FOSTERING THE FUTURE

By George Thibeault, Jr.
President, Constantia Hueck Foils, LLC
Chairperson, Flexible Packaging Association

FPA’s Flexible Packaging Academic Scholarship & Summer Internship Program has become a wonderful platform upon which we are able to foster the continuous growth of the flexible packaging industry. Through this program, FPA members can engage in a gratifying exchange of knowledge and services with the future leaders of this industry.

Since 2005, FPA’s Flexible Packaging Academic Scholarship & Summer Internship Program has provided hands-on, career building internships to packaging and printing school students, which allow them to work with senior level executives, plant managers and facility supervisors in the flexible packaging industry. Over the past four years, the program has awarded $50,000 in academic scholarships to deserving students who successfully complete summer internships with FPA converter members.

Several FPA member companies have offered summer internships for students interested in learning more about the flexible packaging industry, including Amcor Flexibles, American Packaging Corp., AMGRAPH Packaging Inc., Beacon Converters Inc., Belmark Inc., CL&D Graphics, Constantia Hueck Foils LLC, North State Flexibles, Pliant Corp., Prime Graphics Inc., Robbie Manufacturing Inc., Sonoco Flexible Packaging and Technipaq Inc..

Student interns complete internships in a variety of disciplines which include package engineering, printing, quality assurance, research, graphics, food science and marketing. At the completion of their internships, many students comment that their experience “greatly exceed their expectations and the knowledge they take away from their internships can be utilized in both the classroom and future careers.”

Through these high-quality internships, students expand their knowledge and understanding of the flexible packaging industry. They have the opportunity to learn new skills, work on industry-specific projects and experience the day-to-day operations of a flexible packaging company.

Participation in the FPA Flexible Packaging Academic Scholarship & Summer Internship Program has been beneficial for the students and also rewarding for the sponsoring companies. The students bring to their internships a great enthusiasm and eagerness to learn all they can about the flexible packaging industry. They contribute their ideas to a multitude of company projects and research, assisting in the enhancement of our companies and advancement of the flexible packaging industry.

In this issue of the FPA Update, you can read more about the 2008 FPA Flexible Packaging Academic Scholarship & Summer Internship program and all the participating student interns.

To learn more about the FPA Student Leadership Program and the FPA Flexible Packaging Academic Scholarship & Summer Internship Program, visit the FPA website, www.flexpack.org, or contact the association at 410-694-0800.

INDUSTRY INTERNS RECEIVE $15,000 IN FPA ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIPS

(Left to right) Student intern Jonathan Quinn and Greg Gard, senior vice president of technology, Pliant Corp.

Recently, FPA presented packaging and printing school students Jessica Baker of Western Michigan University, Emily Howe and Michelle Matrazzo of the Rochester Institute of Technology, and Jonathan Quinn and John Wrenn of Clemson University, with $15,000 in academic scholarships as they successful completed summer long internships with several FPA converter members.

“A Great Experience”

Describing her internship as a great experience, Jessica Baker, an imaging/printing major and summer intern with CL&D Graphics, expressed her appreciation for the opportunity to participation in the program. “This internship gave me a wealth of knowledge. I’ve been able to observe the process of taking an idea for a flexible package from concept into production. It was great to see all the work that is put into producing the flexible packages consumers see in the stores.”

“An Emphasis on Teamwork”

As a packaging science major at Rochester Institute of Technology and Technipaq Inc. summer intern, Emily Howe assisted in the testing of materials and researched ways to enhance the performance of flexible packaging. Though her internship, Emily noted that she was able to grow as a packaging science student in a positive atmosphere with an emphasis on teamwork. “The Rosenburg family went above and beyond, fostering my summer experience with a tight community of employees that worked together. Everyone made me feel very welcomed,” said Emily.

Michelle Matrazzo, an American Packaging Corp. summer intern and also a packaging science major at Rochester Institute of Technology, expressed that “the best part of her internship was working with great people that taught her about the materials and processes that are use in the flexible packaging industry.” Michelle worked a great deal with flexible packaging materials and conducted quality testing on various materials. “I assisted in the development of a design for a flexible package and completed additional testing including coefficient of friction testing, heat seal and Mullen burst testing, as well as bond strength testing,” commented Michelle.

“Exceeding My Expectations”

“I could not have asked for a better experience!” commented Pliant Corp. summer intern and Clemson packaging science minor Jonathan Quinn. “I’m currently living a life long dream of working in the flexible packaging industry. I’m meeting interesting and innovative people while gaining a better understanding of the day-to-day operations of a flexible packaging company.” Jonathan aspires to build a “prosperous career in the flexible packaging industry” and credits his summer internship as a stepping stone to accomplishing this goal.

         John Wrenn, a packaging science major at Clemson, participated in a summer internship with Constantia Hueck Foils LLC. John worked on projects that maximized communication between the area lead, process engineer and the press operators. In addition to completing several major projects, John created original copies of all color set ups, designed a drying cart for press parts and improved the tracking system of sent/received cylinders. “Through Clemson’s packaging program, we learn about a variety of packaging materials. The internship with Constantia Hueck Foils provided me with a well-rounded and focused understanding of the production of flexible packaging,” said John.

         For more information about the FPA Flexible Packaging Academic Scholarship & Summer Internship program and the FPA Student Leadership Program, visit the FPA website, www.flexpack.org, or contact the association at 410-694-0800.

SHOW YOUR COMPANY’S BEST!

Today, flexible packaging is used to preserve and protect products, increase consumer convenience and improve product distribution. Advancements within the flexible packaging industry include diverse applications, material enhancements, environmental benefits and design improvements. Developments in new technologies are combining coatings, adhesives and substrates to produce flexible packaging that can hold almost anything!

         These advancements have fostered the use of flexible packaging in a variety of industries including food, industrial, medical and pharmaceutical. The continuous progression of the industry is witnessed through the unique flexible packaging that is enhancing our product choices and consumer lifestyles throughout the world.

         Through the FPA Flexible Packaging Achievement Awards competition, FPA and the flexible packaging community honor the significant developments flexible packaging companies contribute. The competition fosters the exceptional and rapid growth of the flexible packaging industry, while providing a great platform for flexible packaging converters and suppliers to showcase their most innovative flexible packages that are adding significant value to numerous products.

         FPA encourages your company to enter the 2009 Flexible Packaging Achievement Awards competition and show your company at its best! The entry deadline is Mon., Dec. 1, 2008. The winning entries will be announced on Wed., Feb. 25, 2009, during the Welcome & Flexible Packaging Achievement Awards Dinner, which is held in conjunction with the 2008 FPA Annual Meeting (Feb. 25-27, 2009).

         Flexible packaging companies receive great exposure as the winning entries are recognized in various domestic and international trade publications. FPA issues several press releases detailing the winning packages and publishes the Flexible Packaging Achievement Awards & Innovation Showcase. This full color publication includes photos and descriptions about all the entries and winning packages, and provides details about package manufacturers, end users/customers, designers and key suppliers.

Students rise to the Challenge

In addition to the Achievement Awards competition, FPA sponsors the Student Flexible Packaging Design Challenge. Entering its fifth year of competition, the highly successful Student Design Competition is a great opportunity for students currently enrolled in a packaging, design, food science, engineering or related discipline to develop a flexible package solution that addresses a packaging issue, such as consumer convenience or the protection of food.

         The Student Design Challenge has received hundreds of impressive flexible packaging solution ideas ranging from a flexible shoe box, to a stand-up pouch for shampoo and conditioner, to a bread “loaf” with individually packaged slices of bread. FPA encourages students to explore the endless flexible packaging possibilities and submit their ideas into the 2009 Challenge. The deadline to submit a concept outline is Fri., Oct. 17, 2008, and the submission deadline for prototypes/bench samples is Mon., Dec. 1, 2008.

         The winning entries of FPA’s Student Flexible Packaging Design Challenge will be announced during the Welcome & Flexible Packaging Achievement Awards Dinner. The student or team receiving first place honors will receive an expense paid trip to FPA’s 2009 Annual Meeting.

         The Call for Entries for the 2009 Flexible Packaging Achievement Awards and Student Flexible Packaging Design Challenge are now available on the FPA website, www.flexpack.org. For more information, contact FPA at 410-694-0800. We look forward to receiving your entries!