During CPULD’s annual Industrial Affiliate Membership meeting, which was held virtually August 12-13, 2020, our graduate students gave presentations regarding the research completed over the last year, the members gave their input on what directions they’d like research to go in the future, and everyone was updated on the state of CPULD due to COVID-19 and on the past year’s renovations and budget.

Most of our students’ research projects are done specifically at industry members’ requests and are usually designed to satisfy questions or issues that have arisen in our industry partners’ supply chains. These leading companies are working with us to be at the forefront of innovative pallet and package research. We are collaborating to develop new, innovative ways to design pallets and unit loads as well as to find ways to improve the sustainability of the packaging supply chain.

Over the past year, our graduate students have been researching the following topics: 

  • Evaluation of the maximum pallet deflection under forklift handling conditions (Yu Yang Huang),
  • An operational concept of an IoT system for the palletized distribution supply chain (Nicolas Navarro),
  • Life cycle analysis for systems-based unit load design (Chandler Quesenberry),
  • Finite element modeling of load bridging in unit loads (Eduardo Molina),
  • Investigation of impacts and damages observed by pallets during physical distribution (Jorge Masis),
  • Continuous improvement project – performance measurement at the Center (Yu Yang Huang), and
  • Continuous improvement project – the Center as a learning organization (Nicolas Navarro).

Each of the graduate students gave a presentation to the membership outlining the results of their research. The results have been made available to our members and the recordings of these presentations will be uploaded to the new Members Only section of CPULD’s website once it is complete.

Our members also had the chance to offer suggestions for the focus of next year’s research projects. Three long-range research initiatives were decided upon as well as three specific research questions:

  • Look into the effects of load bridging on the load carrying capacity of pallets – i.e. determine the “real” load carrying capacity of pallets.
  • Find what effect pallet stiffness has on the cost of packaging materials
  • Develop an industry standard for an accelerated pallet durability test.
  • Evaluate maximum pallet deflection under forklift handling.
  • What are the environmental benefits of increasing the stiffness of the pallet top deck for unit loads carrying corrugated boxes?
  • Measure the hazards experienced by pallets during material handling.

Our industry affiliate membership is a three-level program offering industry promotion, discounts on CPULD’s services, and access to a wealth of knowledge and world-renowned experts. In addition, we foster a close relationship between our member companies and their potential future employees — companies are regularly connected with our students during research projects, internship opportunities, and networking events.

CPULD is very excited about our 2020 research projects and the membership program’s momentum. Join other worldwide companies in benefiting from an Industrial Affiliate Membership with the Center for Packaging and Unit Load Design at Virginia Tech.

Learn more about the Industrial Affiliate Membership program: https://www.unitload.vt.edu/membership.html