iNewsDecember2004

Packaging Services Expo 2005 – Call for Presenters

As mentioned in last month’s iNews, ISTA is producing the “Testing, Distribution and Quality Control” conference track at next year’s Packaging Services Expo. If you’re interested in being a presenter at this exciting new show, contact us NOW!

The event, an exhibit and technical conference showcasing service providers in contract packaging, package design, package testing, and related areas, will be held May 10-12 in Chicago. Click Here for complete information on the Expo, registration, and exhibit space reservation. We must finalize our speaker roster by early January, so contact Bill Kipp at ISTA immediately if you’d like to be on the program.

The tentative outline is:
    • Performance Testing of Packaged-Products: Bringing Distribution Hazards into the Laboratory
    • Benefits and Examples of Testing-Supported Transport Package Design
    • Testing Approaches and Hierarchy of Packaging Laboratory Tests
    • Case Studies: Test Development and Design of Modified/New Packaging to Address
      Distribution Issues
    • Package Testing Standards Compared: Similarities, Differences, Rationale
    • Selecting and Using Packaging Laboratory Tests
    • Custom Packaged-Product Tests for Special Situations and Objectives:
      Approaches and Examples
    • Packaging Lab Test Data and Results – Beyond Pass/Fail
    • How to Select a Contract Package Testing Laboratory
    • Tips and Techniques for Successfully Working with a Packaging Test Lab

Presentations within this outline are strongly preferred, but we are open to other suggestions. To become a speaker, or for questions or more details, contact Bill Kipp, ISTA’s Director of Education.

Smurfit-Stone Becomes a Supporting Sponsor of ISTA Project 4AB

Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation has become the latest ISTA member organization to sponsor Project 4AB. The company is a leading manufacturer of paperboard and paper-based packaging, with nearly 260 manufacturing facilities throughout North America.

Project 4AB is an Enhanced Simulation web-based program, currently under development, which will allow users to conveniently generate on-line test plans for packaged-product laboratory testing. Click Here for complete information (recently updated) about 4AB, the sponsorship program, and a list of sponsors with links to their websites. In addition to supporting the project and the transport packaging community, all sponsors receive promotional and tangible benefits according to level.

Smurfit-Stone’s support brings the total of Project sponsors to 15. Thanks to all for their endorsement of this important effort.

Congratulations to Dave Leinberger, Senior Packaging Engineer with Xerox Corporation in Wilsonville, OR, for achieving the highest level in ISTA’s Certified Packaging Laboratory Professional program.

CPLP Professional certification is based on a résumé of industry activities and achievements, with applicants scored in a number of different categories. These include education, employment, industry participation and support, honors/awards, patents, etc. In addition, emphasis is placed on contributions to the field through speaking, writing, and teaching.

Dave Leinberger has both a B.S. and an M.S. in Packaging from Michigan State University. His Master’s thesis was “Measuring Dynamic Compression in Packages During Distribution”. While at MSU, he taught the lab portion of the “Dynamics of Packaging” course for a year under Dr. Paul Singh.

He’s been employed by Xerox Office Group (previously the Tektronix printer division) for 12 years, the last four as a Senior Packaging Engineer. In both 2003 and 2004 he won a Xerox “Earth Award” (an international competition within Xerox) for eliminating ½ million pounds of solid waste and resultant cost savings.

Dave has been an IoPP member since 1990 (where he holds a CPP certification), and participated in both the M.A.D.E. project and the Item 180 effort. He’s also a member of ASTM Committee D10 on Packaging and the Western Packaging Association. He’s attended Transpacks, ISTA Cons, and Dimensions conferences going back to 1994, and has spoken at WorldPak 2002, Dimensions.03, the 2004 NIPHLE Spring Conference, and the Western Packaging Association. His “Integrated Product and Package Development Process” is a must-read for anyone involved in the protective packaging of high-tech electronics. And if you’re interested in a fascinating technical conversation, ask Dave about his “Sputnik” project!

Again, congratulations to Dave Leinberger, and to all the ISTA Certified Packaging Laboratory Professionals. Click Here for complete information about the CPLP program and a list of all recipients.

You want to go to Dimensions.05… you need to go to Dimensions.05… so why not register NOW and save $100? The “Early Bird” registration deadline is January 7.

Visit www.dimensions-info.com and click on Register. Be sure to also sign up for the networking and special events:
    • Welcome Reception (no charge for Dimensions attendees, adult guests for extra fee)
    • About Dimensions, ISTA & IoPP (optional, no charge session Tuesday afternoon)
    • Exhibitor Reception (Thursday evening, registered attendees free, adult guest tickets available
      for extra fee)
    • It’s a Family Thing (no cost family event, the kids have a great time!)
    • Volleyball Tournament (no charge for attendees, Wednesday afternoon, get a T-shirt!)
    • CPLP Workshop (Monday-Tuesday, extra fee)
    • Golf (Tuesday morning, extra fee to benefit the ISTA Education Foundation)

Click Here to read the special events details.

You also need to make your own room reservations at Coronado Springs Resort by calling 407-939-1020. Remember to mention Dimensions to take advantage of the special conference rate.

A final reminder: Dimensions sponsorships are still available. Get recognition for your organization at the premier packaging event of the year! Click Here for information, or contact Lisa Sabala at ISTA Headquarters, 517-333-3437.

More ISTA Survey Data

In the November issue of iNews we reported some basic results from our recent membership survey – here are a few more tidbits! A complete and detailed report of the survey will be in the upcoming PreShipment Testing newsletter, which will be mailed next week.

People hear about ISTA many different ways. The survey told us that:
    • 23% found us through a laboratory referral
    • 18% were referred by another organization
    • 6% did a website search
    • 7% found us through Pack Expo or a magazine ad
    • And a majority, 46% of the respondents, heard about us from other sources – usually another
      member or by word-of-mouth from fellow professionals.

This is good information, and will help us to better market the ISTA program within different industries and communication mediums.

Another interesting bit of data we got out of the survey dealt with the question of why members initially joined ISTA. We asked respondents to give us all the reasons they had joined, and the top answers were:
    • The Laboratory Certification Program
    • The ability to keep updated on ISTA Procedures
    • Customer requirements
    • Damage issues
    • Our Networking and Publications.

Using this information, we’ll be able to better focus our marketing efforts on the areas that catch a prospective member’s attention.

We were encouraged to see that many of the respondents have been in the packaging industry for quite some time. 40% of people responding to the question have been in the field for over 16 years. Another 41% have been employed in packaging for 6-15 years. A strong showing of people have a packaging-related Bachelor’s degree (27%), with another 29% having a non-packaging related Bachelor’s degree. It’s good to know that many of our members are both educated and experienced in the field. These are the people we look to for assistance in getting the ISTA word out there!

Be sure to check out the 4th Quarter issue of our newsletter, PreShipment Testing, for further details and steps we will be taking in the future to improve ISTA!

New 2005 Resource Book Out Soon

ISTA’s 2005 Resource Book, the definitive reference for transport packaging, tests, testing laboratories, and all things ISTA, will be mailed to Members in January. Non-members will be able to purchase a copy for $175.

The Resource Book includes a comprehensive introduction to ISTA and our functions; information on the organization, officers, directors, and staff; membership programs and benefits; a complete listing of all ISTA-Certified labs; an explanation and description of the CPLP program; the “Guidelines for Selecting and Using ISTA Procedures and Projects”; all ISTA testing protocols; and more. A change for 2005 is that the Membership Directory will be removed and placed on the ISTA website in searchable form. This has the multiple advantages of streamlining the book, making the Directory easier to use, and keeping it up-to-date throughout the year.

Share Your Success Story

Tell us how ISTA’s Transit Tested Program helped your company. We're looking for positive experiences that our member companies have had using the ISTA program, for use in future marketing and membership development activities.

   Examples might be:
    • Did you have excessive damage, or damage claims, that were resolved by testing and
      certifying your packaged-products?
    • Did you receive favorable treatment from a carrier or insurance company because of your
      packaged-product certification?
    • Have you noticed increased customer satisfaction because of your Transit Tested Program
      activities?
    • Has your business been given a boost because of your ISTA affiliation or certification?

Your organization and specific situation don't necessarily need to be identified, but we’d like to know about your experience as an inspiration to others. Send an e-mail to Meredith Young at ISTA Headquarters, and share your success with us!