A.J. Schrafel Corporation Cuts
to the Chase
In order to succeed in today's converting industry, a company must
develop an edge over its competition. A.J. Schrafel Paper Corporation has
defined that competitive edge by pro- viding high quality paperboard in a
timely manner. For 56 years, dedication to this basic mission has given
the New York-based business a reputation as a quality source for paperboard of
all grades and quantities.
The company was the brainchild of Alfred J.
Schrafel, who started out in the paper industry as a broker for a New York
paper company. In 1941, he decided to branch out on his own and established A.
J. Schrafel Paper Corporation. Despite the uncertainty of a wartime economy,
the company prospered and eventually grew into a multi-faceted business. Today,
Alfred Schrafel, Jr. and Edward Case run the company, both of whom boast more than 70 years of experience
between them.
Carving a Niche
In the mid- I 970s, A.J.
Schrafel honed its competitive edge by expanding its services to customers
through a close working relationship with Accurate Paperboard Converters. This
union allowed Schrafel to convert its orders in a timely and efficient manner.
The company's converting arm now serves boxmakers, printers and mills primarily
located in the Northeastern area, however some stretch as far as California and
the Caribbean.
Schrafel Paper has carved its niche by offering sheeting &
guillotine cutting, and slitting and rewinding services. Prior to 1996, its
sheeting equipment needs were satisfied with two sheeters. Part of Schrafel's
philosophy incorporates forming long-standing relationships with its suppliers.
In the case of its sheeters, it forged ties with Maxson Automatic Machinery.
Schrafel Paper's typical order size ranges from one to five tons. It
also runs specialty work, which can vary in size from extremely small to
moderate. Focusing on these order sizes affords the company the opportunity to
fill its customers' needs quickly, which often means producing quality work on
demand.
The bulk of the company's converting lies in boxboard grades,
high-quality SBS
and recycled grades in thicknesses ranging from .008 in. to .034 in. 'Our
boxboard customers require high quality work,
as they produce items such as
boxes for games, cosmetics or pharmaceuticals," noted Richard Schrafel,
vice president of A. J. Schrafel Corporation.
Sharpening the Edge
In 1996, the
company further improved its operation with the formation of Schrafel Paper
Converting Corporation (SPC). This time, the third generation of
Schrafels -- Richard, Robert and Thomas-formed the company based on the notion
that changes in turnaround time and quality were in order. These changes
involved relocating the converting facility from Beacon Falls, Connecticut, to
West Haven, Connecticut, and updating the converting equipment.
SPC's facility in West Haven added convenience and
additional warehouse space. Situated close to Interstate 95 with convenient
rail service, the company is now in a position to offer easier access to and
from its facility. "Our New York and Boston shipments are easier, and we
have trucks going to New York and New Jersey every day," said Schrafel.
Customers also benefit from the 74,000-sq.-ft. facility. This added space has
eliminated the company's need for outside warehousing of inventory, and 200,000
sq. ft. of adjacent warehouse facilities provide an overflow option. It now
maintains an inventory of 10 to 24 pt. SBS for immediate conversion and proudly
notes that it is able to extend help to mills that need supplemental roll
inventory quickly.
SPC also took cost, sheet quality and customer
service issues into consideration, especially during the process of updating
its equipment needs. Its purchase of the Maxson DFK Sheeter and the upgrading
of one of its two existing Maxson sheeters were among the changes made.
"We needed to make changes 
that
would allow us to keep up with technology and production rates," Richard
Schrafel commented.
Reportedly, the Maxson DFK Sheeter can accommodate sheet
lengths of 17 in. to 65 in. with speeds up to 1,300 fpm. According to the
manufacturer, the machine has a cross-cutting knife system that accepts webs up
to 60 in. wide. Be- cause of the synchronous speed of the knives and web at the
moment of cut, reportedly no adjustment for sheet squareness is required. The
two pivot arm shaftless roll stands accept rolls up to 84 in. in diameter. This
reportedly provides the company with the flexibility to sheet oversized rolls,
run two smaller rolls side by side, or sheet two superimposed webs. "With
lighter calipers, we've seen substantially increased productivity. Maxson
worked with us to design elements of the machine to suit our needs,"
Schrafel said. Another up-grade was the installation of a dual motor drive retrofit
on Schrafel Paper's existing 65-in. Maxson MSH Sheeter.
Committing to Quality
Currently, this family-run
company is hard at work using all three sheeters to keep up with
production schedules. Orders are readily expedited, and quality is job one.
Through their commitment, the Schrafel family has been able to enhance their
well-established position within the paper industry, as well as their many
long-standing business relationships.
As Schrafel Paper looks ahead, it sees
future growth in converting specialty grades of paper and paperboard such as
foil laminate and pasted board. The Schrafels believe that their basic mission,
providing the best possible paperboard in a timely manner, is what will set the
company ahead of its competition. If its past success is any indication, it
looks as if these core values will indeed carry Schrafel’s accomplishments into
the 21st century.
Reprinted from BOXBOARD CONTAINERS INTERNATIONAL, September
1997