House Speaker Robert DeLeo Visits Hazen Paper to Encourage Business in Massachusetts

HOLYOKE, Mass. — November 4, 2016 — Last week, Massachusetts House Speaker Robert DeLeo visited Hazen Paper, a paper convertor specializing in custom holographic originations, film, foil, and paper laminations, specialty and gravure coatings, and rotary embossing. The goal of the visit was to encourage business between western and eastern Massachusetts, The Reminder reported.

In operation since 1925, John Hazen, the CEO of Hazen Paper, explained to DeLeo that the company has been successful because of the various partnerships that it has formed with other Western Massachusetts businesses.

Hazen also pointed out how his trip a decade ago to a Chinese printing plant that specialized in holography made a major impact in his decision to add holography into his mix of offerings. As a result, Hazen now provides a wide variety of services to a robust range of clients.

Hazen says having the University of Massachusetts Amherst's department of Polymer Science and Engineering close to his facility is "a great international asset" that has also helped in the development of new products. The paper said.

In an effort to promote the paper manufacturing industry and encourage the next generation to enter the industry, Hazen told DeLeo that his company sponsors a fifth grade program about how to make paper, and that he works with high schools, colleges and also provides an apprenticeship program.

Facing the reality of employees retiring in the next five years, Hazen says that the company is “constantly recruiting.”

Noting that manufacturing is still a vital industry, DeLeo said, "I believe manufacturing can still play a part in the economy."

About Hazen Paper
Hazen Paper was founded in 1925 and is based in Holyoke, Mass., with satellite facilities in Housatonic, Mass. Hazen Paper products enjoy a wide acceptance for use in health and beauty packaging, entertainment and media packaging, golf ball packaging, bookbinding, lottery scratch tickets, merchandise tags, product labels, photo mounting, and ticketing applications.