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40 41 items, such as risk assessment. Another is training for individuals who train operators of our equip- ment.” PMMI also offers educational opportunities to students in two-year and four-year college pro- grams, by awarding scholarships to attend PACK EXPO and learn about the industry. In addition, PMMI U, the education section of the Association, has partnered with 51 institutions in the United States and Canada that offer packaging and pro- cessing curriculum. PMMI U has also partnered with the Mid Atlantic Mechatronic Advisory Coun- cil and several packaging and technical schools to develop a series of Certificate Programs focused on Mechatronics. Recently, in a follow-up communication, Busi- ness View Magazine asked Izquierdo some specific questions about the actual technologies employed in the packaging industry. Here are those ques- tions and his responses: BVM: What would you say are some of the most significant changes in technology to have impact- ed the packaging and processing industry in the past 5 years? Izquierdo: “The most significant change in the packaging and processing industry from a technol- ogy standpoint is the move from an emphasis on machine speed to flexibility and fast changeover. For decades it seemed every evolution in equip- ment was aimed at more products getting out in a shorter amount of time. Now, as consumer pref- erences have changed, machines need to be able to quickly change over to accommodate different products on the same production line. In the past, it was necessary to be quick at packaging a lot of one product; now, due to the explosion of SKUs, it needs to be quick at changing over to package a variety of different products in the production line.” BVM: Are there any new ground breaking tech- nologies that have come out that are impacting line expansion or plant automation in the indus- try? Izquierdo: “One notable technology that is im- pacting the industry is the combining of robotics and vision systems. Initially robotics were brought inline to increase speed of production. Now, with vision attached to automated systems, the ma- chines can identify a number of different products on the conveyor belt effectively. For example, initially robotics could rapidly package cookies in a container. Now with vision attached, the robot can be programmed to see and package an assort- ment of cookies in one container.” BVM: How do you predict technology will con- tinue to impact your industry? Izquierdo: “Ultimately packaging and processing are now consumer driven industries, whereas they once followed the direction of consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies. Today’s consumers are fickle and their buying habits change from month to month, or year to year. Because of this, auto- mation will always be key to ensuring machinery evolves and keeps up with what customers want.” THE ASSOCIATION FOR PACKAGING AND PROCESSING TECHNOLOGIES PMMI also offers educational opportunities to students in two-year and four-year college pro- grams, by awarding scholarships to attend PACK EXPO and learn about the industry. In addition, PMMI U, the education section of the Association, has partnered with 51 institutions in the United States and Canada that offer packaging and processing curriculum.