ICPF Donations Advance Packaging Education And Research At RIT The International Corrugated Packaging Foundation (ICPF) has approved funding to support two new initiatives with- in the packaging and graphic media science program at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), reinforcing its long-standing commitment to hands-on education, indus- try-aligned curriculum, and innovation in corrugated and sustainable packaging. ICPF has funded the acquisition of advanced corru- gated, paper, and print quality testing equipment for RIT’s Food Packaging and Shelf Life Testing (FPSL) lab, Hammer Family Packaging and Graphic Media Center and instruc- tional laboratories. The investments will enhance labora- tory capabilities, expand research opportunities, foster collaboration with industry partners, and provide students with direct experience using tools commonly found in to- day’s packaging and printing environments. One award will support the purchase of essential cor- rugated and paper testing equipment for the Food Pack- aging and Shelf life (FPSL) Lab, including a manual circular sample cutter needed for precise preparation and evalua- tion of coated paper and corrugated specimens. The lab, housed within RIT’s Department of Packaging and Graph- ic Media Science, focuses on developing innovative and sustainable food packaging solutions, with research areas
spanning barrier performance, corrugated functionality, and bio-based materials derived from agro-waste. Fund- ing will also support professional development for lab per- sonnel, further strengthening the lab’s technical expertise. “These investments allow us to complete a critical piece of our analytical setup and expand our ability to evaluate coating performance in paper and corrugated packaging,” said Sneh Bangar, Assistant Professor in the Department of Packaging and Graphic Media Science (PGMS). “With ICPF’s support, we can continue advancing sustainable packaging research while preparing students for the next generation of industry challenges.” In addition, ICPF approved funding for the acquisi- tion of four state-of-the-art instruments from Beta Screen that will be located at the Hammer Family Packaging and Graphic Media Center to enhance print and packaging quality control instruction within the packaging and graph- ic media science program. New equipment will include a corrugated analyzer, folding carton crease and fold ana- lyzer, braille dot print analyzer, and microdottie-3 CMYK Color Separation USB video microscopes. These tools will fill critical gaps in corrugated testing, converting analysis, tactile accessibility verification, and print inspection. “This funding enables us to elevate how we teach print quality, converting performance, and accessibility in pack- aging. By integrating advanced corrugated analysis, braille verification, microscopic print inspection, and foundation- CONTINUED ON PAGE 14
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February 2, 2025
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