Spotlight

Golden Ratio Robots

Golden Ratio Robotics is a dedicated FTC team representing three Illinois schools, focused on innovation, STEM advocacy, and community outreach. With nine years of experience and a legacy of success, including competing at the World’s FTC Championship in Houston, the team showcases their expertise through events like the PACK EXPO in Chicago. There, they demonstrated their competition robots and interactive models, engaging attendees and professionals alike. Supported by the PMMI Foundation, the team also contributes to the community by using funds to provide STEM kits for a holiday toy drive, inspiring the next generation of innovators.

Powering Future Innovators: A Partnership Between BluePrint Automation and LC Bird Robohawks, backed by the PMMI U Skills Fund

As the packaging and robotics industries evolve, fosteringthe next generation of talent is not just a strategy for success—it's anecessity. At the forefront of this commitment is BluePrint Automation (BPA), aPMMI member and leader in the field of packaging automation.

Dyco Inc. and PMMI U Skills Fund Power the Future of Manufacturing at Battle in the Burg: Students Build Robots, Skills, and Careers

On Saturday, August 24, 2024, the Battle in the Burg robot combat tournament brought together 38 teams from six states at the Bloomsburg Children's Museum

SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference: A Celebration of Talent and Opportunity

The 2024 SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference(NLSC) was the culmination of hard work and dedication from students nationwide. PMMI, the Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, attended the Wisconsin and Illinois state championships and had a significant presence at the national level. Their involvement underscored their commitment to fostering future talent in the packaging industry.

Teamwork and advanced technology are shaping the future at Virginia Tech

PMMI and PAC Machinery have joined forces to enhance the Packaging System and Designs Program at Virginia Tech, a PMMI Education Partner known for its active involvement in events like PACK EXPO tradeshows, marking an exciting phase of hands-on learning and innovation in the packaging field.

KEB America and PMMI Foundation Partner to Donate Automation Demos and Matching Funds to Hennepin Technical College

KEB America and the PMMI Foundation have joined forces to donate automation demos to Hennepin Technical College. This partnership aims to equip students with valuable hands-on experience in cutting-edge automation technology, strengthening their preparedness for future challenges in the industry.

Fueling Robotics Excellence at Saint George's School: Strengthening Resources and Capabilities

The retirements of long-time and founding coaches, coupled with the departure of experienced students, presented a significant challenge for the robotics team at Saint George's School. To support the students, foster their robotics skills, and ensure continued progress and success in competitions, additional assistance and resources were urgently needed.

Hoosier Feeding Company supports Whitewater Career Center’s Welding Technology Program

The Whitewater Career Center near Hoosier Feeder Company provides high school students with real-life experiences, skills and knowledge to be successful in the students’ future careers. When they were looking to upgrade their welding equipment, Hoosier Feeder stepped in and provided updated materials and machinery.

Pearson Packaging Systems Supports Saint George’s School Robotics Program

Pearson Packaging Systems was looking for ways to support local educational institutions – like Saint George’s – while continuing to bring visibility to careers within packaging and processing.

JLS Donates Equipment to Penn State York College…and Hires New Talent

Like many packaging and processing companies, JLS was having a difficult time finding various levels of skilled labor while simultaneously hiring at a high rate. In addition, JLS was seeking interns with the hope they would be good candidates for full-time jobs.

Mobile Packaging Machinery Training and Service System

Purdue University Northwest (PNW) needed to create a combination service and training system for people working on modern packaging equipment. This system uses a rolling toolbox for portability and a selection of mechanical, electrical and measuring equipment suited to packaging equipment. The mobile nature of this system allows it to be used on campus or at off-campus sites.

Pearson Packaging Systems Engages Students Through a Manufacturing Academy

Pearson Packaging Systems, based in Spokane, Washington, was dealing with trades labor shortages in their community. Through community partners, including Spokane Area Workforce Council and Greater Spokane Incorporated, Pearson Packaging Systems created a three-week manufacturing academy to highlight careers in manufacturing.

Case Study – R.A Jones Prepares Local High School Students for Success in Engineering

R.A Jones was experiencing a labor shortage as a result of record growth. To make matters worse, multiple companies in their local Cincinnati area also increased their presence creating a very competitive labor market for R.A Jones. The technical schools R.A Jones previously relied on to recruit and develop skilled labor became inundated with many companies seeking new talent. Additionally, demand for unskilled labor was experiencing record highs.

PMMI Skills Fund: LinMot Benefits from Engineering Interns’ Skills

LinMot found it was challenging to take care of day-to-day critical tasks and one-time projects, such as tradeshow demos, sales rep demos or periodic YouTube training videos. These tasks required dedicated workers but were not enough to justify a position – nor were they needed on a daily or weekly basis.

ITW Hartness Ignites Students’ Passion in Packaging Manufacturing

ITW Hartness wanted to partner with a local high school robotics team to show students the industry first-hand – with the hope it would lead them to consider a career in packaging manufacturing.

PMMI Skills Fund: Marchant Schmidt, Inc. Provides Non-Technical Training to Improve Employee/Customer Relations

After hearing complaints from external customers about their employees’ professional communication skills, Marchant Schmidt, Inc. needed to find appropriate non-technical training. Marchant Schmidt, Inc. identified PMMI’s Fundamentals of Field Service course as the best option for employee training.

PMMI Skills Fund: Delta ModTech Reaches New Students by Sponsoring a Robotics Team

The tightening job market, combined with the Delta ModTech’s continuous growth, posed a challenge in finding skilled workers. The PMMI U Skills Fund allowed Delta ModTech to sponsor several robotics teams at the FIRST® Robotics Competition in Minnesota this past March.

PMMI Skills Fund: ADCO Manufacturing Partners with a Leading Sales Effectiveness Training Organization

ADCO Manufacturing lacked a well-defined process for how salespeople could conduct strategic analyses of complex opportunities. The company often found multiple decision makers requiring different approaches to address their needs and concerns.

PMMI Skills Fund: Putting Creativity to the Test with SICK LiDAR Technology

Supported by the PMMI U Skills Fund, SICK, Inc. developed the TiM $10K Challenge, where students develop an industry-changing product using LiDAR technology and can win $10,000 and a trip to Germany. The challenge was created for the 2018-2019 school year to support innovation and student achievement in automation and technology.

PMMI Skills Fund: For Your Future Workforce

Morrison Container Handling Solutions (MCHS) saw the advantage of having workers with mechatronics skills to grow their business and meet their customers growing demands. The increasing sophistication of their custom machinery required trained controls engineers with an understanding of mechanical equipment. These workers were difficult to find.

PMMI Foundation Spotlight