The Total Package: ITA Helps Packaging Machinery Reflect Excellence by Design

They say you can’t judge a book by its cover. Well, that’s not the case when it comes to packaged foods and other goods – in general, the packaging reflects the quality of the product inside. Unique, fun packaging is often the key to sales—anyone who’s bought a Toblerone candy bar can’t help but admire its triangular shape. Reputable package designers charge a pretty penny for their services, sometimes tens of thousands of dollars for a single concept. 

However, a package’s design must be executed with excellence to be effective. The quality of the packaging machinery is just as important as the package design itself. Package manufacturers must be able to count on the machines they buy to adhere to the highest standards. This is where the Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Institute (PMMI) plays an important role. PMMI sets standards that make sure packaging machines are safe and produce high-quality output. This is highly important when competing in the global packaging machinery market, which one study estimates is currently $43.5 billion yearly and growing.  

It’s one thing to set standards, but another to make them known and adopted. To help, ITA’s Market Development Cooperator Program (MDCP) awards PMMI the funds to participate in and host standards events. MDCP also enabled PMMI to develop an introductory course on standards, which helps machinery exporters meet global requirements. The course is free to PMMI members and is also integrated into a master’s program course at the University of Alabama Birmingham.

Adjunct Professor Carla Silver lauds the course, stating:

“PMMI’s Introduction to Standards Development course is cutting edge in providing the fundamentals of standards development, roles and responsibilities of the different standards development organizations and the impact standards have not only on the individual but the world.” That’s the way to support excellence not only at home but abroad! 

Each year, our MDCP team holds a competition. If selected, your organization could receive up to $300K to pursue multiyear export projects that remove trade barriers and support U.S. jobs! Learn more about the Market Development Cooperator Program and whether you may be eligible.