Miami Valley Packaging Rebuilds with Signature Albatross
In 2019, Miami Valley Packaging Solutions faced a devastating setback when a tornado destroyed their custom-built folder gluer used for large corrugated sleeves. With critical production requirements needing fulfilment, Miami Valley turned to American International Machinery (AIM), the exclusive distributor of Signature Folder Gluers, for a solution.
The result was the Signature Albatross specialty gluer—a one-of-a-kind, 10-foot-wide machine engineered to not only replace the lost equipment but also expand capabilities far beyond what MVPS had before.
Solving Miami Valley’s Challenge with a Custom-Built Machine
AIM worked directly with Miami Valley to design a gluer that could handle oversized corrugated sleeves while adding versatility for straight line, four-corner, and six-corner trays. The turning module was especially groundbreaking, enabling sheets to be re-oriented for cross folding and gluing—something not seen before in large-format corrugated gluers.
This innovation meant Miami Valley could efficiently produce the sleeves for a long-time customer while also taking on a wider range of box styles and board grades.
Efficiency, Capacity, and New Market Opportunities
Before the Albatross, Miami Valley employees had to hand-glue the sleeves, spending 10 hours to complete 500 blanks. With the new gluer, that same volume takes just one hour. Productivity skyrocketed from 5,000 units per day to 50,000, freeing up capacity and eliminating bottlenecks.
The Signature Albatross has also positioned Miami Valley for growth. The machine now handles jobs for breweries, in-line glued products, and specialty oversized cartons that other plants can’t produce. Its speed, versatility, and automation have streamlined operations while unlocking new revenue opportunities.
A Partnership Built on Innovation and Trust
Despite pandemic-related delays, AIM ensured the Albatross was delivered and assembled on time. Kevin Koplin, AIM’s Managing Director, emphasized that this was the largest corrugated machine AIM and its partners had built—with the first-ever turning module of its kind.
Jamie Williams, President of Miami Valley, praised the outcome: “They came up with a machine that would do all of the things we needed it to and then some.”
Thanks to the Signature Albatross, Miami Valley not only solved an urgent production crisis but also gained a competitive edge in the corrugated packaging market.