Crown Partners with Clemson For Packaging Education Program

“Partnering with Clemson on this initiative is a great opportunity to expose students to the innovation associated with metal packaging and attract students to this dynamic profession,” stated Dan Abramowicz, Crown’s EVP, Technology and Regulatory Affairs.

3/22/2011 --- Crown Holdings, Inc., the world leader in metal packaging technology, has become the first corporate “Partner in Packaging,” a new initiative of the Packaging Science Program at Clemson University. As part of the partnership, Crown will donate a gift of cash for use as unrestricted Program funds, and gifts-in-kind of metal packaging fabrication equipment, faculty travel and regular participation of company personnel in the educational mission of the Packaging Science Program. The value of Crown’s gift is estimated at approximately $400,000 over 5 years.

A commitment to helping students learn about metal packaging is at the heart of the partnership. The laboratory equipment Crown provides will give students hands on experience with can manufacturing, testing, and the production of physical prototypes for research purposes. To further support knowledge transfer, Crown will send key personnel to Clemson every semester to lecture and mentor students on metal packaging innovations. Crown will also support faculty to attend Interpack, the leading international packaging trade show, in Germany in May 2011 and 2014.

“Partnering with Clemson on this initiative is a great opportunity to expose students to the innovation associated with metal packaging and attract students to this dynamic profession,” stated Dan Abramowicz, Crown’s EVP, Technology and Regulatory Affairs. “We’re excited to engage with the high caliber students at Clemson and share our knowledge about the growing global metal packaging industry.”

Mike Dunleavy, Vice President, Corporate Affairs and Public Relations for Crown, added that, “This gift is consistent with Crown’s philanthropic guidelines to provide resources to enhance scientific and engineering education.”

In 1892, Crown founder William Painter invented the “crown cork” or bottle cap and revolutionized the bottling industry by making it more efficient and faster to cap beer and soft drink bottles. Today, using the latest technologies, Crown produces food, beverage, closures, aerosol, and specialty metal packaging that attract consumer attention on shelf with sculpture-like shapes and vivid decorating, along with fulfilling the essential requirements of safety, convenience and sustainability. Crown has operations in 41 countries, over 20,000 employees, and net sales of $8 billion.

The Partners in Packaging program was established to encourage companies to enhance the education and research missions of Clemson’s Packaging Science Program in their specific areas of expertise. Such collaborations bring real-world experience into the classroom and lab and help to support and define teaching objectives. The Partners Program envisions total contributions of cash and in-kind equipment and support totaling $350,000 to $500,000 over a five-year period, customized to the company’s abilities and interests. Companies interested in participating in the program can contact Dr. Bob Kimmel at kimmel@clemson.edu for further information.