MSU Recognizes EskoArtwork Packaging Donations

MIAMISBURG, Ohio—EskoArtwork, in acknowledgement of its continued support and donations to Michigan State University’s School of Packaging (SoP), has received recognition into The Frank S. Kedzie Society, one of the university’s most prestigious donor recognition groups. Named for the eighth president of MSU, the Kedzie Society is given to individuals, corporations, or foundations that bestow a significant donation to the school.

During the summer of 2011, EskoArtwork donated 30 seats of ArtiosCAD, Visualizer, and Studio. A long-time supporter of MSU, this most recent gift of state-of-the-art package development and design software complements an earlier donation of ArtiosCAD software to accompany a Kongsberg digital finishing table the school owned.

EskoArtwork was publicly recognized for its donation during an MSU Consumer Packaged (CPG) Goods Packaging Design Seminar, held on October 13. Dr. Frank Fear, Sr. Associate Dean, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, which houses the School of Packaging, and Dr. Doug Estry, Associate Provost, presented a cut crystal memento to Susie Stitzel, EskoArtwork Solution Manager. Stitzel also took part in the day’s seminar program featuring experts from the CPG industry.

“EskoArtwork is honored to receive this award, which celebrates our commitment to both Michigan State University as well as our commitment to education within the packaging industry,” says Stitzel. “We see this as a win-win for all parties involved. MSU students benefit from using the most advanced packaging design and production software available, industry benefits by having tomorrow’s workforce skilled in using the leading and up-to-date technology on the market, and EskoArtwork benefits from having future industry personnel familiar with the assets of our software.”

“As a leader in packaging education, The School of Packaging at MSU strives to provide undergraduate and graduate education and research to serve students, employers, the packaging discipline, and the community as a whole,” says Dennis Young, Specialist, School of Packaging. “The EskoArtwork gift is a significant contribution to these efforts. The software is now part of three courses, and is used by students for projects in other courses as well. The integrated system is also being used in several research projects to push the limits of our understanding and knowledge about packaging. The School sees this as a continuing and expanding application area supporting innovative and responsible packaging development.”

Examples of how EskoArtwork software and equipment are being used include:

• In Packaging Decision Systems, second and third-year students use EskoArtwork software to design and solve problems relating to production of packaging systems.
• In Packaging with Paper and Paperboard, second and third year level students use ArtiosCAD to create a sample package, which is cut, with digital technology, on a Kongsberg table.
• In Package Development Technology, EskoArtwork software and equipment form the foundation of this new offering, which focuses on development of consumer packaging using current technology tools. Using ArtiosCAD and Studio, students will learn how to integrate package structure, graphics, and performance.

“The gift software is central to an expanding emphasis on Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) package design, as well as supporting the School of Packaging’s focus on transportation packaging and sustainability,” says Young. “This semester (fall 2011) we have used this capability in a joint collaboration project between a class of packaging students and a class of Studio Design students, demonstrating the cooperation between structural and graphics design to achieve planned objectives.”

“EskoArtwork is committed to furthering education,” adds Stitzel. “In North America, there are more than 50 schools and universities where EskoArtwork software and hardware is installed. Our latest investment will help highlight the opportunities and challenges within the packaging arena, as well as demonstrate the importance of design and production in the packaging process.”