Benson to host US packaging students

Michigan State University operates the largest packaging degree course in the world, which reflects all aspects of packaging. Students visiting the UK will come from all four years of the course, and will include a mix of ages from 18 through to 30. The visit to the UK will encompass a wide range of packaging venues and topics, with scheduled trips to include paper/board manufacture, a glass works, plastic forming, packaging machinery, metal box production and more. The students will visit Benson Group's Bardon site as part of their schedule.

The trip is being organized by Keith Barnes, the UK coordinator for this summer school and chairman of the Packaging Society in the UK.

Barnes said: ‘In the world of packaging, cartonboard is still the number one medium in so many markets. Benson Group is one of the best exponents of producing high-quality, printed board in the UK. The supermarket sector – one of the major customer categories at Benson Group – is one of the UK markets that is very different to the US, which all adds up to a very relevant and exciting visit for the students.’

Barnes added: ‘The students gain an awful lot from seeing the UK side of the packaging market.

‘This is the first time that we have had the opportunity to include Benson Group on our UK tour, and I am very much looking forward to it, and to the reaction of our students.’