The Department of Printing Technology, Arasan Ganesan Polytechnic College, Sivakasi, and the Students Service Cell recently organized a guest lecture on ‘Innovative Packaging Designs’, delivered by printing expert R Prabakar – an alumnus of the college.
Principal M Nandakumar, who presided over the function, pointed out how printing technology was developing very rapidly in modern technology. Most industries are using 3D printing technology but its application in the printing industry was not as expected, he said, adding 3D printing was being used in Printed Electronics. He asked the students to do research on the application of 3D printing in the printing industry.
Congratulating Prabakar, a recipient of the International Kalams Golden Award 2023 for the ‘Best Miniature Paper Artist of the Year 2023’, Nandakumar said every student should become an achiever like him. “If he can do it, you can also do it. It all requires will and wish, packed with hard work and persistence.”
Nandakumar said an R&D unit has been proposed in packaging and design in the Printing Technology Department to encourage and motivate printing students to create innovative package designs. The R&D will focus on basic packaging design concepts for the II-year and III-year printing technology students to understand how to create a normal package design.
The research will focus on creating miniature packaging designs to assess and bring out the skills of the students. It is also proposed to conduct a packaging design competition among the students and appreciate them by providing certificates and prizes. An awareness meeting will be organized with internal staff and one packaging expert from outside to spread awareness on packaging.
Prabakar said he started his career as production in-charge in Hitech Universal Printers & Publishers Coimbatore. During this time, he developed an interest in packaging and concentrated on learning a lot in this field. He spoke to the students about how he managed to achieve nine world records in the packaging industry.
Carton box production and corrugated packaging products, Prabakar said, are much used today. Manufacturers and sellers try to make a product look good and ensure safety measures too. He said he thought of how to fit even the smallest object into a cardboard box in a way that suited the object perfectly and this made him a miniature cardboard designer.
M Pugazh, academic officer, gave the welcome speech while A. Paramasivam, HoD In- charge, Department of Printing Technology, delivered the vote of thanks.
