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Packaging Solutions Contest Challenges Students to Find Solutions for Snacks

October 10, 2012

Editorial Contact
Kate Achelpohl
Director, Member Communications
703.243.8555
kachelpohl@pmmi.org

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FOR IMMEDIATE Release

Packaging Solutions Contest Challenges Students to Find Solutions for Snacks

B&R Industrial Automation sponsors fourth annual student competition; winners announced at Packaging Hall of Fame reception

Reston, Va.; October 10, 2012 — Students competing in the 2012 Student Packaging Solutions Contest will present proposals for a food-safety friendly weighing, bagging and case-packing solution for a fictional snack food manufacturer during PACK EXPO International 2012 (McCormick Place, Chicago; October 28-31). B&R Industrial Automation is sponsoring the annual contest.

The student teams come from seven packaging programs: Cal Poly State University; Purdue University at Calumet; Rutgers University; San Jose State University; University of Cincinnati; University of Florida – Gainesville and University of Wisconsin–Stout.

“This is terrific opportunity for students to come up with a solution to a typical challenge engineers and technicians at consumer packaged goods companies face,” says Maria Ferrante, vice president of Education & Workforce Development at PMMI. “The contest also supports our education and workforce goals for a deeper, more qualified pool of employees.”

The student teams’ challenge comes from the fictional Jackson Snack Foods Company, described as a large regional producer of pretzels, mixed nuts and potato chips. Their proposals — developed from information gathered from sources expected to include packexpo.com and the show floor — must address a variety of complex specifications, including:

Bulk distribution
Handling multiple bag sizes and chip flavors
Incorporating a nitrogen flushing system to extend shelf life and preserve freshness, and
Complying with Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) proposed regulations

Teams will present their findings to a panel of judges on Tuesday, Oct. 30, and the winning entries will be presented during the Packaging Hall of Fame Reception and Ceremony (Oct. 30, at 5:15 pm; Regency Ballroom; Hyatt Regency McCormick Place).

“The Packaging Solutions Competition is about investing in the future of packaging innovation. It’s an important and effective vehicle to give students ‘on-the-job’ experience, including the experience of interacting with the leading machinery manufacturers exhibiting at PACK EXPO,” says John Kowal, market development manager, B&R Industrial Automation.

He adds, “The students benefit by experiencing a real-world packaging line project, and our industry benefits from interacting with the students who will be tomorrow’s industry leaders.”

PMMI's Packaging Education & Training Foundation will provide scholarships to be shared among the members of each winning team — first place, $4,000; second place, $2,000; third place, $1,000.

PACK EXPO International 2012 marks the fourth edition of the Student Packaging Solutions Contest. Previous first-place teams were University of Florida – Gainesville (2011), Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College (2010) and Purdue University at Calumet (2009).

About PMMI
PMMI is a trade association of more than 600 member companies that manufacture packaging, processing and related converting machinery in the United States, Canada or Mexico; machinery components and packaging containers and materials. PMMI’s vision is to be the leading global resource for the packaging and processing supply chain, and its mission is to improve and promote members' abilities to meet the needs of their customers.

PMMI organizes the PACK EXPO trade shows: PACK EXPO International, PACK EXPO Las Vegas and EXPO PACK México, connecting participants in the packaging and processing supply chain with their customers around the world. Coming Up: PACK EXPO International at McCormick Place in Chicago, Oct. 28–31, 2012; EXPO PACK Guadalajara, Feb. 27–March 1, 2013, in Guadalajara, Mexico. EXPO PACK México, June 18-21, 2013 in Mexico City, Mexico.

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

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