Crown aims to inspire university students through packaging partnership
The Philadelphia-based company has become the first corporate “Partner in Packaging,” a new initiative of the Packaging Science Program at Clemson University in SC, US.
As part of the partnership, Crown will donate approximately $400,000 to Clemson over five years.
“This new, active partnership with Crown will provide a new example for industry cooperation and support of our program,” said Bob Kimmel, director of industry relations for Clemson’s Packaging Science program.
Hands on experience
Crown said it will supply the university with metal packaging fabrication equipment to give students hands-on experience with can manufacturing, testing and the production of physical prototypes for research purposes.
The company will also support faculty travel to events such as Interpack, the international packaging trade show taking place in Germany this May.
In addition to financial support, Crown plans to send “key personnel” to Clemson every semester to lecture and mentor students on “metal packaging innovations”.
The Partners in Packaging program was established to encourage companies to aid the education and research missions of Clemson’s Packaging Science Program in their specific areas of expertise.
“Clemson’s Packaging Science program works closely with the packaging industry to meet companies’ needs for talented employees, innovative research, and testing and development services that contribute to economic development,” said Kimmel.
Partners are expected to donate cash and in-kind equipment of a total of approximately $350,000 to $500,000 over a five-year period, said the university. Each participating partner can customize a program to its own abilities and interests.
