Josh Erickson, Author at FlexTrades

This week was National Payroll Week which is observed in recognition of all employees and the payroll professionals who pay them. These groups are put together because they collectively handle, report, contribute or otherwise touch 70% of the US Treasury’s annual revenue. Wow! In honor of the week, we asked our accounting department what they think your accounting department wants you to know. We learned 5 big things from them.

Regularly Review Your Pay Stub

This is not only to ensure your pay is accurate either. Things to review include other pay items such as deductions and taxes.

Please be sure to send any updates, changes, or information as soon as possible. There is processing time between when information is received to funds being paid, and this will help ensure timely inclusion in payroll.

Make Sure to Keep Them Updated

Please be sure to send any updates, changes or information as soon as possible. There is processing time between when information is received to funds being paid, and this will help ensure timely inclusion in payroll.

It’s Just Math

“Accountants aren’t any more qualified than you to divvy up the bill at a restaurant.” Bring a calculator and figure out the tip yourself. You’ve got this.

Fun Fact

The most common pay frequency in the U.S. is biweekly, which is used by 37 percent of private businesses. Surprisingly, weekly beats semimonthly as a runner-up at 32 percent.

More Tips & Tricks

I hope you found value in this list. If you’d like to learn more about your accounting department, give them a call or email and I bet you’ll be glad you did. If you’d like more lists check out our blog page to see more. Did we miss something about accounting that you’d like to share? We’d love to help you do that! Send to our Writing Team and we’ll be happy to share them in a future blog. Stay cool and be safe this summer!

September is International Update Your Resume Month. Most careers require a resume as part of consideration for employment but too often people try to write a resume at the last minute. Since a well-done resume takes time and research to create, the last minute is the worst time for jobseekers to make one. Making this month the perfect reminder to get YOUR resume ready for the next unexpected opportunity to pop up. With that in mind, here are some tips to help you craft a resume that work for you rather than against!

Honesty is the best policy

According to a recent CareerBuilder survey, 1 in 4 hiring managers spend less than 30 seconds reviewing a resume but 75% of them have still caught a lie while doing so, leading them to not follow up with that candidate. This means that honesty is your best policy when applying for a job. Not only because it can hold you back but because you’re not setting yourself up for future success even if you do get a call back!

Proof(reading) is in the pudding

“You’re not hiring me to write so why does my resume matter?” I hear that all the time from those working more technical roles, like machinists and welders. But, in the era of online applications and telephone interviews, even for the technical trades your resume matters more than ever today. Why? Because a hiring manager sees your resume before they ever see you or your work, making it your best opportunity to put your most (or least) professional foot forward first. Thus, proofing for proper grammar, punctuation, and spelling help subconsciously reflect your strengths like thoroughness, attention to detail, and willingness to take the extra step.

Be specific and detailed

If nobody has told you yet, everyone in a hiring position uses resume-reading programs. If your resume is found on an online platform it’s found because it contained certain keywords that were used as search terms. This means that even the right experience can be missed by hiring managers if it’s not being represented by the words and phrases they’re using to search for candidates. How then does a jobseeker succeed? By using this knowledge to their advantage when writing their resume. For example, if you’re a welder looking to highlight your TIG (GTAW) welding experience a quick Google search will show you that kind of welding is searched for most commonly as ‘TIG’ or ‘GTAW’. Therefore, you should make sure to use both terms within your resume and you should avoid other punctuation marks like hyphens or backslashes. If you do so, more eyeballs will see your resume, and you’ll get more interview requests and job offers as a result.

References: Professional vs Personal

When asked to provide references most of us generally submit the people that know us best because they are the ones most likely to say good things about us. But remember, no matter how good, or true, the things your friends and former coworkers have to say about you are it doesn’t make them a professional reference. A truly professional reference is not just somebody that knows you or someone you’ve work with before. Rather it is somebody you’ve worked FOR (shift leads, supervisors, foremen, trainers, etc.) because those are the kind of references that can speak about you as a technician, person, coworker, AND employee. When you have a reference like that to make sure you have good contact information for them and give them a heads up you’ve used them as a reference. This last part is important. Make sure they reliably respond to outreach, because even the best reference in the world doesn’t do you any good if they don’t answer when called.

I hope these tips encourage you to update your own resume and, hopefully, make doing so a little easier. If you’d like to find other ways to celebrate International Update Your Resume Day, there are many more options on the web. We’ve done blogs on other topics jobseekers might find helpful, interview tips. Check them out on our blog page. And, of course, if you have other resume tips or questions just send them to our Writing Team and we’ll be happy to cover them in a future article.

National Grief Awareness Day is August 30 this year. It began almost a decade ago. The intention of this day (and National Grief Awareness Month throughout all of September) is to raise overall awareness of the many ways those affected by grief cope with loss, provide resources to those going through personal losses, and to remind us all the importance of supporting people we know to be grieving. Like many silent struggles, there are many tools available to the individual experiencing grief but there is often a stigma associated with needing or using them. To try and reduce the stigma around conversations about grief, I’d like to talk to you about my personal experience using one of the tools available to millions of Americans attempting to manage their grief – their EAP (Employee Assistance Program).

What is Grief?

According to the Mayo Clinic, grief is a strong, sometimes overwhelming emotion for people, regardless of whether their sadness stems from the loss of a loved one or from a terminal diagnosis they or someone they love have received. The feelings associated with grief can vary greatly from person to person and so can how long it most strongly affects people. People can also use a wide range of tools to cope with grief, both internal and external. If you’re uncertain about whether your grieving process is normal, consult your health care professional. Outside help is sometimes beneficial to people trying to recover and adjust to a death or diagnosis of a terminal illness.

What is an Employee Assistance Program (EAP)?

An employee assistance program (EAP) is a work-based intervention program designed to assist employees in resolving personal problems that may be adversely affecting the employee’s performance. EAPs traditionally have assisted workers with issues like alcohol or substance misuse; however, most now cover a broad range of issues such as child or elder care, relationship challenges, financial or legal problems, wellness matters and traumatic events like workplace violence. Programs are delivered at no cost to employees by stand-alone EAP vendors or providers who are part of comprehensive health insurance plans. Services are often delivered via phone, video-based counseling, online chatting, e-mail interactions or face-to-face.

How do you use an EAP for grief assistance?

My father died on Halloween of 2021. Dad and I were close and his passing was not peaceful or pleasant. I wouldn’t say I’ve necessarily struggled since losing him, but I can’t pretend I’ve thrived either. Some days I find myself crying in the car for no reason and others I feel like my focus is affected. When I was first reminded that our EAP through FlexTrades had resources for dealing with grief I checked them out online and found them helpful. When another bad day hit me months later, I decided to call and use one of the 3 annual sessions with a trained and licensed councilor which my EAP provides. I was connected and prescreened to make sure I was not in need of emergency assistance then we simply had a conversation. We talked about the things I’ve been feeling and the things many others typically feel in my situation. Then we discussed avenues and alternatives to coping. Finally, we talked about professional service providers in my area and the counselor even was able to provide a list of those I could call in my area that matched my requirements and were covered under my insurance plan. It was easy, non-judgmental, helpful, and surprisingly cathartic.

Ways to cope

What I learned from that counseling call was that my, and everyone else’s, experience with grief is unique. There is no right or wrong way to act or feel nor is there a “proper” amount of time for those feelings to last. But there are simple ways you can cope with grief.

Give yourself permission to take as much time as you need to help you move forward through processing your loss.
Surround yourself with caring, supportive people.
Find safe ways and places to express your feelings without hurting yourself or others.
Try to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Maintain as much of your “normal” routine and schedule as possible.

Empathetic grief is normal

Grieving isn’t just for those experiencing loss but for those who care about those who’ve lost. If you are a friend of someone currently experiencing grief don’t be frustrated if you’re struggling to support them. It can be difficult but try to remember these 5 things as a guide.

Be a supportive, caring listener.
Be a “safe friend” accepting your friend’s feelings, even those that are more negative.

Continue to reach out a month or more after the funeral.
Help your friend slow down their decision-making process when making changes following loss.
Let your friend know that it’s ok to not be “normal” yet at work and socializing, regardless of time-frame.

Recently, one of my streaming services had The Machinist in a list of movies recommended for me to watch next. I’ve seen the movie before and, at least from a critic’s perspective, it’s a fine film. Dark, suspenseful, surprising – it really does check a lot of boxes that normally indicate a great movie. But thinking about the film reminded me that it’s potentially frustrating to watch if you’re a machinist or somebody else working in a shop environment. For those of you who haven’t seen The Machinist yet, I’ll tell you why.

PPE

When was the last time you were in a shop, even a very small one, and didn’t see anyone utilizing their personal protection equipment? For me, it’s been a VERY long time. Having the right PPE is so important we actually published a checklist for technicians. However, you can watch every single shop-scene in this movie and not see a single set of safety glasses or hearing protection. Not even one! Some core scenes in this film are set around injuries that happen, or nearly happen, around production machines. Yet, somehow, nobody chooses to opt for extra PPE, even after they see a coworker gruesomely hurt. I dislike this part of The Machinist the most because it perpetuates a narrative about manufacturing that hasn’t fit the industry appropriately for decades.

Machine Tool Safety

Speaking of those machines, where are the guards? Why so lax on proper procedure? At one point, the main character brings up OSHA workplace standards regarding Lockout/Tagout requirements. Does his supervisor or coworkers appreciate his input? Of course not! Instead, he gets grumbles, snide remarks, and rolled eyes. All because he’s reminding them that there is an industry regulation already in place to prevent exactly the kind of injury that occurs later in the film. First, having spent plenty of time in a shop, I can tell you this attitude is inaccurate. I’ve forgotten LOTO myself a couple times when rushing and, I can promise you, it wasn’t my coworker who was embarrassed when it was brought to my attention. Second, portraying such disregard for such fundamental procedures in a film famed for being “realistic” creates a false sense of accuracy too. This in turn goes on to undermine industry integrity for everyone unfamiliar with production environments.

Environment

The theme of misrepresentation in this movie continues when you consider the physical environment of the shop itself. The Machinist is a dark and dirty movie, so it’s understandable that cinematographers chose to reflect that with the shop set they created. Understandable but sadly still a totally inaccurate representation of most modern machining facilities today. In a post-Kaizen, Six Sigma-focused industry the “standard” shop is now much different. Well lit, well ventilated, and clean is now the norm for everything from the machine to the shop floor. Part of the reason that the skills gap even exists in the trades is because media continues to portray the industry with such dated imagery.

Workforce Attitude

Another contributor to our current labor supply problem in manufacturing has a lot to do with the perceived attitude of our workforce. People in blue collar roles are commonly shown to be unwelcoming, unhelpful bullies.

Members of younger generations entering the workforce today are a product of an education system full of anti-bullying policies and they are unwilling to tolerate the idea of something else in their workplace. Movies like The Machinist add fuel to this fire making potential machinists and fabricators think that all their coworkers will be rude, uncaring jerks just waiting for a chance to retaliate. This is most unfortunate of all the film’s missteps because those of us already working in and around the trades know the opposite to be true. Namely, these aren’t our father’s factories we’re working in or their colleagues we’re working alongside. Rather, machinists today work in facilities using the most modern tools, processes, environments, procedures, AND mentalities.

That’s why The Machinist is a terrible movie for machinists. If this article still makes you want to watch the film yourself, it’s currently streaming on Amazon Prime. Whether you’ve seen it already or not, I hope it also makes you watch it differently than you would have otherwise. Our industry needs more thoughtful consideration about how we’re represented and how we represent ourselves. Got another movie you think is terrible (or wonderful) to watch for people in the trades? We’d love to hear about it. Send suggestions to our Writing Team and maybe you’ll hear what we think about it in a future review.

The start of the next school year is just around the corner. Anyone with a TV or a smartphone knows that. We see lots of articles and lists about what is best and worst for students to buy or use. Most of this information is aimed at the traditional K-12 or college student. What about those getting ready to start technical or vocational programs? They are still going to school and have many of the same needs and concerns any student does. However, those preparing for technical careers need to consider additional requirements due to the specific demands of their program or the physical environment of their lab (shop). The following recommendations are sure to help anyone training for the trades to show up on day one just a little more prepared.

Backpack – Every student needs a backpack but students in technical and trades programs need a backpack that can carry tools and hold up to the elements. There are many great options on the market, depending on your needs and tools. Some can get expensive though and price is still a consideration for those just beginning a career. This tool backpack from Milwaukee is the best combo of features, quality, and price you’ll find on the market. And it even has a padded sleeve for your laptop!
Tech Organizer – Technical education and technology go hand in hand, so keeping wires untangled is a major concern. The modern student has an ever-growing collection of gadgets, chargers, and cables. Organizers are a great way to keep such things protected and easily accessible. A quick Google search can reveal a lot of options for organizers. Bigger is normally better, especially if you must carry a brick charger for your computer, but slimmer is easier to store. Also, while durability is almost always a concern in the trades, a pouch like this will normally be stored within another bag. This means you can feel free to opt for a cheaper option when you have the choice. A great middle ground selection is this one from mDesign.
Pen & Paper – When you start a technical training program, you’ll spend plenty of time in the classroom. You’ll also find yourself in the shop or the elements frequently. This means your writing equipment needs to function in all conditions. There are plenty of pricey choices available but there are inexpensive options out there that still perform their best when the weather is at its worst. Consider this paired trio from my personal collection, a Rite in the Rain weatherproof notebook and a Zebra F-701 loaded with a Fisher Space Pen refill. The notebook won’t get damaged if you spill on it and will retain its shape even in your pocket. The pen is sturdy and runs pressurized ink cartridges, like Fishers, but costs much less than other options. Combining these items allows you to write in wet conditions, upside down, even in space (seriously, that’s why they call them Space Pens) so you’re sure your notes will always outlast the conditions.
Post-Its – Speaking of writing, if you want to leave a note around the site or your shop you want it to be seen. Post-It notes are great for this but don’t always love the dust, grease, dirt, and grime of many environments. 3M fixed this when they released Post-It Extreme Notes. These will work indoors or outdoors. They’re water-resistant, have 100x the holding power vs the originals, and they’ll still attach/detach without leaving residue.
Network – Everything you learn in a technical program will be important. But, just like anything else in life, what you know generally matters less than who you know. It’s essential that the modern tradesman starts building their network as soon as they start building their tool collection. This network of instructors, co-students, friends, family, and people connected to your school or trade will not only help you prepare for your first job, it’s very possible your network may be what leads you to that first job or the next. I’ve previously covered an easy way anyone can build their professional network using just 10 minutes a day. Read about my 30-day LinkedIn Challenge to learn more.

I hope you found these recommendations helpful. If you’d like some help choosing other equipment like lunchboxes or building your tool collection, you should check those blogs out as well! And remember, we’re always looking for ideas. If you have one for a future review or list, please send it to our Writing Team and we’ll be sure to cover it in a future article.

Personnel Management Group Inc.

7/25/2022

PMG, Inc. Announces Rebrand to FlexTrades

PMG built our reputation on the flexibility of our skilled trades technicians and the solutions they help us provide to the American manufacturing industry. Now we want that flexibility to be evident from the first time you hear our name – FlexTrades!

Minneapolis, MN July 25, 2022. PMG, Inc., a premier traveling workforce solutions provider serving companies across all industries of manufacturing, announced today that it has completed a major rebranding. This rebrand will allow the company to more clearly represent who they are and what they do while also reflecting the flexibility of the solutions they offer clients and the employment they provide their skilled tradespeople.

Established in 2004, PMG is a leader in deploying skilled industrial and engineering talent to clients in need of creative solutions to address production gaps. PMG leans on its nationwide workforce while managing all associated details, big and small, to deliver the right talent match for each client project. The rebranding to FlexTrades is comprehensive across all platforms. A new logo, colors, documents, branded materials, and website will launch in coordination with the name change.

While much of what they “look like” will change along with the name – nothing else will. FlexTrades will continue to provide the same highly skilled resources they always have to production-focused facilities across the nation with the same level of service and satisfaction their clients and technicians alike have come to expect.

“Our name and logo may be changing,” said Dave Jacobsen, FlexTrades CEO & Founder, “but what we do and how we do it won’t change in the slightest. The mission of PMG is to make a difference every day through its impact on American production. That will continue to be the FlexTrades mission today, tomorrow and into the future.”

Visit www.flextrades.com to explore the new website, brand, logo and more to learn how FlexTrades can make a difference for you.

About FlexTrades

FlexTrades is a premier traveling workforce solutions provider offering bespoke services to manufacturing, logistics and distribution companies across all sectors of the industry coast to coast. Established in 2004, FlexTrades is a leader in deploying skilled industrial and engineering talent to client facilities experiencing production shortfalls, skill gaps or operational backlogs. FlexTrades leverages its vast network of skilled trade technicians while seamlessly handling all travel logistics, administration, and personnel management to ensure the right talent for each project. The FlexTrades mission is to make a difference every day through its impact on American production. The success of this commitment is evident in the thousands of individuals annually provided with work that matters and by the ever-growing satisfaction of clients, technicians, corporate team members, partners, and communities.

Media Contact:

Josh Erickson

Public Relations & Engagement Specialist

jerickson@pmgservices.com

952-693-2801

Growing up on a farm, I often felt more like a hired hand than a child when spending time with my father. Whether he was at his off-farm job, presiding over the council as mayor of our little town, attending church board meetings, plowing, planting, serving in the Minnesota National Guard, or responding to emergencies as fire chief – my dad was always working. From as early as I can remember, he expected the same of me too. My father and I never had that “my dad’s my best friend” relationship you see so often on TV. But over the years, we became so much more than father and son. We were each other’s most reliable employee, business partner, adversary, teacher, advocate, student, boss, and champion. He was who I called first when things went wrong, and I was the one who took his calls in a pinch.

No, my dad was never my friend but, for every second of my life, he was my dad. And he was always the best one he could be. He gave me lots of things, so many more than he or I ever realized, to be honest. However, they were hard to define, recognize, and appreciate. At least they were until I started thinking of them as things my father taught me, rather than things he had given me. Several years ago, I shared these thoughts online in the form of a list to honor my dad for Father’s Day. It quickly became an annual tradition and today is, without a doubt, the most popular thing I put on the internet every year.

I lost my dad on Halloween in 2021 and this Father’s Day will be my third without a father of my own. In honor of his memory, and in tribute to all of you out there wearing the dad pants as best you can, this year I would like to share my list with you. Dad always knew that we’re all just people raising people. It doesn’t matter if you share blood, name, or a home – you are family if you share love. Whether you made them or not, I promise you’re making them better. Keep it up. It’s worth it.

Without further ado, here is my 9th annual Things My Dad Taught Me (expanded again, of course) post.

Things My Dad Taught Me

A person doesn’t have to be brave to act brave, but the result is the same.
If you’re not early, you’re late.
Chickens always come home to roost. Leaving the door open is on you.
You can take the fast way or the long way to get anywhere, but only one gives you something to talk about along the way.
Critters are easier to let out than get back in, so mind your gates.
The right tool makes all the difference when the job goes wrong.
You can tell more about a man by looking at his cattle than by looking at his truck.
You must do favors in order to get them.
Sometimes how you do a thing is more important than what you’re doing.
Mud boots and snow boots are the same, as long as you have enough room for wool socks.
The people who answer your call are a direct reflection of the calls you’ve answered.
Effort erases a lot of mistakes.
There are lots of ways to handle a nut, but most work better with a little WD40.
Never let a simple answer get in the way of a good story.
What people say is rarely what they do, but they’ll remember both for you, so always follow through.
Assuming is just a fancy word for guessing.
You can borrow money, or you can borrow trouble, but never borrow both.
Both good advice and bad advice can teach you something.
Brown Watkins salve, Ben-Gay, and Excedrin can fix most things that are wrong with you.
Life is short and time flies, so stop for a Mountain Dew whenever you can.
You don’t have to be perfect to be right.
If you have to pay to fix it more than once, you should learn to fix it yourself.
The opinions of others won’t pay your bills, so don’t save them.
Make time to BS. People prefer funny stories when reminiscing.
If you leave without a knife, you will wish you hadn’t.
Take your time saying goodbye. It might be the last one you get. Make it worth it.

My thanks and admiration to my dad and all the others out there trying their best to teach their children lessons worth learning. Enjoy your day.

What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done? What about the most charitable?

At FlexTrades, we like to answer both questions with one story — the Polar Plunge.

If you’re not familiar, the Polar Plunge is a national fundraising event where brave souls jump into icy water in support of Special Olympics. It’s cold. It’s intense. And it’s one of the most rewarding things we do all year.

In Minnesota alone — where, by the way, we have 14,000+ lakes, not just the 10,000 you’ve heard about — this event is a big deal. Every winter, people cut holes in thick sheets of lake ice and dive in. For a cause. For the community. And for the joy of doing something that matters.

About the Special Olympics

The Special Olympics started small. In 1962, Eunice Kennedy Shriver hosted the first “Camp Shriver” in the backyard of her Maryland home. She wanted kids with intellectual disabilities to have a place to play, grow, and belong — because, at that time, they were often excluded from mainstream programs.

That first camp became an annual tradition, then a movement. On July 20, 1968, more than a thousand athletes from the U.S. and Canada came together in Chicago for the first International Special Olympics Summer Games.

Today, that same movement spans over 170 countries and reaches more than 5 million athletes worldwide. And it all started with one idea: everyone deserves a chance to compete.

My Personal Why

My support for Special Olympics didn’t begin with a plunge. It began with my cousin, Joey.

Joey was born with Down syndrome in 1960, during a time when children with special needs were often institutionalized and separated from their families. His parents were part of a generation that pushed back — advocating for inclusion before it had a name. And they found community and opportunity through Special Olympics.

By the time I was born, Joey was already competing regularly. Over his lifetime, he took part in more than two dozen Minnesota state games and a handful of national events. The skills, pride, and friendships he gained from competition changed his life — and the lives of those around him.

When I started my career at FlexTrades in 2017, I knew I wanted to support that mission more actively. That’s when I joined my first Polar Plunge.

FlexTrades Supports the Special Olympics

The experience was everything I’d hoped for and more — fun, moving, energizing. I couldn’t stop talking about it. And by the following year, several coworkers joined me.

That was the start of our official FlexTrades Plunge Team.

Since then, we’ve raised more than $14,000 for Special Olympics Minnesota. To put that in perspective: just $500 is enough to launch a new delegation in the state. It’s proof that a little support can go a long way.

Support Our 2022 Polar Plunge

Our fifth plunge took place on February 19, 2022, in Prior Lake, Minnesota. Even if you weren’t in the state — or willing to jump in yourself — there were still plenty of ways to get involved.

Plunge virtually — or toss something silly into the lake in your place (rubber chicken, anyone?)
Donate — support the FlexTrades team directly
Show up — spectators are always welcome and encouraged
Share your support — a few kind words on social media go a long way

And if you’re feeling inspired, you can start a plunge of your own no matter where you live.

Let’s Keep It Going

If you have questions about Special Olympics, the Polar Plunge, or how FlexTrades supports the cause, reach out to us at writingteam@flextrades.com.

And remember the athlete’s oath that has guided Special Olympics for decades:

“Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.”

People say it takes a village to raise a child. We’ve all heard that phrase, but how often do we stop to consider what it really means? As we approach National Aunt and Uncle’s Day on July 26, I’d like to share my version of that village—because for me, it started with family.

This day may not come with parades or parties, and you won’t find much about it online. But if you’re looking for a way to honor the often-unsung heroes in your life, here’s a suggestion: tell their story.

Growing Up in a True Village

I was raised in an actual village—one with just a couple hundred people when I was a kid. Daycare didn’t exist back then. Fortunately, I had uncles who stepped up to help my grandma open one. Around their day jobs, they made sure she could care for me and dozens of other kids. That little act of sacrifice made a generational impact. To this day, I know over 50 adults who still call them “uncle.”

Aunts Who Shaped the Way I See the World

My maternal grandparents raised their niece as one of their own. Technically, she’s my cousin. But for nearly 40 years, she’s been “Aunt.” She introduced me to the joy of books, the challenge of Scrabble, and the beauty of a well-told nursery rhyme—ones I now sing to my own nieces. Another aunt walked me to the school bus every day and eventually bought me my first suit when I finally traded in high-vis shirts for a professional career. Without her, I doubt I’d be writing this article today.

The Uncles Who Taught Me to Build—and Be

One uncle taught me construction. Another shaped my understanding of agriculture. A third showed me the intersection between hard work and creative design. They weren’t always gentle, but they were always kind. They’ve remained my closest confidants and most trusted mentors.

Passing It On

Because of them, I know how to weld, run a lathe, frame a house, and even braid my daughters’ hair. I learned grit and grace in equal measure. And that came in handy, because 12 years ago, I became an uncle to a little girl born into a situation that needed more than just holiday visits and birthday cards. Two years later, her sister arrived.

Life didn’t exactly prepare me to raise girls, but thanks to the village that raised me, I knew how to raise people. My aunts and uncles taught me that. I just hope the lessons I’m passing down serve my girls as well as they served me.

So today, if you’re lucky enough to still have your aunts and uncles around, reach out. Tell them what stuck. Thank them for what mattered. Share their story. Because sometimes, the best way to celebrate someone… is simply to remember them well.

We hear about “going paperless” all the time — a byproduct of technological advancement. And while digital workflows are growing, paper remains an essential part of modern life. From packaging and printing to hygiene and education, its uses are vast and vital.

But paper isn’t new. In fact, many historians agree it was invented in China around 105 BC — making it a true innovation of the ancient world. In this edition of How It’s Made, we’re diving into the modern papermaking process.

Step 1: Logging & Cutting

It all begins with trees — mostly fast-growing evergreen species. That said, more and more manufacturers now use renewable fibers like cotton, bamboo, hemp, and jute to reduce environmental impact.

At the logging site, harvested trees are debarked and processed into wood chips using heavy-duty machinery. Check out the debarking and chipping process here!

Those wood chips are then transported to a paper mill for processing.

Step 2: Pulping

Pulping breaks down wood fibers and separates out the components needed to form paper. There are two primary methods:

Chemical Pulping: Used for high-strength products like containers, paper bags, and writing paper, this method cooks the chips in a solution of sodium hydroxide and sodium sulfide under high pressure (sulfate/kraft process). This removes lignin, sugars, and other impurities to form a fiber-rich slurry, which is then washed, bleached, and screened.
Mechanical Pulping: Commonly used for newspapers, paper towels, and tissues, this method grinds wood chips using rotating discs — no pressure or heat required. The resulting mixture is also diluted into a slurry and further cleaned for processing.

Step 3: Beating

The pulp slurry is then sent to a beating vat, where it’s pounded and refined. Here, filler materials like chalk, clay, or specialty chemicals are added to control texture, weight, and opacity — all tailored to the intended final use of the paper.

Step 4: Drying

The slurry still contains lots of water — and that moisture needs to go. First, it’s sprayed onto mesh screens to form a wet mat. Then, it’s pressed through industrial rollers to remove about 50% of the water. After pressing, the mats are heated and dried further, bringing total water removal to 90-95%.

Step 5: Rolling

At this stage, the paper is nearly finished. Depending on its end use, additional treatments may be applied. Finally, the dried sheets are fed through industrial rolling machines, creating large paper rolls for use in manufacturing and converting.

Want to see the scale of this operation? Check out this full paper mill tour!

And if you’re interested in sustainability, don’t miss our How It’s Made article on recycling — also on the FlexTrades blog.