How The PACK Challenge Builds Tomorrow’s Packaging Workforce

The PACK Challenge offers high school students hands-on experience in packaging, fostering industry interest and providing CPGs with opportunities to support future talent.

Teams compete with their packaging machinery at PACK EXPO International after a semester and a half of building.
Teams compete with their packaging machinery at PACK EXPO International after a semester and a half of building.
PMMI

The halls of PACK EXPO International in Chicago reliably bustle with machine suppliers and CPGs connecting every two years. But a keen observer might notice a different kind of event unfolding inside the show; a high-stakes packaging competition among high school students, bridging the classroom and the manufacturing floor – The PACK Challenge.

Now in its third season, the competition challenges students to tackle real-world engineering problems.

“This year, we’re asking them to palletize,” explains Kate Torrence, director of workforce development at PMMI. “There are three different size blocks that we’ve already provided the files for, so they can 3D print them. They will take them from a single line conveyor, stop them, and put them on a pallet. We’ll judge them based on stability, how many blocks can go on a pallet, and how many layers they can get.”

The challenge doesn’t stop at engineering, though; It also includes a sales and marketing component.

“They get to say why they’re better than competitors. We want them to get some business acumen along with the engineering side,” explains Torrence.

For the first time, The PACK Challenge is open to students nationwide. It starts with a virtual qualifier, where students develop a five-minute video presentation to showcase their product design and plan. Six finalists move forward from the qualifier, at which point PMMI provides a kit with all the components needed to start building.

“They’ll have a semester and a half to build what they came up with, and then those six finalists will ship their machines to PACK EXPO International, where we’ll have an operator training competition, a sales and marketing competition, and an FAT competition,” says Torrence.

Proteins Innovations Report
Discover cutting-edge protein packaging innovations from PACK EXPO International 2024! Our editorial team spotlights hygienic equipment and materials designed for the demanding protein sector. From IP66-rated washdown systems and all-servo chub packaging to advanced auto-bagging technology and compostable trays replacing EPS, this report reveals how manufacturers are addressing clean, safe design while improving efficiency.
Take Me There
Proteins Innovations Report
Food safety excellence on a budget: The smart approach
When material costs rise and margins shrink, efficient cleaning becomes critical. Learn cost-effective sanitation strategies that enhance food safety while reducing resource consumption.
Read More
Food safety excellence on a budget: The smart approach