February 2012 — RyePack, a new student group at GCM geared toward increasing opportunities for students to learn about the packaging industry, has been planning various industry tours with the assistance of the Packaging Association (PAC). The tours are a great way to supplement the curriculum and give students direct exposure to innovative practices.

In January, about a dozen students visited RockTenn in Mississauga to learn about modern prepress technology. RockTenn, together with Esko Artworks, has pioneered a prepres s process that eliminates a significant amount of time and labour in flexo platemaking

In February, another group of students traveled in the opposite direction to Cobourg to learn about flexo press technology at Cascades. Here they were able to watch a variety of processes in action from plate mounting, printing, ink mixing, gluing, and etc. Both plants taught the students about safety in a manufacturing facility. We had a good laugh at our "outfits" as a result of the extra precaution necessary for food safe packaging being produced at Cascades. We thank our respective tour host and PAC for helping us arrange these exciting opportunities.

Source: Ryerson University - Graphic Communications Management