people in the room. We focus on fundamentals, but we go deep where it matters, whether that's troubleshooting press components or understanding how ink and substrate choices affect final output." The emphasis on fundamentals provides a common base for mixed-experience groups, while the ability to focus on specific technical issues allows more advanced participants to address targeted production challenges.
Scope of training and practical demonstrations
The training curriculum at the Packaging Innovation Center covers a range of topics relevant to modern flexographic operations. Areas addressed include press setup and operation, printing plates, mounting tapes, doctor blades, process color, ink management and corona treatment. By linking these subjects to live press runs, the instructors aim to reinforce theoretical concepts through direct observation of print results and process behavior.
Participants take part in live production demonstrations that show how settings, materials and procedures affect output quality and consistency. Guided press operation enables attendees to apply what they have learned in real time, under supervision, which can facilitate better understanding of the impact of variables such as plate mounting, ink formulation and substrate preparation.
The integration of the PCMC Meridian Elite+ laser anilox cleaner into the center’s equipment portfolio adds a dedicated focus area for anilox roll maintenance and cleaning technology. By operating without water, chemicals or compressed air and by enabling simultaneous cleaning of multiple rolls, the system is presented as an example of how cleaning technology can influence uptime, safety and environmental performance in the pressroom. Demonstrations of this system can be incorporated into broader training modules on press maintenance and consistency of ink transfer.
Expanded access to PCMC Meridian Elite+ in 2026
BW Converting plans to broaden access to the PCMC Meridian Elite+ at the Packaging Innovation Center in 2026. This expansion will begin with the Harper Roadshow in January, during which attendees will be able to observe live demonstrations of the laser anilox cleaning system in a production-like environment. The roadshow format is intended to allow converters and pressroom personnel to evaluate the technology in operation, with opportunities to ask questions and discuss process integration.
Rodney Pennings, Director of Sales, Print at BW Converting, highlights the role of the facility as a demonstration and learning platform: "The Packaging Innovation Center allows us to demonstrate real-world solutions in a setting that encourages learning, experimentation and connection. Whether you’re a technician refining your skills or a converter evaluating new technologies, this is a place built to support your goals." This positioning underscores the dual function of the center as both a training venue and a space for collaborative technology assessment with customers.
According to the company, training at the center remains open to a broad cross-section of roles involved in the flexographic process, not only press operators. Pre-production personnel can gain insights into how their work influences press performance, while customer service and maintenance staff can build a deeper understanding of the technical parameters that affect quality, lead times and machine reliability.
The final class of 2025 was held from December 2 to 4. BW Converting notes that a full schedule of training sessions for 2026 will be announced in the near future, covering both the established three-day seminar format and events associated with the extended demonstration program for the PCMC Meridian Elite+.
