MARCH 2004

Dimensions.04 – One Month and Counting!

So, you’ve been planning on attending Dimensions.04 in Florida but just haven’t gotten around to signing up? Deadlines are HERE, so register NOW – you won’t want to miss the Premier International Transport Packaging Educational Event of the Year!

Complete information on the program, schedule, speakers, events, sponsors, exhibits, etc. is available at www.dimensions-info.com, but below are specific items which deserve your immediate attention:

• Room Block
  The ISTA Dimensions room block at Coronado Springs Resort ends Wednesday March 17th. Call
  the hotel directly at 407.939.1020 to make your reservation.

• Dimensions Registration
  Conference registration and payment must be received by April 5. You can register by phone, fax,
  mail, or on-line… Click Here.

• CPLP
  Sign up for the Certified Packaging Laboratory Professional Workshop and get additional benefit
  from your Dimensions trip by becoming CPLP certified. Click Here for complete information.

• Exhibitors
  This year’s Dimensions will set a record for number of exhibitors. The Exhibitor Reception is one of
  the highlights of the Forum, with everyone there for a perfect mixture of great food, good fun, and
  terrific business opportunities. At this point there is still room for 1-3 more exhibit spaces, but act
  now if you’re interested in exhibiting… Click Here.

• Sponsors
  Many thanks to our Dimensions.04 sponsors, please support them. Click Here to see the list, for
  links to their websites, and for information on becoming an event sponsor.

• Welcome Reception Luau
  Be sure to bring your “island attire” for the Dimensions Welcome Reception – a Polynesian Luau
  on the beach! Enjoy great food and drink, a live band, and win a digital camera if you’re named
  “best dressed”. See you there!

Project 4AB “Alpha” Software Released

The preliminary Project 4AB software was released February 27 to all 4AB Founding Sponsors for review and comment. As the "Alpha" designation implies, development is still in its early stages. But the essential software core is working, and the program is able to generate a basic test plan from user inputs. Included are several vibration profiles, rail switching parameters, handling tables, and compression test information and formulas.

Under the 4AB Sponsorship agreement, this first release is only available to Founding Sponsors. Charter Sponsors will be able to participate in the "Beta" phase, and Supporting Sponsors will have access before the final release. Click Here for complete information on Project 4AB and the Sponsors Program. Sponsorships are still available for those wishing to support and participate in this important work.

As work progresses on the "Beta" version, emphasis will shift from software development toward the inclusion of more and better transportation/distribution environment data. Anyone with information for the Data Depot (the primary mechanism for collection and analysis of field data) is encouraged to contact Bill Kipp at bkipp@ista.org or 831-641-0477.

A 4AB status update will be given at Dimensions.04, along with a demonstration of the latest software.

IBM Becomes Latest Project 4AB Sponsor

With the inclusion of IBM, there are now eight Founding 4AB Sponsors and 11 sponsors overall. Depending upon level, sponsors can participate in different stages of the software Alpha and Beta releases, have access to the Data Depot, and receive various promotional and tangible benefits.
Click Here for complete information and a list of all sponsors.

Spreading the Word…
In the last two months, ISTA officers and staff have made presentations at several packaging and related events, helping to raise industry awareness of ISTA.

• ISTA’s Certification Manager Meredith Young spoke to about 75 members of the IoPP Student
  Chapter at Michigan State University’s School of Packaging. She told them about ISTA activities
  and services, and our special membership for packaging students at only $25 per year.

• As reported in the last issue of iNews, ISTA Director Dan Hill of ABF Freight System, ISTA VP of
  Testing & Certification Eric Joneson of Lansmont Corporation, and ISTA Executive Director Ed
  Church recently participated in a panel discussion at a meeting of the National Motor Freight Traffic
  Association. The panel talked about transport packaging and preshipment testing, and many
  NFMTA attendees were introduced to ISTA and what we and our members have to offer.

• In a similar situation, ISTA’s Education Director Bill Kipp was on a Container Panel at the recent
  National Wooden Pallet and Container Association’s Annual Leadership Conference. NWPCA
  Container Committee members often don’t consider laboratory testing to support their designs, and
  the existence of ISTA testing protocols, certifications, and 3rd-party labs was of great interest.

• Ed Church and Bill Kipp of ISTA, along with Dale Root of Lansmont Corporation, made a
  presentation of Project 4AB to a recent meeting of the Michigan State University Consortium for
  Distribution Packaging (MSU is a Project 4AB Founding Sponsor). Project background and details
  were explained, and Dale gave a well-received demonstration of the software.

If you’re involved with a packaging program or event and would like an ISTA speaker, please contact headquarters at 517-333-3437. Within schedules and resources, ISTA will be available for mutually beneficial presentations.

2004 Ballot for ISTA Board of Directors
The ISTA Nominating Committee has announced 7 candidates for election to the Board of Directors. Each ISTA member company’s Delegate (or Alternate) is entitled to vote. The ballot closes March 19th.
There are seven candidates for 3-year board terms expiring in 2007. Four of these are presently incumbents:
   • Bill Noonan of L.A.B. Equipment, currently ISTA Executive VP
   • Joan Pierce of The Coca-Cola Company, currently ISTA VP-Finance
   • Jill Geurts of Microsoft Corporation, currently an ISTA Director
   • Paul Russell of Hewlett Packard Company, currently an ISTA Director.

Three are three new nominees, each from a different member perspective:
   • Larry Anderson of Ten-E Packaging Services (testing laboratory)
   • Ken Neuburg of the University of Wisconsin-Stout (education)
   • John Siy of Eastman Kodak (shipper)

Members and Delegates may access the on-line ballot by clicking here. There are only a few days left – vote now!

Procedure 7D Corrections
Several corrections have been made to the test times for the 24-, 48-, and 72-hour profiles in ISTA Procedure 7D. On page 5, the times listed under the Total Time Hours column are correct, however the Cycle Period Hours had an error in each of the three profiles.

A corrected version of Procedure 7D is now on the ISTA website and may be downloaded by members. See the following article for instructions on how to get this and other documents.

On-Line Access to ISTA Procedures and Projects
When you go to the ISTA Tests page of the ISTA website, clicking on a colored square takes you to only the “Overview” and “Equipment Required” sections of the indicated document. Members may view a complete copy, but you must log in first.

Login to the Members Only section, click on Procedure Search, then search for the desired Procedure or Project (i.e. “3A” or “7D”). This will bring up a .pdf link, click the link to view.

Non-members can order documents by visiting the ISTA E-Market.

Virginia Tech Offers “Unit Load Design” Short Course
This popular course will be held April 28-30 on the Virginia Tech campus in Blacksburg, VA.

Attendees will learn proven methods to:
   • Lower Unitization Costs
   • Reduce product damage
   • Identify opportunities in warehouse audits
   • Increase material handling rates
   • Understand the perspective of packaging engineers, pallet suppliers, and equipment designers.
   • Implement systems-based optimization procedures that will improve customer service and
     increase your competitiveness.

Click Here for complete information.