In this episode, Cory Connors welcomes Kyle Pischel and Jake Wyns to discuss the Atlantic Packaging Solutions Center — what it is, how it came to be, and the innovative work happening inside it every day. Kyle shares his background in packaging, from studying at Michigan State to working on Coca-Cola's packaging innovations team before joining Atlantic. Jake recounts his decade at Atlantic, beginning with a deep dive into stretch film and evolving into unit load stability and e-commerce packaging. Together, they walk through the science of load containment, the design program, and the future of sustainable packaging materials.

Key Topics Discussed:

• Kyle's career path from Michigan State and Coca-Cola to Atlantic Packaging and the MUST monitoring system
• Jake's background in stretch film performance testing and the fingerprinting of film properties
• The origin story of the Solution Center: from Stretch University to a full technical hub in Charlotte, NC
• How the MUST monitoring system tracks stretch film application and maintains standards set in the Solution Center
• The science of unit load containment — weight, coefficient of friction, stacking patterns, and pyramidal wrap profiles
• Over 15,000 horizontal impact tests and 5,000+ hours of vibration testing conducted at the facility
• Atlantic's holistic approach to packaging: removing strapping, corner boards, and downgauging corrugated alongside stretch film optimization
• The in-house design program led by designer Mary Ashland, focused on sustainable material substitution and end-of-life strategy
• Post-consumer recycled (PCR) content in stretch film — finding the right percentage for performance and sustainability
• The shift toward fiber-based packaging solutions and coated paper technologies for flow-wrap applications
• Atlantic's investment in Remo recycling equipment to process stretch film bales into PCR resin
• EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) legislation as a driver of reduced virgin plastic usage

Resources Mentioned:

• Atlantic Packaging Solution Center 
• MUST Monitoring System
• Landsmont multi-axis vibration equipment
• Closed Loop System for Stretch Film

Contact:
Listeners interested in a Solution Center visit or packaging consultation can reach out through Atlantic Packaging's website or connect with Kyle Pischel and Jake Wyns directly.

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