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26 | I NSIGH T • A u g u s t 2 0 19 w w w . i n s i g h t o n b u s i n e s s . c o m at combination, along with its flexibility and innovation in meeting customer needs, has allowed BPM to carve out a growing niche in the confectionery market along with other markets, including food packaging, interleaver papers and overwraps. "ere's been a mill right here making paper for 100 years, so there's that historic tie, but the important thing is we've become a one-stop shop for our customers, and that's allowed us to not only survive, but thrive," says Jim Koronkiewicz, who's been with BPM and its predecessor for 40 years and now serves as general manager. "We are able to control the whole process, which means improved quality of the final product." While business is booming today for the specialty paper mill, it wasn't always that way. In 2005, the company then known as Badger Paper Mill declared bankruptcy and closed suddenly, putting 143 people out of work. In the mid-1990s, the company employed 450 but began to contract like others in the industry that could no longer make it work financially. But this is where the story changes from other shuttered mills. Instead of sitting idle, James Azzar, who owned another paper mill in Indiana, purchased the company's assets and renamed it BPM Inc. He brought back some employees, including Koronkiewicz, and restarted the mill. BPM became a partner for customers looking for a single source for their paper, printing, coating and converting needs. While Badger Paper Mill worked with the confectionery market, BPM solidified its focus on the niche segment, creating wrappers for taffy, suckers, cough drops and penny candy for well-known companies as well as smaller operators. "ose markets are recession-proof since people always buy penny candy," says Rod Wiltzius, BPM's converting manager and, like Koronkiewicz, a holdover from Badger Paper Mill. SETTING ITSELF APART While the confectionery segment attracts a lot of attention because of the big-name players the company works with, BPM also makes wrappers for the food industry, including meat and cheese interleaver papers, and its own fine paper line, Envirographic 100, which is made of 100 percent post-consumer products. Whatever the segment, Koronkiewicz says BPM works to set itself apart from its competitors. "We're attractive in the marketplace since we have the ability to reduce waste and costs while improving efficiencies," he says. "We're attractive in the marketplace since we have the ability to reduce waste and costs while improving efficiencies." — Jim Koronkiewicz, BPM general manager he next time you're unwrapping a sucker, cough drop or piece of taffy, there's a good chance the paper wrapper was made at BPM Inc. in Peshtigo — the only papermaker in the state that also prints, coats and converts. BPM Inc.'s small size allows it to be flexible and agile, making it easier to meet customers' demands. P HO T OG RAPHY BY B PM INC .