Students competing in the fifth PACK Solutions Challenge will present proposals for a packaging line upgrade commissioned by a fictional processor and packager of health care products during PACK EXPO Las Vegas (Sept. 23–25, 2013; Las Vegas Convention Center). B&R Industrial Automation is sponsoring the annual contest, which PMMI debuted in 2009, for the third consecutive year.

 

Student teams represent packaging programs from seven PMMI Partner Schools throughout the United States:

“The PACK Solutions Challenge supports PMMI’s mission to help develop the packaging and processing workforce. It fosters student interest in the field, provides real-world experience solving problems and creating proposals with detailed rationale and strengthens the next generation of professionals coming into the industry.” says Maria Ferrante, vice president of Education & Workforce Development, PMMI. PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, is the owner and producer of PACK EXPO Las Vegas 2013.

 

The PACK Solutions Challenge gives the students hands-on experience tackling challenges typical to the day-to-day work of engineers and technicians at consumer packaged goods companies (CPGs). The 2013 challenge comes from Lucas Parker Incorporated, a fictional processor and packager of health care products. Students’ proposals — developed using resources found at Packexpo.com and meetings with exhibitors on the show floor — will address a variety of complex specifications for Lucas Parker’s mouthwash production, including:

“The students are required to exercise problem-solving skills, conduct research and present their conclusions in a convincing manner — it’s the same type of situation they will encounter after joining the workforce. This experience is invaluable as they move forward with their education and their career, especially as they look to enter the packaging and processing industry,” says John Kowal, director, Business Development, B&R Industrial Automation.

 

Teams will present their findings to a panel of judges on Tuesday, Sept. 24. Judges scheduled to date include representatives from Chattem, Keurig, Pepsi Beverage Company and Schrieber Foods, Inc.

 

In addition, the student teams’ poster displays will shown in the Education and Workforce Development Pavilion, beginning Monday, Sept. 23, after 2:00 p.m., so attendees can peruse them and vote for their favorite solution. PMMI’s “People’s Choice” winner will be announced following the PACK EXPO, and all attendees who vote will be entered into a drawing for a new iPad.

 

“The dedication and time commitment of the judges, and B&R Industrial Automation’s sponsorship and support, make the PACK Solutions Challenge possible. We’re very grateful to everyone involved,” Ferrante says.

 

PMMI’s Packaging Education & Training Foundation will provide scholarships to the winning teams. First place team members will share $4,000; second place, $2,000; third place, $1,000.

 

To learn more about PACK EXPO Las Vegas 2013, or to register, visit www.packexpo.com. Discounted registration rates of $30 per person apply until Sept. 9, 2013, when the fee increases to $60 per person.

 

About PMMI

PMMI, the Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, is a trade association representing over 600 packaging and processing supply chain companies that provide a full range of packaging and processing machinery, materials, components and containers. PMMI actively brings buyers and sellers together through programs and events such as The PACK EXPO family of trade shows, packexpo.com, PMT Magazine, PACK EXPO Show Daily, networking events and educational programs.

 

PMMI organizes the PACK EXPO trade shows: PACK EXPO International, PACK EXPO Las Vegas, PACK EXPO East, EXPO PACK Mexico and EXPO PACK Guadalajara, connecting participants in the packaging and processing supply chain with their customers around the world. Coming Up: PACK EXPO Las Vegas 2013 , Sept. 23–25, 2013 (Las Vegas Convention Center); EXPO PACK México 2014 , June 17-20, 2014 (Mexico City, Mexico); PACK EXPO International 2014, Nov. 2-5, 2014 (McCormick Place, Chicago); Pharma EXPO, co-located with PACK EXPO International 2014, presented jointly with the International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE); PACK EXPO East, debuting Feb. 2–4, 2015 (Pennsylvania Convention Center, Philadelphia); EXPO PACK Guadalajara 2015, March 18-20, 2015 (Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico).

 

Learn more about PMMI and the PACK EXPO trade shows at PMMI.org and Packexpo.com.

 

About B&R Industrial Automation, Inc.

B&R is the world’s largest and most successful private company in the area of automation equipment manufacturing. The motto “Perfection in Automation” has provided the foundation for the company since B&R was founded in 1979. Today, B&R employs 2,400 employees worldwide and has an exceptional global presence with 168 sales offices in 68 countries.

 

As a global leader in industrial automation, B&R combines state-of-the-art technology with advanced engineering to provide customers in virtually every industry with complete solutions for machine and process automation, motion control, HMI and integrated safety technology. With industrial fieldbus communication standards like POWERLINK and openSAFETY as well as the powerful Automation Studio software development environment, B&R is constantly redefining the future of automation engineering.

 

B&R Industrial Automation, Inc. North America, based in Atlanta, GA, has been working closely with their customers since 1987. Since then, B&R North America has continuously grown as a sales and support organization through both direct sales offices and B&R’s unique Automation Partner distribution network. Today, B&R North America has a network of more than 20 offices throughout the USA and Canada and is there for its customers locally.