Large or small, all tissue converters have to start somewhere. Deciding to pursue a tissue converting business — especially one that specializes in rolled product converting production — isn’t an undertaking to be considered lightly. Yet, it’s not one to necessarily back away from either given the nearly $22 billion global toilet roll market and its projected 6% CAGR over the next three years.1
Even in a high-demand market, success for the startup tissue converter is not guaranteed. The key is to be methodical. Do your research. Dig into the competitive landscape, the materials, processes, etc. The challenges and advantages these elements provide will inform your business decisions, including which technologies, tissue converting equipment, and providers are the best investments.
Benefits of proven tissue equipment and equipment manufacturers
To put yourself in the best position to establish a viable tissue converting business, it is imperative that you invest in quality machinery and a partnership with a trusted equipment manufacturer.
The benefits are twofold:
- Ensuring long-term production line reliability and tissue converting efficiencies
- Leveraging the experience, innovations, and supplier networks of the equipment manufacturer to substantially cut the amount of legwork and trial-and-error within the beginning phases of your startup
The result? Faster, more confident entry into tissue converting, as Denver-based Alternative Support, Inc., found out.
Startup challenges and solutions for Alternative Support, Inc.
As an entrepreneur focused on helping people with emotional, learning, and developmental disabilities, Alternative Support founder Martin Lawrence wanted a business that empowered people with special needs. To that end, he found success in his flagship pottery shop, but was seeking other opportunities.
Tissue converting, specifically toilet tissue rewinding, was the answer. It was a relatively easy startup, the product is consistently in-demand, and his workforce could easily learn and handle the tissue production, packaging, and distribution.
Digging into the details, Lawrence quickly realized that he faced two major challenges:
- Finding jumbo roll distributors to assist with materials and converting
- Selecting an equipment manufacturer that was well-known, respected, and willing to help a fledgling company run by a team with no experience in the tissue industry
Approaching the major equipment manufacturers seemed out of reach, yet necessary if Alternative Support was going to expand into the toilet tissue rewinding.
“During my research, the first recommendation I got from nearly everyone was Körber largely because of rock-solid machinery and technology,” said Lawrence. “What really pushed me forward, though, was the resources Kӧrber made available to someone in my position.”
It paved the way for Lawrence to purchase equipment carrying a brand name that is held in the highest esteem throughout the industry. “It’s been incredible,” he explained. “My account manager is straightforward and provided me with the details and help I needed to start. And the engineers who set up my machine — wow. What knowledge!”
The 716B rewinder advantage
With the focus on toilet paper, the 716B rewinder was the compact, no-nonsense choice for Alternative Support. While Lawrence had opportunities to purchase used 716B machines through Körber Select4U, he opted for new equipment to prepare for long-term business model plans of expanding into other product areas.
Likewise, the intuitive nature of the rewinder aligned squarely with the organization’s needs for simple production that delivered consistent, quality results. “The 716B is simply a fabulous machine,” asserted Lawrence. “It took only three days of training for me to learn to web and produce toilet paper — and I never saw toilet paper made or touched a piece of converting equipment before. The equipment is intuitive, and we’ll grow with it — and Körber.”
The dynamic relationship with Alternative Support is representative of the Körber commitment to being there for customers at all points on the converting production journey. Supporting customers of all sizes — not just the multinational organizations — is central to our philosophy. Contact Körber to learn more about the expertise, service, and equipment you can count on to grow your business.
SOURCE:
1Global Toilet Roll Market Report (2021 to 2030) - COVID-19 Impact and Recovery, September 10, 2021
