Issue link: http://palletcentral.uberflip.com/i/1040159
8 PalletCentral • September-October 2018 palletcentral.com INSIDE NWPCA N W P C A A N N O U N C E M E N T S A N D U P C O M I N G E V E N T S NWPCA Expands Global Reach at Interpal I nterpal 2018, held in Minneapolis from September 19-20, was a huge success. Over 620 individuals with representatives from 25 countries, spanning 6 continents, made Interpal 2018 and Fall Plant Tours a truly global networking event. Co-hosted by NWPCA and CWCPA, the success of Interpal was made possible through the support of sponsors, exhibitors, plant tour hosts, and a dedicated educational content committee: John Dye, Scott Pallets/Scott Timber Ltd.; Vic Ulgiati, Weston Forest; Nick Wenner, Pallet Service Corporation; Brent McClendon, NWPCA; Scott Geffros, CWPCA; and Mimi Sullivan, NWPCA. The educational line-up was top-notch. A packed general session room welcomed keynote speaker, Todd Snelgrove, author and subject matter expert, who presented "Selling Value in Competitive Times." Additional panel sessions addressed softwood and hardwood lumber markets, solid wood packaging and trade facilitation highlighting the effectiveness of ISPM 15, and a conversation around healthy markets and healthy forests. The exhibit hall featured innovations in the wood packaging industry; robotics was on display in the exhibit hall and on the plant tours. A special thanks to Berry Pallets, Pallet Service Corporation/Grove Wholesale Lumber, Viking Engineering and Development, Northland Pallet, J&B Pallet, and Villaume Industries, for hosting attendees at their facilities. Additionally, thank you to Rotochopper for sponsoring lunch during the plant tours. Presentations, pictures and videos are compiled. Members and attendees of Interpal may visit PalletCentral.com to access the slide presentations; photos and videos are posted on Facebook. Looking Ahead, ALC 2019 Plans Staff is already working on the next meeting, 2019 Annual Leadership Conference, March 13- 15 in San Diego. With a theme of "From NWPCA Releases PDS Version 5.6©; User Interface in Multiple Languages, New Design Options, Species and Analyses The Pallet Design System™ (PDS) team launched the latest update to the software program to coincide with Interpal. The PDS v.5.6© release provides users with a new feature for forklift support analysis for entering and lifting from the pallet's side. This feature is beneficial for analyzing extra-long stringer pallets. The update also includes the user interface in multiple languages: English, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish and Swedish. An additional 20 new international wood species were also included in this release. All of these enhancements reinforce NWPCA's commitment to solidify PDS as the international language for unit load and pallet design. During Interpal, the PDS team conducted demonstrations of the enhancements in their exhibit booth. PDS Structural Engineer Kristen DeLack also presented on the latest features in a bonus educational session on September 20th.