Issue link: http://palletcentral.uberflip.com/i/612297
38 PalletCentral • November-December 2015 palletcentral.com The National Wooden Pallet & Container Association (NWPCA) became the first "Gold-Level" Member of Virginia Tech's Center for Packaging and Unit Load Design (CPULD). NWPCA President/CEO Brent McClendon and PDS Director, John McLeod, travelled to Virginia Tech to celebrate the occasion with Dr. Bob Smith, Department Head and Associate Dean of Virginia Tech's College of Natural Resources and Environment (CNRE) and Dr. Laszlo Horvath, CPULD Director. It is well known the positive history and strength of the relationship between NWPCA and Virginia Tech. The connection between the two storied institutions just became stronger as NWPCA finalized and celebrated its membership in the Center for Packaging and Unit Load Design (CPULD). NWPCA will also directly support four undergraduate student scholarships. The students will spend their fall semester conducting testing on the interaction between corrugated boxes and wooden pallets. The scholarships go beyond the present needs of the wood packaging industry, and will train and educate students on the opportunities in the wooden pallet and container industry. The mission of Virginia Tech's CPULD is threefold: 1. To develop information and technologies which optimize the relationship between the design and performance of packaging systems and maximize the efficiency of packaging supply chain. 2. To assist pallet, packaging, and material handling equipment manufacturers, their customers and suppliers, focusing on improving material handling efficiency. 3. To educate students for system based packaging design by providing real life hands on experience to them. As a "Gold-Level" sponsor, NWPCA participates on the CPULD Executive Board, has one-on-one consultation with the staff of CPULD, and has a graduate fellowship under the name of NWPCA. NWPCA is proud to be a sponsor of CPULD and promoting the interests of the wooden pallet and container industry while advancing the mission of Virginia Tech's Center for Packaging and Unit Load Design. PC NWPCA and Virginia Tech — Building a Perfect Industry Partnership Dr. Laszlo Horvath, CPULD Director; Dr. Bob Smith, Department Head and Associate Dean of Virginia Tech's College of Natural Resources and Environment (CNRE); PDS Director John McLeod, Dr. Paul Winistorfer, Dean of Virginia Tech's CNRE; and NWPCA's President and CEO Brent McClendon.