APRIL 2004

We’re Going to Disney World!

Dimensions.04 in Florida is now just a few days away, and ISTA staff will be gone from April 10th through the 19th, back on Tuesday the 20th. The office will be open, but only on a limited basis. If you need to contact us regarding a routine matter, it’s probably best to wait until we get back. If there’s an urgent need, however, please leave a message at 517-333-3437 and we’ll return your call. Complete Dimensions information can be found at www.dimensions-info.com.

SGS U.S. Testing Becomes Project 4AB Founding Sponsor

SGS U.S. Testing Company Inc., headquartered in Fairfield, NJ, is the latest organization to become a Founding Sponsor of ISTA Project 4AB. There are now a total of 13 sponsors – Click Here for a complete list and links to all the sponsors’ web sites, along with information and background on the Project.

4AB is an Enhanced Simulation web-based program, allowing users to conveniently generate on-line test plans for packaged-product laboratory testing. Founding sponsors are presently participating in the program’s “Alpha” release, while Charter and Supporting sponsors will have access to later releases. All sponsors receive promotional and tangible benefits according to level.

Faculty Position at R.I.T.
Rochester Institute of Technology is inviting applicants for an Assistant or Associate Professor in the Packaging Science Program. The tenure-track position will be available in the fall of 2004.

Reporting directly to the Chair of the Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering Technology and Packaging Science Department (MMET/PS) of the College of Applied Science and Technology (CAST), this multidimensional faculty member will teach a wide variety of undergraduate and graduate courses dealing with concepts in packaging. Areas of expertise should include some of the following: consumer and institutional packaging, packaging materials, packaging primary containers, distribution, regulations, operations management. The primary assignments will be in teaching, but it is also anticipated that the faculty member will participate in applied research.

Minimum qualifications include an MS in packaging or equivalent degree. Teaching experience, a wide range of industrial experience, or an earned doctorate will enhance a candidate’s chance of selection.

Applicants should electronically submit a statement of interest and qualifications, a resumé/vitae, and the names and contact information of four references to Professor Karen Proctor, Packaging Science Chair, at klpipk@rit.edu. Please write “Assistant Professor” in the subject heading.

Pira International Acquired by Ciba Specialty Chemicals
                                   

Pira International is now a part of the Ciba® Expert Services business unit. Ann Stirling-Roberts, Pira Director and ISTA’s VP-Europe says “This is great news for us, as it enables us to grow our business on an international basis”.

Expert Services is a newly formed business unit which provides color, environmental, regulatory, safety, testing and educational services, as well as technical know-how to support specific business areas. Pira’s skills are entirely complementary to Ciba’s, and the combined organization represents a global service platform that has the expertise and experience to support and serve the entire value chain for customers and clients in the packaging, paper, printing and publishing industries. Click Here for the Ciba Expert Services website; Click Here for the Pira International web site.

Spreading the Word, Part II
Last month’s iNews carried an article about Association officers and staff participating in various events, raising industry awareness of ISTA. This has continued, and even more people have become involved.

• Eric Joneson of Lansmont, ISTA’s VP of Testing and Certification, spoke to an audience of about
  50 at IBM’s Packaging Technical Exchange in Raleigh, NC. One of the items discussed was ISTA
  Project 4AB (IBM is a 4AB Founding Sponsor).

• ISTA Executive VP Bill Noonan of L.A.B. Equipment met with people from Tokyo Packaging
  Laboratory during a recent trip to Japan. TPL is a strong ISTA member and supporter, and a
  Supporting Sponsor of Project 4AB. They discussed the testing environment in Japan, and how
  ISTA might enhance our position there.

• Hal Miller, ISTA Executive VP-International, along with ISTA member Dave Huntley of Lansmont,
  were presenters at the Healthpack 2004 conference. Dave’s presentation included ISTA 4AB, and
  Hal discussed both 3A and 4AB during the round-table session.

• ISTA member Jim Breault of Lansmont attended the ASA/ANSI working group meeting mentioned
  in December’s iNews. Attendees were primarily from the Navy and their associated contractors.
  The goal of this group is to develop a new standard “Shock Test Requirements for Equipment in a
  Rugged Shock Environment”. Jim proposed ISTA as an association that could help bring a
  commercial perspective, and suggested a relationship be established between the two
  organizations.

Study of Field Data Recorder Settings
Dan Goodwin of RIT and Paul Singh of MSU are conducting a study of instrumentation settings used for the collection of distribution environment data. Results will be presented at the June IAPRI meeting (International Association of Packaging Research Institutes) in Stockholm.

No standardized methods for data collection currently exist that will allow direct comparison of the various test data. This lack of standardization may lead to inconsistencies within public or shared databases. The study will assess the settings recommended by equipment manufacturers and others, and will be used to establish a baseline instrumentation profile. Anyone with information relating to this study or field data recording in general is encouraged to contact Dan Goodwin at dlgipk@rit.edu.