Most of our web-handling knowledge comes from three principal sources: machine builders, machine owners and universities. Of these the builders, especially the larger ones, have been the single most important source. The reason is simple: critical mass. While a big plant might own a dozen winders, a big builder will have built hundreds, if not thousands. The university will be lucky to have even a couple. The exceptions are very large companies such as 3M, IBM and Kodak, each of which had a web-handling group. DuPont and Mead have also contributed important work.

The role of universities has changed much during my tenure. Three decades ago, their work was piecemeal and largely theoretical. The WHRC (Web Handling Research Center) at Oklahoma State changed that in a big way. It was built from the ground up, with guidance from industrial advisors, and has been an important force for the past two decades. PAPRICAN (Pulp & Paper Research Institute of Canada) also contributed much in the area of winding. Today, many universities research tension control and other web-handling subjects.

The problem of accessing the industry's accumulated knowledge was at least partially addressed when organizations such as TAPPI and later AIMCAL and the CMM trade show carved out a permanent web-handling niche. Magazines such as this one also began publishing a steady web-handling content. Even so, the problem remained "how to find stuff."

The breakthrough began in the 1990s when the first books on web handling were written. TAPPI PRESS is the single largest source with over a dozen books in the area. The first web-handling short courses also began to appear. Between books and courses it is possible to jump-start your web handling expertise. What once took decades could now be learned in days.

The next breakthrough began around 2000 with the internet. Organizations such as AIMCAL, TAPPI and WHRC began posting web-handling content. Magazines such as Converting did likewise. Companies, such as CAC and my own (roisum.com), also publish online. Also about this time, the first live web-based seminars were broadcast. While webcasts promised to save thousands of dollars in travel for every student, the economics for the supplier are still not clear. A brand new medium is blogs, such as webhandlingblog.com, hosted by AIMCAL.

With so much digital content out there, it can still be a challenge to "find stuff." Try typing keywords such as coat, web, wind and so on into any search engine and you will quickly see what I mean. So what do I do? I started a web-handling database 20 years ago and it now contains thousands of articles, books, conference papers, theses and so on, all key-worded.

An even more important source of information, one that all of you can make use of, is people. If you have a question, it is important to know who to call. Despite decades of advances in web handling and information handling, people are still often the best resource. My personal computer "Rolodex" contains over 10,000 names. Email me. If I don't know the answer to your question, I may know who does. In any case, your name will be added to my "Rolodex." Who knows? Next time, it may be me calling on you.

920/725-7671 drroisum@aol.com, www.roisum.com