CPULD News, Fall/Winter 2023
CPULD Holiday Pic
Happy Holidays from CPULD!
As the 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!
Please read our stories below to learn about everything that happened in 2023 and everything planned for 2024 at CPULD!
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
YuYang Huang
Yu Yang explained that “the concept of packaging is not well-known in Costa Rica, this motivated me to explore more about this field, and therefore, to pursue a degree in the CPULD program. After graduating from their program and being able to work in the industry, I realized that CPULD was a life-changing experience. The program that VT offers is complete and prepares the students with the necessary problem-solving skillsets. Moreover, the program is focused on designing efficient and effective packaging, always taking into account distribution through the supply chain and the sustainability of the environment."
RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS
last mile delivery
The objective of this investigation was to map the process that packaged goods go through, as well as any potential hazards that may occur, from the moment it is picked up from the shelf to the moment it arrives at a consumer’s doorstep. Looking at the existing studies into last-mile grocery delivery services, a gap was identified in research regarding the potential effects of delivery on consumer-packaged goods.
saewhan kim
Researchers collected information about the level of shocks and vibration experienced by packages transported throughout the South Korean parcel delivery system, particularly during the last-mile delivery portion of distribution. The collected data allowed the team to use drop tests and vibration profiles that simulate the hazards actually experienced during South Korean parcel delivery. This data was then compared to internationally used packaging testing standards in order to help develop a proposed testing plan for Korean e-commerce package testing.
ac unit
A international company that manufactures many types of appliances recently sponsored a research project for CPULD undergraduate students. The focus of this project was on air conditioners, specifically a portable Toshiba Air Conditioning unit. Currently, its interior packaging consists of two EPS inserts molded to the top and bottom of the unit. The sponsor's interest was in switching to a more sustainable packaging solution. They tasked this research group with exploring sustainable options to find out if they could be used with similar cost and performance levels.
drop testing
A company that specializes in producing reliable beverage packaging recently sponsored a research project for CPULD undergraduate students. The sponsor is one of the leading companies in the packaging and distribution of beverages. Recently, it came to their attention that their packaging is not holding up well to the distribution process; their customers are reporting leaks and other damages upon product arrival. So the sponsor tasked this research group with finding a more durable packaging system for their products.
GRAD STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
lucia
Lucia told us that one of the reasons she chose to join CPULD is because of “Virginia Tech's commitment to innovation, state-of-the-art technology, and its extensive research in sustainable biomaterials made it the ideal choice for pursuing advanced studies and a career focused on the whole packaging system. CPULD offered a unique opportunity to work in a highly specialized and influential research center in the field of packaging and unit load design.”
CPULD News Items
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.
