Issue link: http://palletcentral.uberflip.com/i/1545393
36 Pallet C e nt ral • July -Aug u st 2 0 26 PDS UPDATE BY MICHELLE TORELLI POWERING INDUSTRY GROWTH THROUGH PARTNERSHIP BRIDGING EDUCATION AND INDUSTRY W oodpack Global's growing presence in Latin America is opening new opportunities to connect education, industry, and innovation, most notably through the adoption of the Pallet Design System TM (PDS) at the Universidad de Monterrey (UDEM). In partnership with UDEM and with support from Woodpack Global, PDS is now embedded in academic programs shaping a new generation of professionals prepared to meet evolving supply chain demands. e initiative is led by Paola Beltrán Madrid; Brad Gething, PhD; and Luisa López González, in partnership with UDEM, where this work was originally championed by Cristina Guzmán Siller, PhD, and is now carried forward by Gabriela Arvide as the new lead of the packaging department. Together, they reflect a shared commitment to strengthen industry knowledge across the region. Expanding Access To Advanced Tools UDEM first encountered PDS in its Product and Distribution course, where students were asked to identify tools for pallet design. PDS quickly stood out, giving them the ability to design pallet configurations tailored to specific product and distribution requirements. e program has since expanded beyond Industrial Design into disciplines such as International Business, broadening participation and encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration. "e students using PDS at the University of Monterrey today are the packaging professionals who will be designing tomorrow's supply chain," says Brad Gething, PhD, Executive Director of the Pallet Foundation and Vice President of Science & Technology at Woodpack Global. "Giving them that foundation early is how we raise the bar on pallet safety and performance for years to come." e program's global outlook has amplified its impact. Students trained in PDS develop skills that travel well beyond regional supply chains, preparing them for careers in international business, packaging design, and logistics around the world. Rethinking Pallet Design e effect on student learning has been substantial. Instead of treating pallets as a commodity, students now approach them as engineered structures that interact with packaging, logistics, and transportation equipment. e shift drives deeper analysis and reinforces the need to design for performance, cost efficiency, and product integrity at every stage of the supply chain. Applying Knowledge To Real- World Challenges In practice, students use PDS to tackle real distribution challenges, building pallet solutions that meet end-user expectations under complex conditions. e work requires them to weigh product specifications, loading configurations, and transportation factors, and to consider environmental impact by estimating carbon footprint within the design itself. at built-in sustainability lens mirrors the priorities now shaping the global industry. 153 Licenses, 153 Future Professionals At the heart of the UDEM partnership is a deliberate investment in access. Woodpack Global has fully funded 153 student PDS licenses, removing the cost barrier that often keeps advanced design software out of university classrooms.