CPULD News, Fall / Winter 2024
CPULD Holiday Pic
As this year draws to a close, the Center for Packaging and Unit Load Design (CPULD) would like to thank all of our customers and our affiliate membership companies in particular. CPULD wouldn’t have had such a successful year without all of you. Our researchers were able to work towards solving industry problems, and our students gained valuable life and career experience through their work in our state-of-the-art laboratories which exist in large part because of our members’ support and financial donations. Happy holidays to one and all!
Happy Holidays from CPULD!
Graduate Student Spotlight
Abid Hassan
Abid Hassan is a passionate and dedicated graduate student at Virginia Tech from Bangladesh. Pursuing a Master’s in the SBIO department, Abid is set to graduate in fall 2025. His journey from Bangladesh to Virginia Tech is marked by a strong commitment to sustainability and innovation in packaging systems. Abid’s decision to attend VT was driven by its renowned research in packaging systems, especially in sustainable optimization using natural materials. "I chose to pursue graduate studies at Virginia Tech due to its distinguished research in packaging systems, particularly in sustainable optimization using natural materials to uphold product quality in cold chain distribution," he explained.
CPULD Research Highlights:
With the rapid growth of e-commerce, the way products are delivered, especially the last mile to the customer, has become a hot topic. Walmart's delivery-from-store service, facilitated by Spark delivery drivers, currently lacks standardized packaging guidelines. There are no clear rules on how products should be packaged. This study aimed to understand customer priorities in DFS packaging methods and see how things like sustainability, cost, and perks influence their choices. We also collected opinions of various product categories and packaging types through an in-person survey. The results will help shape new guidelines for DFS packaging.
We are thrilled to announce a new collaboration with the National Wooden Pallet and Container Association (NWPCA) and the Pallet Foundation on an exciting project aimed at updating the pallet creep model used in the Pallet Design System (PDS). This initiative is set to bring significant advancements to the way pallets are designed and evaluated, ensuring even-greater efficiency and reliability in the industry. The primary focus of this collaboration is to conduct 30-day long creep tests on commonly used pallets made from different wood species. The comprehensive data collected will be instrumental in refining and enhancing the current prediction models used in PDS.
As global supply networks expand, the sustainability of packaging used in transportation has become a significant concern. The most common type of unit load in the U.S. is based on a wooden pallet that supports various configurations of stacked corrugated boxes; 80% of goods are distributed in this format. End-of-life (EOL) scenarios for packaging have become an area of growing interest. Recent research into unit load cost optimization reveals that enhancing the stiffness of a pallet’s top deck can significantly improve the strength of stacked boxes. This method allows for a reduction in the grade of corrugated board required, leading to more cost-effective unit loads.
As the summer closes, CPULD would like to take a moment to express our sincere gratitude for our members’ ongoing support of our Packaging Program. 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; throughout the year, we supported six graduate students pursuing their M.S. and Ph.D. degrees.
Graduate Student Spotlight
Sakib Shadman
Mohmmad Shadman Sakib, originally from Bangladesh, is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Sustainable Biomaterials, focusing on Distribution Packaging, at Virginia Tech. Sakib chose VT for its strong academic reputation in packaging, supply chain, and biomaterials, particularly within the Department of SBIO. After working in Bangladesh’s supply chain industry, he sought more education in order to better contribute to this sector, which led him to Virginia Tech. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the global importance of efficient supply chains, sparking his interest in researching the resilience and optimization of these systems. “I was drawn to Virginia Tech for its academic excellence and the opportunity to work with experts in the field. I had the chance to connect with Dr. Laszlo Horvath, whose research aligns with my interests. Dr. Horvath's work in material behavior, particularly in packaging systems and pallets, inspired me to apply.” he notes.
CPULD News:
last mile delivery
The Center for Packaging and Unit Load Design (CPULD) at Virginia Tech is excited to announce its role as the host for the 32nd International Association of Packaging Research Institutes (IAPRI) Member Conference. This event is scheduled to take place from June 9th-13th, 2025, in the enchanting city of Roanoke, VA. With the overarching theme of "The Future of Packaging is Circular," the conference promises to be an exciting gathering for the global packaging community, dedicated to exploring sustainable and innovative packaging solutions. The 2025 IAPRI Member’s Conference will bring together experts and researchers to explore packaging solutions. This conference will delve into the latest advancements in sustainable packaging practices, emphasizing the critical role of circular economy principles in transforming the industry.
CPULD has fantastic news for VT’s packaging program! NWPCA and the Pallet Foundation have generously donated 121 licenses of the Pallet Design System (PDS) software to our institution. This incredible three-year donation, valued at nearly $200,000, will provide our students with state-of-the-art tools to design and optimize wooden pallets, marking a significant milestone in our program's development and enhancing educational opportunities for our students. PDS is a premier software used by professionals in the pallet industry to create efficient and sustainable pallet designs. With this, our students will have unprecedented access to a tool that is integral to the industry. The hands-on experience with PDS will not only deepen our students understanding of pallet design but also prepare them to tackle real-world challenges in the industry.
We are thrilled to announce that CHEP USA has generously donated their Lansmont Incline Impact Tester to the Virginia Tech Packaging Program! This state-of-the-art equipment will significantly enhance our program by replacing our aging tester and offering greater precision and capability for testing larger and heavier unit loads. This donation marks another milestone in CHEP USA’s ongoing support of our program, reinforcing their commitment to fostering the next generation of packaging professionals. The tester is a cutting-edge piece of equipment widely used in the packaging industry for testing the durability and stability of unit loads. By integrating this into our curriculum, we are providing our students with invaluable hands-on experience that closely mirrors the industry standards they will encounter in their professional careers.
The Center for Packaging and Unit Load Design (CPULD) at Virginia Tech is excited to introduce its new Cold Chain Packaging Lab, a facility dedicated to advancing the technology and science behind the secure transport of temperature-sensitive products. As industries increasingly rely on maintaining specific temperature ranges during transit, this lab stands at the forefront of innovation. Whether the cargo includes perishable foods, life-saving pharmaceuticals, or other temperature-critical goods, the Cold Chain Packaging Lab offers a comprehensive range of services designed to ensure that products remain within their ideal temperature conditions from the point of origin to the final destination. The Cold Chain Packaging Lab addresses supply chain complexities by providing research, consulting, and contract testing services.
CPULD 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 Center for Packaging and Unit Load Design proudly announces the acquisition of state-of-the-art unit load stability equipment, further solidifying its position as a leader in packaging education and research. The Lansmont Trumotion Stability Sled marks a significant expansion of the program's capabilities, providing unique opportunities for research, education, and industry collaboration.
On Friday, November 1st, the CPULD team gathered for an impactful day of team building and personal growth. The afternoon's main session was led by Andras Vissi, a seasoned professional with extensive experience in teaching team-building skills to corporate teams. Andras facilitated a series of personal presentations and interactive exercises that encouraged each of us to share more about our backgrounds and perspectives. Through these activities, we learned more about each other’s unique skills and strengths, which are essential to fostering a collaborative environment. Each exercise had a meaningful lesson behind it, touching on essential workplace skills such as communication, leadership, and the ability to work effectively across diverse personalities and roles.
Last month, PalletOne, a UFP Packaging company, partnered with CPULD at Virginia Tech and White and Company, LLC to successfully hold Wood Pallet Design and Performance, a training event for industry professionals seeking to enhance their expertise in pallet and unit load optimization. Participants came from across the United States, underscoring the widespread need for specialized training that the Center for Packaging and Unit Load Design provides. The course was specifically designed for PalletOne, and this marks the fourth year in a row that they have collaborated with Virginia Tech for their employee training. This longstanding partnership highlights PalletOne’s dedication to providing their teams with top-tier educational opportunities, further establishing VT’s CPULD as a trusted resource in the field of pallet and unit load design.
As a global leader in home furnishings, IKEA is known not only for its affordable home goods and furniture designs but also for its quality standards. One key component of IKEA’s supply chain is corrugated board packaging. From flat-pack boxes to protective shipping materials, corrugated board plays a vital role in ensuring that IKEA’s products arrive safely to millions of homes worldwide. To guarantee the highest quality and sustainability standards, IKEA subjects its packaging materials, particularly corrugated board, to rigorous testing procedures. There are only a select few laboratories authorized to conduct these specialized tests; Virginia Tech's Center for Packaging and Unit Load Design (CPULD) stands as one of only four certified labs in the world, making it a crucial partner in IKEA’s mission for excellence.
At 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.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Contact Our Team:
Quotes for new testing projects, distribution packaging projects, unit load design projects, membership with the center, new research projects.
Ongoing testing operations, lab management, scheduling unit load and pallet lab deliveries, questions about lab management and work schedules.
Primary packaging design and packaging materials testing, scheduling deliveries of primary packaging materials, new research into primary packaging.
Corrugated materials design & testing questions, scheduling deliveries of corrugated materials. IKEA testing scheduling & questions
Eduardo Molina
Any immediate needs, delivery times, locations, and info, invoicing questions, accounts receivable/ accounts payable inquiries.
Angie Riegel
Scheduling meetings with Dr. Horvath, short course & webinar info, center event plans, website & social media questions, marketing.
