ICPF recently completed a donation through ICPF’s University Awards program to the University of Wisconsin-Stout’s (UW-Stout) Packaging Program, equipping the packaging lab with two cobots made by Universal Robots.
The donation advances UW-Stout’s commitment to utilize state-of-the-art tools, advanced technology, and lab instruments to enhance students’ hands-on learning experience and prepare them for future careers in the packaging industry.
The cobots will be used to pick up and load primary packaging into secondary or tertiary packaging, corrugated boxes, as well as for palletizing, loading cases to pallets, and de-palletizing. Packaging students will get a deeper insight into corrugated packaging than before, as UW-Stout’s packaging lab now enables students to master all aspects of developing, producing, testing, and shipping corrugated packaging.
ICPF President, Caitlin Salaverria said, “ICPF was delighted to provide this donation to UW-Stout. Equipment automation, machine learning and artificial intelligence are evolving and being used in fresh ways to revolutionize operations in the corrugated packaging industry. Through this donation, students will graduate with new knowledge and skills that can impact our industry.”
“We are thrilled to receive these state-of-the-art cobots from ICPF, which will greatly enhance our Packaging Machinery class and other higher-level classes,” said Min Degruson, Program Director in Packaging at UW-Stout. “This donation ensures our students gain hands-on experience with cutting-edge packaging automation technology, preparing them to excel in the dynamic and evolving packaging industry.”
“As an industry sponsored foundation, ICPF has worked for the last 40 years to advance student and faculty knowledge of the industry and to promote development of a highly trained workforce. We’ve provided over $13 million in donations of equipment and grants to universities and look forward to expanding our efforts over the coming years,” said Salaverria.