November 11, 2008

CONTACT:  ICPF

            rflaherty@icpfbox.org

 GERBER INNOVATIONS PLEDGES $250,000.00

TO THE INTERNATIONAL CORRUGATED PACKAGING FOUNDATION

November, 11 2008

Alexandria, VA . . . The International Corrugated Packaging Foundation (ICPF) officially announced today that Gerber Innovations has committed a pledge of time, assistance and a quarter of a million dollars in support of ICPF initiatives.  

In announcing his support for ICPF, Steven Gore, President of Gerber Innovations, stated, “I first became fully aware of the level of time and commitment industry leaders have made to the work of the Foundation while attending ICPF's annual holiday weekend event last December in New York.  That special opportunity to personally socialize with industry leaders who are so committed to the Foundation spurred me to closely evaluate the work and accomplishments of ICPF.  We believe in the mission of ICPF and the work it does in preparing and recruiting the next generation of corrugated packaging and display professionals, a mission also very critical to the future of the industry's suppliers”.

Gerber Innovations is North America's full-line manufacturer of automated cutting hardware for the design, die making and short-run production segments of the packaging industry. The corporation has more than 3,000 machines in service worldwide today.  Gerber Innovations takes pride in its experience, resources and know-how to meet all sample making, die making and short-run production cutting needs for corrugated containers, folding cartons and point-of-purchase displays.

Over the years ICPF has worked with two table manufacturers.  In 2008, Gerber Innovations' CAD tables were selected by ICPF to help advance corrugated curriculum at several colleges and universities.  “The ICPF equipment donation to Virginia Tech has helped elevate our new packaging program to a level well beyond what we would have been able to accomplish during our first years building the program,” stated Ralph Rupert, Director, Center for Unit Load Design at VA Tech.  “The Data Technology cutting table is a valuable teaching and recruiting tool, attracting prospective students to the exciting possibilities within the corrugated industry.  Data Tech's refurbishment efforts surpassed our expectations - from stripping the metal bare, installing all new air lines, solenoids, cutting heads, and servo motors, to repainting the table in the Virginia Tech colors of maroon and orange!  The man hours dedicated to the onsite installation and training further shows the level of dedication Data Tech has to ICPF, the corrugated industry and education.  The table has worked flawlessly and we are grateful to both ICPF and Data Technology for their support of our packaging program and students.”

 "We are very pleased by the commitment Gerber Innovations, ICPF's newest PaceSetter Partner, has made to ICPF.  It's investment at the Guarantor level enables ICPF to expand its voice and future work in attracting the most qualified students to the corrugated industry" stated Richard M. Flaherty, ICPF President.  "This donation serves as another example of the special spirit many suppliers have in supporting the corrugated packaging and display industry, and in stepping up with their assistance to ensure its bright future". 

Co?sponsored by the Association of Independent Corrugated Converters and the Fibre Box Association, ICPF's mission is to generate a stream of increasingly qualified students to enter the corrugated industry, now and into the future. ICPF is dedicated to the continued creation and building of partnerships within the education community, the granting of equipment and other resources to advance curriculum, the expansion of student internships within the industry, and the promotion of corrugated packaging career opportunities for packaging, business management, accounting, engineering, marketing, graphic design, architecture / structural design and tech graduates.

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International Corrugated Packaging Foundation - 113 S. West Street - Alexandria - VA  22314

Telephone:  (703) 549-8580 - Fax: (703) 549-8670 - Email: info@icpfbox.org