As part of Virginia Tech’s strategy to launch a full packaging program with an emphasis on the unit load, the university has changed the name of the Center for Unit Load Design to the Center for Packaging and Unit Load Design (the Center). This facility, which has become the defacto testing site for the pallet industry, will continue to specialize in pallets and related unit load issues while expanding its capabilities to cover more general packaging concerns. The idea is to develop a broader area of expertise to increase the university’s standing to do private research as well as attract more students to the academic program in Packaging in the Department of Sustainable Biomaterials at Virginia Tech.
Another key aspect of the new leadership under Dr. Laszlo Horvath is to improve the overall efficiency of the Center. This started with using lean management principles to optimize the testing space of the Center. Its staff is also developing new tutorial videos to help members properly evaluate test results and reduce costs related to testing procedures. The Center will in the near future offer new membership levels as well as expanded benefits. The new membership levels will include testing discounts, free consultation and complimentary registration for short courses and seminars. Look for the Center to revamp its website and add new testing equipment in the near future.
Donations have always been a major source of assistance for academic programs. And the Center is no different. It received almost $1 million in software donations from Esko, Cape, and White and Company. These licenses will allow the Center to utilize some of the best packaging and design software solutions on the market today.
All of these efforts are directed toward one goal – developing the packaging program at Virginia Tech into a global leader, not just in testing and service to the industry, but in education. Why is this goal important for the pallet industry? The more students that Virginia Tech produces who know and can explain the benefits of unit load and systems design, the easier it will be for pallet companies to sell customers on the value of improved pallet quality. The Center will graduate professionals who can help drive innovation at pallet user facilities especially when it comes to looking at the pallet as more than just a pallet. In time, this likely will make the job easier for pallet companies to sell the value of what they do.
Dr. Laszlo Horvath, director for the Center, said, “The main goal of our VT Packaging program remains the recruitment of students into the Packaging Science option as we continue to build one of the strongest programs in Packaging and Unit Load Design in the country. This year we recruited a designer to help develop a brand that we could use to show students how great this industry is. It seems that our efforts are paying off because our student body is continuously growing. We currently have 18 new students, which is a significant increase from 10 last fall.”
Currently, Virginia Tech is in the final stages of developing a full packaging degree program within the Department of Sustainable Biomaterials. Horvath said that he hopes the new BS in Packaging Systems and Design will obtain university approval by the spring of 2013.
Other than undergraduate students, the Center was always involved in the continuous education of pallet and packaging professionals. After the great success of the Unit Load Design short course in May, the Center will offer the short course in September 25-27. In addition to the Unit Load Design short course the Center will offer a Pallet Design and Performance short course in November 6-7 where pallet professionals could learn detailed information on how to design pallets more efficiently.
If you would like to find out more information about the Center or its upcoming short courses, please visit www.unitload.vt.edu or call 540/231-7673.
