Issue link: http://palletcentral.uberflip.com/i/1536949
10 Pallet C e nt ral • July -Aug u st 2 0 25 INSIDENWPCA NWPCA ANNOUNCEMENTS & UPCOMING EVENTS PDS Shines At Ligna 2025 With Strong Industry Engagement L igna 2025, held from May 26 to May 30 in Hannover, Germany, drew an impressive 78,000 visitors from 156 countries, and 1,433 exhibitors from 49 countries—and the NWPCA and Pallet Design System™ (PDS) team was proud to be part of the global spotlight. At Booth E06, the NWPCA team—Mark Barford; Brad Gething, PhD; and Kristen DeLack, PE—welcomed a steady stream of industry professionals throughout the week. From in-depth discussions on pallet optimization to hands-on demonstrations of the software, interest in PDS was both strong and sustained. Attendees also got an exclusive preview of features from the upcoming Crate Design System (CDS)—a major addition to the PDS suite set to launch later this year, further expanding the platform's engineering capabilities. Live demonstrations of PDS drew significant attention, showing how the software can streamline pallet design, calculate safe load capacities, and optimize material usage through advanced engineering. e real-time insights into design efficiency and structural performance made a lasting impact. For more information about PDS or to request a free trial, visit palletdesignsystem.com. NWPCA Welcomes Brazilian Delega on For Strategic Discussions I n May, NWPCA welcomed a distinguished delegation from Brazil, including representatives from ABIMCI (Brazilian Association for Mechanically Processed Timber) and FIEP (Industries Federation of Paraná State—Brazil). e visit served as a key step in advancing the collaborative efforts outlined in our PDS partnership agreement. Together, we explored ways to support Brazil's growing PDS user base through enhanced training initiatives and coordinated plans for Brazilian pallet companies to participate in upcoming NWPCA events in Mexico and Houston Fall Plant Tours. e delegation also contributed valuable insights during open discussions on trade-related topics, including tariffs and the ongoing Lumber 232 investigation. is in-person engagement reaffirmed our strong international partnership and highlighted the shared commitment to innovation and global collaboration in the wood packaging industry.