UPM Raflatac to mentor students

Label materials supplier UPM Raflatac has signed on as an industry mentor for students of the Australian Institute of Packaging's (AIP) education program.

In its new role, the company will open the doors of its Melbourne factory to students undertaking the AIP's level 3 Certificate in Packaging course in order to give them exposure to the labelling industry.

It will also assist with two elective subjects needed to complete the course – the use of printing and decoration for packaging and the use of labelling and coding for packaging materials.

“Students visiting the Melbourne factory will be able to see how we manufacture self-adhesive labelstock,” UPM Raflatac's environment and sustainability specialist, Carol Lawrence, said.

“They will also get the chance to visit converters and see labels being printed and die cut ready for application onto packaging.”

The level 3 certificate course is designed to meet the training needs of a wide variety of people involved in packaging, from new entrants to the industry, to design, production, management, sales and marketing or purchasing personnel who want to deepen their understanding of the field.

AIP national president, Ralph Moyle, said UPM Raflatac's mentoring would help broaden the packaging experience for students.

“Many of these students have a good knowledge of one, or maybe two areas of packaging, and we really appreciate UPM Raflatac offering assistance in the area of self-adhesive labels to the students who are not familiar with this area of packaging,” Moyle said.

“The AIP will also be seeking other mentors from other areas of packaging to also assist this program.”

The AIP has also announced that representatives of Mondelez International (formerly Kraft Foods) and the CSIRO will speak at its at AIP October technical dinner in Melbourne.

The technical dinner, on 2 October, will feature Mondelez's director for Asia-Pacific premium chocolate and dairy research and development, Nicolas Georges, speaking on the topic: “What if the Silicon Valley of food manufacturing was in Australia?”.

The CSIRO's polymer research program leader, Philip Casey, will discuss how companies can maintain a competitive edge in a resource-stretched economy.

Bookings for the dinner can be made on-line via www.aipack.com.au or by emailing info@aipack.com.au