PMMI Foundation Expands Student Workforce Initiatives in 2025 In 2025, the PMMI Foundation, the charitable arm of PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technol- ogies, expanded its reach through scholarships, Skills Fund matching grants, student travel assistance, and in- dustry-sponsored events, introducing thousands of young people to careers in packaging, processing, automation, and manufacturing. The Foundation supported over 70 programs in North America through the PMMI U Skills Fund for the Future Workforce, resulting in over $600,000 in matching funds and a total investment of $1.2 million across the industry to strengthen packaging education and training. These programs benefited more than 17,000 students, creating meaningful engagement opportunities and fueling long- term talent development for the industry. “Every one of these initiatives is about opening doors, helping students discover the career paths available in packaging and processing, and giving them real-world ac- cess to our industry,” says Kate Torrence, Director of Work- force Development at PMMI. “We’re proud of the momen- tum we’ve built and deeply grateful to the partners and sponsors who make this work possible.” In 2025, the PMMI Foundation awarded more than $168,000 in academic scholarships to students pursuing degrees in packaging, processing, engineering, automa- tion, and related fields at colleges and universities across North America. The scholarships recognize outstanding emerging leaders and help develop the next generation of innovators for the industry. In 2025, the Foundation helped make PACK EXPO ac- cessible to students by supporting more than 1,000 stu- dent attendees across PACK EXPO Southeast and PACK EXPO Las Vegas, providing over $75,000 in funding to help student groups travel to the shows and explore pack- aging innovation firsthand. The Foundation also continued its investment in sum- mer workforce development experiences through 23 co-branded summer camps, impacting more than 500 stu- dents in North America and providing $50,000 in support to fuel hands-on manufacturing exploration. The Foundation also continued its support of FIRST programs, sponsoring 36 FIRST Robotics (FRC) teams and 10 FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) teams to attend the FIRST Championships, reinforcing its commitment to STEM, au- tomation, and the engineering pathways that connect di- rectly to packaging and processing careers. “This work is about much more than programs—it’s about the future of our industry,” says Jim Pittas, President and CEO of PMMI. “We’re proud to be helping students find their place in packaging and processing, and we’re committed to expanding this impact even further in the year ahead.” For more information, visit pmmifoundation.org .
Board Converting NEWS INTERNET DIRECTORY
OHIO BLOW PIPE/ADVANCED AIRSYSTEMS www.obpairsystems.com For 85 years the Ohio Blow Pipe company and its whol- ly owned subsidiary, Advanced Airsystems, have provided the corrugated and folding carton industries with systems and products to process scrap. We engineer, fabricate, in- stall, service, provide system audits, and offer a wide range of scrap systems, dust collection systems and products to include cyclones, under roof AIR-SCREEN™ systems, pit belt systems, CLEANAIR dust collectors, Mist-Clone™ dust control systems for vacuum feeds, material handling fans, ductwork, switch valves, airveyors, balers, and shredders. OMP www.omp.com OMP helps companies facing complex planning challenges to excel, grow and thrive by offering the best digitized sup- ply chain planning solution on the market. Its Unison Plan- ning concept has a unique approach. It handles all supply chain planning challenges in a unified way, synchronizing all planning stages, horizons, functions and roles. Hundreds of customers run OMP’s cloud-based solution to generate more value by making informed decisions. OMP invests one out of every three dollars earned into innovation.
PAPER AND DUST PROS, INC. www.paperanddustpros.com
We custom design, install and service air conveyed scrap and dust collection systems. Our unique APS® is smaller, lighter, and more reliable than current cyclones. Contact us to learn how the APS® System can enhance your operation.
PROFERO SYSTEMS, INC. www.ProferoSystems.com
Profero Systems the leader in double facer heating and traction section conversions and performance enhancing products. Featuring products from Contact Bars and Com- pensating Rolls to New Glue Machines and Double Facers. GF PUHL www.gfpuhl.com GF PUHL designs, manufactures and installs air conveyed scrap & dust collection systems for the packaging and cor- rugated industries. With 42 years of experience, USA and In- ternational. We offer below or above roof systems featuring cyclones OR screen separators with real time pressure bal- ancing for optimal dust control. High efficiency cyclones for sheet transfer exhaust systems eliminate water consump- tion and deliver dust directly to compactor or briquetter for low maintenance, long term sustainability and reliability.
QUEST7, INC. www.Quest7.us
Quest7, Inc. is focused on being a leading manufacturer and distributor of critical parts and materials required in the cor- rugated box industry. Our commitment of “Bringing the Best to You,” reflects the level of quality and customer response in what we do every day.
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January 26, 2026
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