MAY 2004

Dimensions Wrap Up – Read All About It In The Upcoming PST Magazine

The next issue of ISTA’s PreShipment Testing magazine will be going out in a few weeks. It will include a complete wrap-up of the highly successful Dimensions.04 Forum held at Walt Disney World last month. Among the highlights:

     • Over 250 attendees heard presentations from 27 speakers on subjects ranging from the future       of transport packaging to specific case studies of packaging challenges and triumphs.

     • Thanks from ISTA and IoPP to the Dimensions sponsors:

     • Dennis Young received the R. David LeButt award
       for outstanding contributions to the continuing
       education and future of packaging. Shown is
       Dennis with the award plaque, Meredith and
       Melinda Young, flanked by Dimensions co-chairs
       Leon Venech and Susan Clarke Williams.

• Mild-mannered packaging
  engineer Kevin Howard of
  Hewlett Packard showed
  his wild and crazy side at
  the Welcome Reception, and won
  a digital camera for being “best luau-attired". 

     
     • 36 organizations presented their products and services at the Exhibitors Reception, with great
       networking in a relaxed environment. And the food was terrific too!

     • Over 40 children and their families attended the
       “Family Thing” event and had a great time with crafts,
        refreshments, and pictures with Mickey. Everyone
        received gifts generously donated by ISTA and
        IoPP member companies.

• Eight new Packaging Laboratory Technicians and six   new Technologists were Certified at the CPLP   Workshop.

    • Thanks to all who filled out the evaluation form, your comments and suggestions are reviewed
      and taken quite seriously. A summary will appear in the PST magazine and be posted on the
      ISTA web site. If you didn’t turn in an evaluation form and would like to do so, Click Here for the
      online version.

For more information on Dimensions.04 and to view a great photo gallery Click Here.

Changes to Project 3A and Procedure 3C
A Test Procedure Workshop was held during Dimensions.04. Changes to Project 3A and Procedure 3C were discussed, and also the issue of how long to accept testing to older versions after revised procedures are released. Changes include corrections to the compression formulas, hazard block dimensions, and various editorial modifications including sample size, identification of package members, and vibration test stroke requirements. Click here for complete details.

It was decided that ISTA will now accept submitted test reports for testing to previous procedure versions for up to one year after a new version is released. After that time limit, all testing must comply with the most current procedure.

New Brochure Available from ISTA

A new printed brochure, useful for prospective members and chocked-full of information for everyone, is now available from ISTA Headquarters. The 10-page brochure presents the Mission and Vision of ISTA, benefits of membership and preshipment testing, membership structure, the Transit Tested program, educational events, knowledge exchange, networking opportunities, and more. Contact ISTA if you’d like copies.

New Directors Join ISTA Board
Larry Anderson, Vice President and Technical Services Manager of TEN-E Packaging Services, Inc. in Ontario California, Ken Neuburg, Packaging Program Director of University of Wisconsin-Stout in Menomonie, Wisconsin and John Siy, Packaging Engineer of Eastman Kodak Company in Rochester, New York have been elected to serve three year terms on the ISTA Board of Directors. We welcome each of them and look forward to Larry, Ken and John’s contributions to our Board of Directors and organization. To learn more about our new directors, click here.

Thank You... Four long-time ISTA Board members are leaving the Board upon reaching the end of their terms. On behalf of the Association and the packaging community, our thanks to (left to right) Steve Pierce of ISTA, Paul Koning of Cisco Systems, Brad Cook of UPS Professional Services and Pat Nolan of DDL, Inc. (missing from photo) for their dedication.

Packaging Faculty Position Open at Virginia Tech

A teaching and research position is open in the Virginia Tech Department of Wood Science and Forest Products. The position also involves cooperative work with the Center for Unit Load Design and the Pallet & Container Research Laboratory. A Ph.D. in packaging science or an allied field is required. Click Here to search for the posting, or e-mail Dr. Marshall White at mswhite@vt.edu.

"Introduction to ISTA" Slide Show
If you are giving a presentation on packaging and would like to include information about ISTA, we can help with your preparation task! A PowerPoint slide show, “Introduction to ISTA” is now available to members. The show is detailed and over 70 slides, but you are free to cut and paste only what you need. It doesn’t use a background template, so you should be able to copy it conveniently into your own presentation. PowerPoint 2002 or later is required for the builds and transitions to work properly. Contact Bill Kipp if you’d like access to this file.

Member Organizations Offer Packaging Seminars
ISTA members frequently present their own packaging-related seminars. Near-future sessions are being offered by Westpak in California and Packaging Technology Center in Texas.

WESTPAK courses include Package Engineering, Design, and Testing; Package Drop Testing; Package Vibration Testing; and Medical Package Testing and Validation. They are given on various dates through the remainder of 2004. Visit the Seminars section of the Westpak web site for more information.

PACKAGING TECHNOLOGY CENTER in Houston is offering two courses on consecutive days, May 25th and May 26th. The first is Basic Packaging and Testing, while the second is Hazmat Package Testing and Certification. You can attend just one session, or receive a discount for attending both. Click Here for the PTC web site, then go to the Seminars/Meetings section.

New ISTA Staff Member – It’s A.J.!

A. J. Gruber, interning from the Michigan State School of Packaging, will be working at ISTA Headquarters full time this summer as a Certification Assistant. He’s not sure what type of packaging work he’d like to do after graduation – we hope his ISTA experience will help him make that decision. Hey, here’s an idea… how about transport packaging?! We’re delighted to have A.J. on board this summer, and promise to keep him very busy.