B&R Industrial Automation is sponsoring the sixth annual PACK Solutions Challenge at PACK EXPO International 2014
The PACK Solutions Challenge is an annual student contest where teams from PMMI Partner Schools research and develop a real-world packaging solution.
This will be the fourth consecutive year B&R Industrial Automation Corp. has sponsored the PACK Solutions Challenge, says B&R President Marc Ostertag.
“The students who compete in the PACK Solutions Challenge are our industry’s future,” he explains. “And that future is coming faster than ever, with ongoing advances in automation, packaging and processing technologies. The Challenge exposes contestants to the skills they will need to excel in their careers and enable their employers’ business strategies. B&R sees this as a win-win situation.”
The 2014 challenge comes from the fictional “Ray’s Premium Pet Food Company,” which is requesting proposals for a dedicated line to package and ship its new retail-ready line of all-beef jerky treats. The students begin their research with resources on packexpointernational.com and follow up with exhibitors on the show floor.
The proposals will address several requirements for Ray’s Premium Pet Food Company:
– Automated system capable of rapid changeover
– Consideration of overall floor space requirements
– Comprehensive list of all equipment including manufacturer’s specs
This year’s teams hail from Cal Poly State University, Clemson University, Purdue University–Calumet, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rutgers University, University of Florida, University of Wisconsin–Stout and Virginia Tech. Each participating school will receive a $2,500 donation from the PMMI Foundation to support their packaging program. The PMMI Foundation is supported by proceeds from fundraising events including the Packaging Hall of Fame Reception and Induction Ceremony and the PMMI Foundation Golf Tournament at PACK EXPO Las Vegas.
Students will present their proposals to a panel of end users on Tuesday, Nov. 4, and the winners will be announced that evening, during the Packaging Hall of Fame, at 5:15 p.m., at the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place, adjacent to the show.
PMMI’s Foundation will provide scholarships to the winning teams. First place team members will share $4,000; second place, $2,000; third place, $1,000.
As part of the Challenge, students will prepare poster presentations of their solutions that will be displayed beginning Sunday, Nov. 2, in the Education & Workforce Development Pavilion. Attendees and exhibitors can vote for their favorite solution as the “People’s Choice” award winner. All voters will be placed in a drawing to win a new iPad. The winner of the People’s Choice Award will be announced after PACK EXPO.
“We appreciate the continued sponsorship and support of B&R Industrial Automation as well as the time and dedication of the judges,” says Maria Ferrante, vice president, Education & Workforce Development, PMMI.
# www.packexpointernational.com