Crate Design and Performance
Crate Design, Short Course
Who should attend:
The course could be beneficial for professionals that are responsible to specify, design, purchase or evaluate wooden crates.
- Crate designers
- Packaging engineers
- DOD suppliers
- Procurement professionals
- Consultants
Topics covered in this short course:
- Effect of wood characteristics on crate design
- Principles of mechanics of wooden structures including truss theory and buckling theory
- Open and sheeted crate styles and characteristics
- Fundamental design principles used to size crate components
- Principles of cost effective crate design
- Fastener characteristics and selection of the right fasteners
- How to design crates for the military
crates
crates
Instructors:
Dr. Laszlo Horvath
Associate Professor, Virginia Tech
Director, Center for Packaging and Unit Load Design
In 2010, Dr. Horvath received his Ph.D. in Forest Biomaterials from NC State. He is one of the few packaging professionals who have received the "ISTA CPLP – Professional Level" certification. He is the chair of the ASTM D1185 working group, a U.S. delegate of TC 51, and a voting member of ANSI MH1 and MH 10 committees.
Dan Hindman
Dr. Daniel Hindman
Associate Professor of Wood Engineering
Virginia Tech
Daniel Hindman serves as an associate professor in the Sustainable Biomaterials department where his research program focuses on the efficient use of low-carbon, biological-based materials for construction. Dr. Hindman's research philosophy revolves around three principles related to wood materials: structure, safety, and sustainability. Dr. Hindman is a member of several professional organizations including the American Society of Civil Engineers, the Forest Products Society, and the National Frame Building Association. Dr. Hindman holds a Professional Engineering license in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Cost:
There are three types of tickets for this short course, detailed below. All attendees will participate in 2.5 days of lectures, laboratory tours, and coursework. They will be served breakfast, be given lunch breaks, and have multiple daily snack breaks. All participants will receive a certificate of completion within two weeks of successfully finishing the course:
- General Attendee (Public): $1,500.00 (late registration, $1,600.00)
- Active-Duty Service Member OR DLA Employee (25% discount): $1,125.00 (late registration, $1,225.00)
- CPULD Member (50% discount): $750.00 (late registration, $800.00)
The regular rates are in effect until one month prior to the course. Register prior to September 14th, 2025 in order to ensure the best pricing!
Time & Location:
This course has been RESCHEDULED and is now being held Tues.-Thurs. October 14th-16th, 2025. It will consist of 2.5 days of lectures, assignments, and laboratory tours.
Attendees are expected to get themselves to the correct starting location each morning.
Parking passes will be provided for any sessions which are held in the Brooks Center on VT campus.
Most activities will be held at the Courtyard by Marriott in Blacksburg VA.
Courtyard by Marriott
105 South Park Drive
Blacksburg, VA 24060
Some activities will be held at the Brooks Forest Products Center, near the Corporate Research Center, in Blacksburg, VA.
Brooks Forest Products Center
Virginia Tech, MC 0503
1650 Research Center Drive
Blacksburg, VA 24061
Contacts:
Course Content Information:
Laszlo Horvath, Director, Center for Packaging and Unit Load Design
Phone: (540) 231-7673
Email: lhorvat@vt.edu
General CPULD Information:
Angie Riegel, Secretary
Phone: (540) 231-7107
Email: ariegel@vt.edu
Registration Questions:
Blaine Vella, Conference and Meeting Manager
Virginia Tech Outreach Program Development
Email: blainev@vt.edu
CPE Enrollment Coordinator, Virginia Tech Outreach Program Development
Or Registration Questions via phone: (540) 231-4084
Hotels:
The Center for Packaging and Unit Load Design works with the Courtyard by Marriott to make sure there are rooms available at a discounted rate for anyone attending this short course.
Most of this course will be taught in the meeting room of the Courtyard by Marriott, so staying at this hotel will make your visit to Blacksburg very convenient.
Click here to register for a hotel room at the Courtyard by Marriott for the discounted rate of $123.00 per night as an attendee of this short course!
The Courtyard by Marriott is located less than two miles from the Brooks Center building, where our short courses are held, and it offers many amenities including an indoor pool, exercise room, business area with free WIFI, and a delicious cafe on the premises. They also offer a shuttle service to and from the hotel that short course attendees have found helpful in the past. Please let them know upon check-in if you will need this shuttle service.
Please contact John Hale, john.hale@marriott.com, or Marriott directly at 540-552-5222, or register online using the direct link, for your hotel room at the Courtyard by Marriott. If you call, be sure to mention the short course you're in Blacksburg to attend in order to receive the discounted rate on your hotel room!
Other Local Hotels:
The Inn at VT
Holiday Inn Express and Suites
Hilton Garden Inn
Hilton Garden Inn Blacksburg
Transportation:
The closest airport is the Roanoke Regional Airport (ROA), which is approximately 35 miles from Blacksburg, VA.
There are multiple car rental agencies as well as cab services located at the airport to transport visitors to Blackburg, VA.
The other nearby airports used by short course attendees are:
- Dulles International Airport, IAD (approx. 5 driving hours from Blacksburg, VA).
- Charlotte Douglas International Airport, CLT (approx. 3 driving hours from Blacksburg, VA).