The Culturetopia Effect

ASSOCIATION NEWS

Sean Riley Senior News Director

New Member Fall Class of 2022

→ PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, continued its membership growth at its Annual Meeting (Sept. 12-14; Oak Brook, Illinois), adding 29 new member companies this fall, bringing membership to 981 total member companies.

“PMMI’s membership growth reflects our continued hard work and commitment to supporting the packaging and processing industry and our membership,” says Andrew Dougherty, vice president, member services, PMMI. “We are focused on the heart of our mission, to provide members the resources they need to succeed in a global marketplace. We do that by helping them to stay ahead of industry challenges and emerging technologies, and, most importantly, connecting them to customers – and each other.”

PMMI’s new members are: GENERAL

Advent Design Corp., Bristol, Pennsylvania AES Packaging Solutions, Inc., Port Coquitlam, British Colombia AGR International, Inc., Butler, Pennsylvania American Mechanical and Manufacturing, Inc., Rancho Cucamonga, California BESSEN Corp., Brooklyn, New York Pacteon Corporation, Brewerton, New York Quickdraft, Inc., Canton, Ohio TechniBlend, Waukesha, Wisconsin Vinco Automation, Alexandria, Minnesota

ASSOCIATE

HEUFT USA, Inc., Downers Grove, Illinois

KORSCH America Inc., South Easton, Michigan Matcon Americas, Delran, New Jersey PACRAFT, Shoreham, Michigan

AFFILIATED SUPPLIER

COPA-DATA, East Windsor, New Jersey Kiewit Industrial Group Inc., Lenexa, Kansas SLIPNOT, Detroit, Michigan Tekscape, New York, New York The Austin Company, Cleveland, Ohio

COMPONENT SUPPLIER

Burkert Fluid Control Systems, Huntersville, North Carolina Fenner Precision Polymers, Manheim, Pennsylvania GIMATIC srl, Roncadelle, Italy Smart Vision Lights, North Shores, Michigan

MATERIALS SUPPLIER

Cheer Pack N.A., W Bridgewater, Massachusetts Craemer US Corporation, Palm Harbor, Florida Georgia-Pacific Corrugated, Norcross, Georgia Iljin Gratec USA, Inc., Santa Fe Springs, California Mold-Rite Packaging, Lake Forest, Illinois Teinnovations LLC, Warrenville, Illinois TekniPlex Healthcare, Wayne, Pennsylvania

Silent Auction Raises $67,000+ for Packaging & Processing Education

PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, raised over $67,000 during its second annual Silent Auction to benefit the PMMI Foundation and support the future of the packaging and processing industry. Donations are used to fund student scholarships and education programs.

“PMMI received an overwhelmingly positive response of donations from all across our industry to support the PMMI Foundation’s mission of advancing the packaging and processing workforce,” says Jim Pittas, president and CEO, PMMI. “Our sincerest gratitude to all who took the time to participate in this event by donating items, money, and bidding on items. These gifts will help ensure the future of our industry.”

The Silent Auction was held in conjunction with the 2022 PMMI Annual Meeting (Sept. 12-14; Chicago) and raised money through bids and donations both online and in person, with a live component held during the event. Items available for bid included vacation getaways to Montana, New Orleans, Hilton Head, St. Petersburg, and Colorado; autographed guitars from the American rock band Styx that were signed during PACK EXPO International’s PACK Gives BACK event (October 23-26; Chicago); sports tickets; bourbon gift sets; and more.

Several companies made significant cash donations during the event:

Gold Donor

Pacteon Group

Pro Mach Silver Donor

Garvey

PAC Machinery

Paxiom Bronze Donor

Delkor The Foundation is always thankful for cash donations, and this year, the Silent Auction drew substantial generosity from members through donations and purchased items during the event.

PMMI and the Foundation would like to thank the following member companies and individuals for generous gift donations: • Barry Wehmiller • Bob and Lisa Williams • Festo Corporation • Harpack–ULMA • Jordan Hamrick • Matt Jones • Mark Ruberg • Pearson Packaging • Polypack • RA Jones • Spee Dee Packaging • Starview Packaging • Wipotec

Because of these members, The PMMI Foundation exceeded its fundraising financial goal this year. “We would like to thank those who participated in the silent auction,” says Kate Fiorianti, director of workforce development, PMMI. “We had bidding wars right up to the end of the auction on several items. There were so many members who participated that we cannot list them all, but we want to give a special thank you to several members who successfully and generously, bid on multiple big-ticket items.”

Those members include: • Andrew Barrieau, Felins USA • Emmanuel and Montserrat Cerf, Polypack • Kevin Mauger, NCC Automated Systems • Greg Schombert, Hoosier Feeder Company • Nancy and Nick Wilson, Morrison Container Handling Solutions

Donations to the PMMI Foundation can be made anytime at pmmi.org/ foundation.

Connect, Share, Inspire: Voices of Women in Packaging and Processing

PMMI’s Packaging & Processing Women’s Leadership Network (PPWLN) and the OpX Leadership Network teamed up to deliver an easy-to-access digital resource that outlines five core skills to help women succeed in a manufacturing career: business acumen, negotiation, communication, emotional intelligence, and networking. It includes insight from subject-matter experts, as well as perspectives from women leaders reflecting on their personal experiences. Also featured is an excerpt from the Institute of Packaging Professionals (IoPP) 2022 Salary Survey results, highlighting salary trends for women. The document serves as an important resource for organizations and individuals alike. To download the work product, visit: oemgo.to/ voicesofwomeninpackaging

Are You Taking Full Advantage of Your PMMI ProSource Profile?

Take full advantage of your free listings in PMMI ProSource, our online directory, by using Features!

Just like your favorite online consumer sites, PMMI ProSource uses check box Features–such as levels of automation, material type, machine type, and package type—to get specific about your packaging and processing products, making your company more visible in search results and driving more web traffic to your PMMI ProSource profile.

It’s easy to update your Features on PMMI ProSource. Have your company’s PMMI ProSource contact log into ProSource Portal, where they can find Feature boxes under each approved category. A four-minute how-to video for PMMI members also includes a section on how to fill out Features. Find the how-to video here: oemgo.to/ prosourcehowtovideo

Questions? Just email us at prosource@pmmi.org.

PACK EXPO Internship Reimbursement

The PMMI Foundation continues to promote awareness of the packaging and processing industry to the future workforce. There is no better way to showcase the industry to potential leaders than by attending PACK EXPO trade shows. The PMMI Foundation has developed the PACK EXPO Internship Reimbursement Program to assist members in bringing interns to PACK EXPO.

Through this new program, members can apply for reimbursement for travel costs, up to $750, associated with interns attending a PACK EXPO trade show.

For any questions, contact Kate Fiorianti, director workforce development, at 571.266.4406 or kate@ pmmi.org.

Business Intelligence Reports

Labor shortages are driving consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies to adopt automated solutions,