Welcome to Breaking Down Boxes. We have compelling conversations with entrepreneurs in the packaging space.

In this episode we talk with John Bird.

We go way back with John Bird, Chairman & CEO of JB Machinery, who explains how it all started when he left home at 15 and never gave up. Starting up, growing, and leaving (sometimes voluntarily) several companies brought this indomitable man to new heights in the industry.

Chairman & CEO | JB Machinery

John started his career in the printing industry in 1960 installing collars for ink rollers. He quickly graduated to development ink chemist while attending the London College of Printing. In a career spanning over 60 years, John’s experience encompasses a wide range of printing disciplines including litho, flexo, screen process ink, stencil coatings and the pioneering of credit card manufacturing. In 1975 John cofounded Colordry Ltd., a UK based company specializing in the manufacture of drying and UV curing systems. After immigrating to the US in January 1982, he cofounded IVT Colordry which supplied coating and drying systems for both litho and flexo applications. In 1987 IVT Colordry received an honorable mention from AICC for supplying the first drying system in the World designed for a sheet fed flexo diecutter.

In 1998 John founded JB Machinery specializing in the manufacture of drying, curing, ink management, and plate cleaning/washing systems specifically for the flexo printing industry. In 2012 JB Machinery won AICC ‘Innovator of the Year’ for KleenPlate. In 2016 JB placed third with InKomand, and in 2021 won with AutoWash and placed third with DigiFlex. John served as Associates Chairman of AICC in 2008/2009. He currently lives in Westport, CT and Estero, FL with his wife and family.

John shares:

• Proof of perseverance
• Importance of belief in self
• Building a company with family

John's Website | John on YouTube | John Bird on Linkedin

Coming Up

In the next episode we talk with Jim Haglund, Chairman, Central Package & Display, whose thoughtful leadership and generosity of spirit have reverberated around the industry.

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This podcast is brought to you by AICC, The Independent Packaging Association. Learn more at www.AICCbox.org.