Center for Packaging and Unit Load Design
The Pallet Lab
Our vision is to be the hub of packaging innovation
where researchers, students, and industry professionals
work together to improve the efficiency of the supply chain.
Our vision is to be the hub of packaging innovation
where researchers, students, and industry professionals
work together to improve the efficiency of the supply chain.
Current CPULD News:
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Thank you to CPULD Membership & Annual Update on Graduate Students and Research , articleAs the summer closes, CPULD would like to take a moment to express our sincere gratitude for our members’ ongoing support of our Packaging Program and the research being conducted here at Virginia Tech. Their collaboration plays a pivotal role in enabling us to provide top-tier education for undergraduates, create enriching opportunities for graduate students pursuing M.S. and Ph.D. degrees, and conduct innovative research on pallets and distribution packaging. The 2023-2024 academic year was marked by a series of achievements for both our students and research teams, underscoring CPULD’s commitment to academic excellence and innovation in the field of packaging science. Throughout the year, we supported six graduate students pursuing their M.S. and Ph.D. degrees. Each of these students brought unique perspectives and skills to the program, contributing to various research projects that were critical to advancing the field.
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CPULD and NWPCA Host Successful “Advanced Pallet Design” Short Course , articleCPULD and NWPCA recently hosted the highly successful "Advanced Pallet Design" short course. The 2.5-day program brought together nearly 20 participants from 15 companies, spanning multiple U.S. states and two international locations. This unique program showcased the growing demand for advanced knowledge in pallet design, optimization, and performance. The course was led by Dr. Laszlo Horvath, Director of CPULD, alongside Dr. Brad Gething and Kristen DeLack, PE from NWPCA. Combining their expertise, the instructors delivered in-depth lectures, software training, and hands-on lab activities, offering attendees a well-rounded, practical learning experience.
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Highlight Your Company’s Commitment to Quality with CPULD's New Photography Packages , articleAt the Center for Packaging and Unit Load Design, we are excited to offer an exclusive photography package that can now be included with your pallet and packaging testing projects. This new service not only provides visual documentation of the rigorous testing processes your pallet or package undergoes, but it also highlights your partnership with a world-renowned research institution. Imagine the value of having high-quality images of your pallet or package being rigorously tested to international standards by CPULD’s team of experts. These images are more than just snapshots of a process -they serve as visual proof of your dedication to excellence. Every photograph captures the precision and thoroughness of the testing conducted in CPULD labs, and highlights your commitment to meeting safety benchmarks.
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Student Spotlight:
Erin
Erin Wolter, Master's Student
The objective of Erin's research is to continue investigating the intensity and types of impacts that forklifts exert on pallets during material handling. The results of this study will be used to update the durability testing procedures used in pallet testing standards in order to better represent current material handling processes found in supply chains.
Member Spotlight:
NWPCA Logo
The National Wooden Pallet and Container Association (NWPCA) is the largest organization of packaging professionals in the world - with more than 670 member companies in 28 countries who manufacture, repair and distribute pallets and wood packaging in unit load solutions, or who supply products and services to the industry.
Center Members:
CHEP
NWPCA
Monoflo
White and Co
Neopal
UFP
