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Center for Packaging and Unit Load Design

The Center for Packaging and Unit Load Design

CPULD is one of the leading pallet / packaging testing and research facilities in the United States. Using state-of-the-art technology, we research every aspect of the material handling system from primary packaging all the way through unit load design.

The Pallet Lab

the pallet lab

 
Our vision is to be the hub of packaging innovation
where researchers, students, and industry professionals
work together to improve the efficiency of the supply chain.
 

Current CPULD News:

  • Article Item
    lab techs photo
    Highlight Your Company’s Commitment to Quality with CPULD's New Photography Packages , article

    At the Center for Packaging and Unit Load Design, we are excited to offer an exclusive photography package that can now be included with your pallet and packaging testing projects. This new service not only provides visual documentation of the rigorous testing processes your pallet or package undergoes, but it also highlights your partnership with a world-renowned research institution. Imagine the value of having high-quality images of your pallet or package being rigorously tested to international standards by CPULD’s team of experts. These images are more than just snapshots of a process -they serve as visual proof of your dedication to excellence. Every photograph captures the precision and thoroughness of the testing conducted in CPULD labs, and highlights your commitment to meeting safety benchmarks.

  • Article Item
    ikea tests
    IKEA Requires Rigorous Testing Processes for Corrugated Boards: Ensure Quality and Sustainability with CPULD Labs , article

    As a global leader in home furnishings, IKEA is known not only for its affordable home goods and furniture designs but also for its quality standards. One key component of IKEA’s supply chain is corrugated board packaging. From flat-pack boxes to protective shipping materials, corrugated board plays a vital role in ensuring that IKEA’s products arrive safely to millions of homes worldwide. To guarantee the highest quality and sustainability standards, IKEA subjects its packaging materials, particularly corrugated board, to rigorous testing procedures. There are only a select few laboratories authorized to conduct these specialized tests; Virginia Tech's Center for Packaging and Unit Load Design (CPULD) stands as one of only four certified labs in the world, making it a crucial partner in IKEA’s mission for excellence.

  • Article Item
    palletone group
    PalletOne partnered with CPULD at Virginia Tech & White and Company to offer Wood Pallet Design and Performance: A short course to teach industry leaders pallet design skills , article

    Last week, PalletOne, a UFP Packaging company, partnered with CPULD at Virginia Tech and White and Company, LLC to successfully hold Wood Pallet Design and Performance, a training event for industry professionals seeking to enhance their expertise in pallet and unit load optimization. Participants came from across the United States, underscoring the widespread need for specialized training that the Center for Packaging and Unit Load Design provides. The course was specifically designed for PalletOne, and this marks the fourth year in a row that they have collaborated with Virginia Tech for their employee training. This longstanding partnership highlights PalletOne’s dedication to providing their teams with top-tier educational opportunities, further establishing VT’s CPULD as a trusted resource in the field of pallet and unit load design.

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Student Spotlight:

Erin

Erin Wolter

Erin Wolter, Master's Student

The objective of Erin's research is to continue investigating the intensity and types of impacts that forklifts exert on pallets during material handling. The results of this study will be used to update the durability testing procedures used in pallet testing standards in order to better represent current material handling processes found in supply chains.

Member Spotlight:

NWPCA Logo

The National Wooden Pallet and Container Association (NWPCA) is the largest organization of packaging professionals in the world - with more than 670 member companies in 28 countries who manufacture, repair and distribute pallets and wood packaging in unit load solutions, or who supply products and services to the industry.

 

Center Members:

CHEP

CHEP

NWPCA

NWPCA

Monoflo

Monoflo

Litco

Litco

White and Co

White and Co

Neopal

Neopal

UFP

ufpi