Packaging schools work to boost youth engagement

Posted by Jenni Spinner, Senior Editor -- Packaging Digest, 11/9/2012 8:59:28 AM

Heather Caliendo, PlasticsToday

Packaging school student Brian Welt, coordinator of the University of Florida's packaging-engineering program, believes many students share a common misconception when it comes to packaging jobs.

"A lot of students don't even know it's a career," he told PlasticsToday at Pack Expo 2012 (October 28-31; McCormick Place, Chicago). "And, as a result, they don't realize how great the opportunities are for the industry."

The most important asset for any company is its workforce. If you measure on the basis of gross sales, packaging is the world's third largest industry, featuring a variety of jobs from engineering to design to the conversion of raw materials.

Still, projections show that the need for skilled packaging professionals far exceeds the number of packaging graduates.

"I think the packaging industry is the best kept secret in design and manufacturing," said Jim Higley, professor of Mechanical Engineering Technology at Purdue University. "There's a bright future for those who go into packaging, but the key is to get students excited about it."

Read the entire PlasticsToday article here.
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Like U of Michigan engineering is well taught and Rochester teaches printing and graphics, Most of the Michigan grads know little about print methods or supplier selection so are quite limited in anything beyond testing, evaluating package, design etc---not well rounded. We need more training in all aspects including developing packages that are innovative in design or innovative in economics Including full on site manufacturing and handling the package at user level. That includes a knowledge of packaging equipment at user level.

Jim Dickert - 2012-9-11 17:51:33 EST

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