Crown Holdings Inc. partners with Clemson University for packaging education program

Published: March 22, 2011

CLEMSON — Crown Holdings Inc. 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. 

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 also will support faculty to attend Interpack, the leading international packaging trade show in Germany in May 2011 and 2014.

“Clemson’s packaging science program works closely with the packaging industry to meet companies’ needs for talented employees, innovative research, and testing and development services that contribute to economic development,” said Bob Kimmel, director of industry relations for the program. “This new, active partnership with Crown will provide a new example for industry cooperation and support of our 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,” said Dan Abramowicz, Crown’s executive vice president, 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.”

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 expects cash and in-kind equipment and support estimated by the partner to total $350,000 to $500,000 over a five-year period. Each participating Partner customizes a program to its own abilities and interests.

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 the shelf with sculpture-like shapes and vivid decorating, as well as fulfilling the essential requirements of safety, convenience and sustainability.

Crown, headquartered in Philadelphia, has operations in 41 countries, over 20,000 employees, and net sales of $8 billion.

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