The largest Amazing Packaging Race ever took over the PACK EXPO International and Pharma EXPO 2014 show floor Nov. 5. PMMI, owner and producer of the PACK EXPO portfolio of tradeshows, hosted the fifth annual event.
“This was by far our biggest turnout ever, with 140 students participating,” said Maria Ferrante, vice president of Education & Workforce Development, PMMI. “Working as a team and under time constraints gives them just a taste of what they can look forward to once they graduate and enter the packaging industry.”
Five students from Team Five outlasted 27 other teams to win new iPads, courtesy of contest sponsor ASCO Numatics. Team Five — Amed Kanan from Hennepin Tech; Hannah Newman of the University of Wisconsin-Stout; Aaron Ertel from Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) and Jenna Hines and George Klingbail each from Michigan State — won with a mixture of strategy and skill, perfecting a balance of completing tasks and reaching the most exhibitors.
In second place was Team Four: Colin Mitchell from Clemson University; Benjamin Kuester of Alexandria Tech; James Spencer from Hennepin Tech; Kyler Shearer of Michigan State University and Vignesh Iyer, RIT.
The 22 participating companies were spread out among the more than 1.2 million net square feet of exhibit space: 3M; Arrowhead Systems, Inc.; Bosch Packaging Technology, Inc.; Daubert Cromwell; Dorner Mfg. Corp; Filamatic; Fox IV Technologies; Garvey Corporation; KHS USA; Langguth America; MASSMAN Automation Designs, LLC; Matrox Imaging; Millwood, Inc.; Morrison Container Handling Solutions; Murrelektronik Inc.; Packsize, LLC; Pearson Packaging Systems; Plexpack Corp.; Sealed Air Corporation; Shurtape Technologies LLC; Source One; Starview Packaging Machinery.
We often say PACK EXPO is the world’s largest classroom for packaging and processing technologies, and thanks to the participating exhibitors — especially ASCO Numatics, which sponsored the contest — we were able to provide the students hands-on experience like none they’ll get anywhere else,” Ferrante said.
Ten PMMI Partner Schools were on board for the contest: Alexandria Tech, CalPoly, Clemson University, Hennepin Tech, Michigan State University, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rutgers, San Jose State, UW- Stout, Virginia Tech.
