CalPoly Wins Annual PACK Solutions Challenge

Students from CalPoly took first place in the annual PACK Solutions Challenge competition, sponsored by B&R Industrial Automation and presented by the PMMI Foundation. Teammates Nick Abbatelli, Rebecca Kisch, Jeff Norton and Patrick Salibi, will share the prize, a $4,000 scholarship.

The PACK Solutions Challenge is a contest in which students attending PACK EXPO work to address real world packaging problems. For this year’s edition, students were tasked with developing a packaging solution for fictional company “Innovative Pharmaceuticals Inc.” and its new fast-dissolving OTC product.

Students presented their proposals to a panel of end user judges (Frank Bieganousky, Montesino Associates LLC; Tom Pack, Johnson & Johnson; Travis Powell, Schrieber Foods Inc.; and James Powers, Teva Pharmaceuticals) on Tuesday, Sept. 29. Marc Ostertag, president of sponsor B&R Industrial Automation, announced the winners that afternoon at the B&R Booth (S-5956).

In addition to the first place prize awarded to CalPoly, the team from Michigan State, which placed second, received a $2,000 scholarship. Students on the third-place Rutgers University team took home a $1,000 scholarship.

The other participating schools were Purdue University Calumet, Rochester Institute of Technology, University of Florida, Virginia Tech and Wisconsin Indianhead Technical Institute.

"I would like to thank the schools that have participated in this year's contest. No matter what the final judgment, you have all won...It was quite a challenge for the judges to rank you! In fact, judging took most of the day," says Ostertag.

Visit packexpolasvegas.com to learn more about PACK EXPO Las Vegas, Pharma EXPO, and the 2015 PACK Solutions Challenge.

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.