A dozen packaging students traveled to Las Vegas for the 2015 Pack Expo, where they met with leading packaging companies, learned about the latest developments in the packaging industry, and networked with packaging students from other schools. Pack Expo hosts the largest packaging industry trades show in North America, attracting over 30,000 attendees from around the world, including students from several university programs.

In addition to visiting exhibitor booths and attending education sessions, students participated in some friendly competitions. In the Amazing Packaging Race, students from different schools teamed up to complete a series of tasks, requiring them to visit multiple industry booths and solve problems. Students also took part in the Pack Solution Challenge, in which they worked with an industry mentor prior to the expo to design a packaging line for a specific product and then presented their results to an industry board at the event. Pack Expo arranged for volunteers from industry to give tours of different parts of the expo to students and introduce them to a number of company representatives.

“I would suggest that any student serious about the packaging discipline attend the trade show,” said student attendee Andrew Smith. “Pack Expo is a great way to learn about companies and the industry, network with potential employers, and represent the Virginia Tech packaging program.”

“The expo is a great way for the students to gain connections and to learn about internship opportunities,” said Assistant Professor Laszlo Horvath, who added that the Center for Packaging and Unit Load Design, which he directs, has an on-campus internship program available to freshman and sophomore students, enabling them to gain professional, hands-on experience early in their college experience.

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