Kenny Messer Has Been Named President and Chief Executive Officer At Harperlove
Kenny Messer has more than 15 years of senior executive leadership in the chemical industry. He joins HarperLove from Arkema, where he recently held the position of President of Coating Resins Americas. Additionally, Kenny was the Executive Liaison for Sales/Commercial Excellence across Arkema, including leadership for the Global Key Account Organization. Previously he held the role within Arkema of President Sartomer Americas.
Before joining Arkema in 2014, Messer held roles of increasing responsibility at Milliken Chemical, including Vice President of the Specialty Chemicals and Packaging division and numerous commercial and business leadership positions.
A native of western North Carolina, Kenny obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Chemistry from Western Carolina University. He supplemented his education with business studies in Advanced Management from the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University.
HarperLove Joins HBM Holdings
HBM Holdings (“HBM”) has acquired HarperLove from Graycliff Partners. HBM Holdings is an investment and management company that acquires, supports, and operates middle-market businesses in industrial products and services. With a strategy focused on growing a diversified portfolio using a long-term buy and build approach, HBM provides its businesses with professional management expertise, financial resources, and high potential human capital to accelerate their growth. HBM invests in high-performing companies in the precision machined components, packaging, chemicals and minerals, and environmental services sectors. The acquisition expands HBM’s portfolio of specialty manufacturing and service companies, adding HarperLove to the existing roster of Aerofil Technology, Mississippi Lime Company, Schafer Industries, and
Tru-Flex, LLC.
“HarperLove’s wealth of experience in the corrugating manufacturing process, clear commitment to their customers’ performance, and proven growth strategy make them an excellent fit for the HBM portfolio,” said Anderson Fincher, CEO of HBM. “We see a terrific opportunity to support their skilled management team in building additional value for the company and its customers as we build in this market and expand further into the packaging space.”
Alan Clark, HarperLove CEO, commented, “HBM Holdings quickly stood out as the right partner for our long-term success. Not only do they know the specialty chemicals and packaging markets, but they really took the time to understand HarperLove and the value of our high-touch sales and service model. That is what sets us apart; it’s why we have such strong customer retention. We are looking forward to continuing our industry leadership and growth as part of the HBM portfolio.”
The current HarperLove leadership team will remain in their roles and continue to drive the growth strategy for the business.
For more information, visit https://hbmholdings.com.
HarperLove’s Tim Church to be Lead Instructor for TAPPI Corrugated Courses
Tim Church, Senior Technical Services Representative for HarperLove, has been selected by TAPPI to succeed Jon Porter as the lead instructor for their corrugated courses: Introduction to Corrugated, Best Practices on the Corrugator, and Advanced Bonding: Examining the Bonding Process. Jon is stepping down after more than 30 years of designing, building, and delivering technical training. Knowing he would need a successor to chair the TAPPI corrugated courses, Jon arduously searched for someone who would be the perfect fit, and he found that person in Tim Church. “When I first saw Tim present at the Best Practices on the Corrugator course in 2016, I instantly knew he was the one to pass the torch to,” said Jon. “He has the perfect blend of experience, delivery, and will relate to everyone with his practical approach. His passion to help people, along with his vast experience is exactly what supervisors and operators need to learn how to get the most from their corrugator.”
More information regarding TAPPI courses can be found at tappi.org/training or by contacting training@tappi.org
HarperLove Announces New Region Managers
HarperLove, the leading provider of corrugating adhesives and performance additives to the packaging industry, is pleased to announce Tyler Haggard and Don Wolfe have been promoted to Region Manager roles.
Tyler came to HarperLove in 2009 as a Technical Service Representative and will be leading technical service teams in the Northeast and North Central United States. Tyler has more than 28 years of experience in corrugated manufacturing, having worked in plant operations and plant leadership positions at Packaging Corporation of America, Smurfit-Stone, and Georgia-Pacific.
Don will lead technical service teams in the North Central and Northwest United States. He joined HarperLove as a Technical Service Representative in 2001 following a successful career in manufacturing operations and plant leadership at MacMillan Bloedel, Weyerhaeuser, and Smurfit-Stone. Don has more than 30 years of manufacturing experience in corrugated plants.
Alan Clark, HarperLove’s CEO commented, “I am very pleased to have Tyler and Don serving in these management roles. They both possess the values, technical skills, and commitment to improving our customers’ performance that are hallmarks of HarperLove’s reputation and service model. It is a testament to the strength of our team and the depth of our bench that we can fill both these roles internally.”
HarperLove Announces Expanded Product Line
HarperLove, the leading provider of specialty adhesives, performance additives, and wet-strength resins to corrugated packaging manufacturers, is pleased to announce an expanded range of products to address performance, environmental, and safety issues. Continuing its nearly 40-year history of innovative products and services, HarperLove has developed the following products, all of which are currently delivering improved performance in customers’ plants:
MultiBond Edge III—Developed specifically for the challenging bonding conditions in heavyweight and triple-wall plants, MultiBond Edge III builds on the well-established performance characteristics of MultiBond. MultiBond Edge III has consistently delivered machine speed increases of 20-25% while improving edge bonding, reducing delamination and waste, and improving board moisture characteristics.
LiquiBor—With increasing health and safety concerns associated with powdered borax and recent regulation of employee exposure to borax in some markets, corrugated packaging manufacturers are facing potential restrictions of a key component of corrugating adhesives. LiquiBor meets this challenge by providing a direct substitute for powdered borax in the adhesive formula—LiquiBor provides all the performance benefits of traditional borax while completely eliminating the health and safety risks of employee exposure to airborne borax dust.
HydroBor—HydroBor was developed for customers who prefer boric acid rather than borax in their adhesive formula. HydroBor provides all the health, safety, and ease-of-use benefits of LiquiBor while serving as a direct substitute for boric acid.
NoBor Liquid—NoBor Liquid enables corrugated manufacturers to produce a traditional starch adhesive without the use of boron. This specialty product was developed for customers who are facing regulations requiring the elimination of all traces of boron in discharged wastewater.
HarperLove's Bill Kahn Retires
Bill Kahn has announced his retirement after 22 years as Vice President and General Manager of Harper/Love Adhesives Corporation. Bill Joined Harper/Love in 1993. This position capped a successful 50-year career in the corrugating industry.
Mr. Kahn commented, “I have been very fortunate to have worked for only 3 companies in my career. Two of these were paper companies that have changed names many times; neither of those companies exist anymore. I am also fortunate that I have never been fired or demoted and have worked for and with a lot of great people over the years. I have survived fires, boiler explosions, wildcat strikes, and a shooting. I'm a stronger person for the experience.”
Bill began his career in 1965 with Hoerner Waldorf (Container Division) in St. Louis, Missouri. With this company he rose from an hourly production worker to an industrial engineer.
In 1977, Mr. Kahn moved to Westvaco Corporation as a staff engineer in New York, New York. During his 16 years with this company, he also served as production manager, manager of engineering, and, ultimately, as manufacturing and technical service manager.
Bill is proud of his involvement with TAPPI since 1978. He has been a member of many committees, and served as chairman of the Corrugated Division in 1997. In 2005, he received the TAPPI Leadership and Service Award for the Corrugated Division.
Bill concluded, “August 23, 2015 marks 22 wonderful years at HLA for me. It has been a great place to work and I have enjoyed the talents and efforts of a lot of fantastic people. I can truly say that I loved my time here!”
Mr. Kahn earned his B. S. in Engineering at Southern Illinois University, in Edwardsville, Illinois. He was on the Dean’s List 3 years.
He served with the U. S. Army in Vietnam as an infantry sergeant.
He will be sorely missed at Harper/Love. All of his friends, co-workers and colleagues wish Bill and Patti the very best in the years to come….time with family that includes five wonderful grandchildren.