PepsiCo supports the future workforce as the sponsor of PACK EXPO International’s PACK Challenge Competition

PepsiCo is the official title sponsor of PACK Challenge, the first of its kind end-to-end packaging competition bringing together six high school teams for a machine building challenge at PACK EXPO International (October 23-26; McCormick Place, Chicago). PepsiCo’s sponsorship represents its commitment to the advancement of the packaging and processing workforce.

“The packaging and processing industries are critical to delivering safe products to consumers that meets their needs and that have minimal impact on the planet,” says Ron Khan, vice president, Packaging, Beverages, PepsiCo. “We are pleased to support the future, growth, and development of this integral industry and its emerging workforce.”

PACK EXPO International show producer, PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, introduced this competition to involve students in the machine building process, provide real-world, hands-on experience, and demonstrate the benefits and opportunities available in a career in manufacturing.

PACK Challenge provides six local Chicago high schools with pre-crated kits that contain all the components necessary to build a machine that fills the specified product into the provided container in a mock production line. These teams will have through October 2022 to design and build their machine, which will then be crated and shipped to PACK EXPO International where they will be judged in a variety of areas including design, operator training, changeover, and sales/marketing. The overall best in show team will be awarded $6,000 with second place receiving $3,000 and third $1,000.

“We are very excited about PACK Challenge and the opportunity this experience presents to show students what a career in this industry looks like,” says Jim Pittas, president and CEO, of PMMI. “We thank PepsiCo for recognizing the importance of our future workforce and partnering with us to educate and inspire the next generation of leaders and innovators.”

In addition to PepsiCo’s title sponsorship, PMMI is pleased to announce Belden Incorporated as the reception sponsor of PACK Challenge. This Friends & Family event will be held on Sunday, Oct. 23rd from 3 – 5 p.m. at Booth W-17000. 

The PMMI Foundation works to grow awareness of careers in packaging and processing and provides financial support for packaging and processing education throughout the U.S. and Canada. Since its inception in 1998, the PMMI Foundation has given more than $2.6 million to strengthen the workforce within the industry.  For more information on student opportunities, contact Kate Fiorianti at [email protected]

PACK EXPO International also offers additional activities aimed at getting students excited about careers in packaging and processing and connecting them with professional mentors in the industry. In addition to exciting networking events and student programs, PACK EXPO International is the best place to see never-before-seen solutions from 2,000+ leading suppliers on the show floor, bringing more than 40 vertical industries together to generate a cross-pollination of ideas and crossover solutions.

To learn more and to register, visit packexpointernational.com. Registration for the show is $30 until Sept. 30, after which it increases to $130.