Michigan State, CalPoly, Virginia Tech Students Win Amazing Packaging Race

Jill Bickley (Michigan State), Paige Topole (CalPoly) and Kristine Roupas (Virginia Tech) made up the winning team in this year’s Amazing Packaging Race. The contest, sponsored by ASCO Numatics (Booth C-2051) and organized by show owner and producer PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, sent packaging students throughout the PACK EXPO Las Vegas and Pharma EXPO 2015 show floors to complete challenges at exhibitor booths.

"The Amazing Packaging Race gives packaging students hands-on experience and introduces them to industry leaders," says Maria Ferrante, vice president of Education & Workforce Development, PMMI. "It's a fun competition that's also a great learning experience."

Students traversed PACK EXPO Las Vegas and Pharma EXPO to — the largest edition of the show to date — and undertook challenges at 25 booths. Participating exhibitors included: 3M; APPMA — Australian Packaging & Processing Machinery Assn.; Arrowhead Systems, Inc.; Barry-Wehmiller Companies, Inc. Bosch Packaging Technology, Inc.; Cozzoli Machine Company; Dorner Mfg. Corp.; Emulate3D Ltd.; Filamatic; Garvey Corporation; Intelligrated; JLS Automation; Label Technology Inc.; Langguth America; MASSMAN Automation Designs, LLC; Matrox Electronic Systems Ltd.; Morrison Container Handling Solutions; Murrelektronik Inc.; Packsize International, Inc.; Plexpack; Rittal Corporation; Shurtape Technologies LLC; Starview Packaging Machinery; Universal Robots USA, Inc; Zip-Pak.

"This event wouldn't have been such a hit without the efforts and support of the packaging exhibitors on the show floor," Ferrante added. "The challenges they constructed really engaged the students and are at the heart of what makes this a successful event each year."

Participating students came from programs at the following PMMI partner schools: CalPoly, Michigan State, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rutgers University, San Jose State, University of Florida, Virginia Tech, Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College.

About PMMI
PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, represents the voice of more than 700 North American manufacturers of equipment, components and materials for processing and packaging. We work to advance a variety of industries by connecting consumer goods companies with manufacturing solutions through the world class PACK EXPO portfolio of trade shows, leading trade media and a wide range of resources to empower our members. The PACK EXPO trade shows unite the world of processing and packaging to advance the industries they serve: PACK EXPO International, PACK EXPO Las Vegas, Pharma EXPO, PACK EXPO East, EXPO PACK México, EXPO PACK Guadalajara and ProFood Tech, launching in April 2017. PMMI Media Group connects manufacturers to the latest solutions, trends and innovations in processing and packaging year-round through brands including Packaging World, Automation World, Healthcare Packaging, Contract Packaging and Packaging + Processing OEM. PMMI Business Drivers assist members in pursuing operational excellence through workforce development initiatives, deliver actionable business intelligence on economic, market and industry trends to support members’ growth strategies, and actively connect the supply chain throughout the year. Learn more at PACKEXPO.com, PMMIMediaGroup.com and PMMI.org.