The south indian educational society school of packaging

Do all good things come in small packages? There may not be a definite yes or no to this question, but in an age when looks seem to have become the most important factor, it can be safely said that good things do come in good packages. In a competitive market like India, companies need to keep in mind not only the quality of a product but also attractive packaging.

However, creating eye-catching packaging that increases the shelf life of a product is not an easy task. One needs to be highly creative and at the same time keep abreast of market trends and the latest global technologies.

The South Indian Education Society (SIES) School of Packaging, also known as Packaging Technology Centre (SIES-SOP/PTC), trains students on various aspects involved in packaging. These include testing and quality control, package design and development, data / information dissemination and market / economic surveys. Only those projects that are technologically and economically feasible are taken up.

The SIES-SOP came into being in 2001. It offers a four-year bachelors degree in packaging and printing. This year SIES-SOP has introduced a new course in packaging, titled the postgraduate diploma in packaging and printing science and technology. The two-year full-time course includes an extensive and detailed curriculum on self-adhesive technology developed by Avery Dennison, India. Avery Dennison is a global leader in pressure-sensitive labelling materials, retail tag, ticketing and branding systems and radio frequency identification (RFID). “These courses are slated to address the industry’s unfulfilled need for talent, both in the present and the future,” says P.V. Narayanan, chairman, advisory council, SIES-SOP. “We intend to train students in self-adhesive technology, thus creating long-term strategic benefits for them, the packaging industry, local businesses and customers alike.”

The course introduced by SIES is the first initiative of its kind in the packaging industry, offering students relevant exposure to new technologies such as self-adhesive technology, while creating long-term strategic benefits for the industry as a whole. New innovations and technologies in packaging such as self-adhesive labelling are currently not offered in any of the other packaging courses and institutes in India.

Classes for the postgraduate diploma course have started in August. The course fee is Rs 1,00,000. To get enrolled in the course, a student would have to buy an application form worth Rs 500. After filling it in, he would need to appear for an aptitude test, which lasts for about 30 minutes. Graduates in science and technology with a high second class are eligible for the course. Finally, the aspirants need to appear for an objective-type written test and a personal interview.

The institute’s director C.S. Purushottam, along with seven other faculty members and visiting industrial experts, will train the students in different aspects of packaging. “Over the last decade, the world of packaging has seen many innovations and has assumed a critical role in the life cycle of a product,” says Raj Srinivasan, managing director, Materials India, Avery Dennison (India) Pvt. Ltd. “India has immense potential in terms of talent and is currently in the midst of a dynamic economic boom. This means exciting new opportunities for Indian packagers, as well as increased focus on specialised training.”

The course will include an overview of self-adhesive technology, covering areas such as manufacture, conversion and application, uses and advantages. Raw materials used in packaging, their manufacturing processes and properties will also be taught.

Apart from this, students also learn the theory of adhesion and adhesives, converting and printing techniques, the various pressing methods, die cutting as well as label application, automatic labelling machines, substrates, regulatory compliance and end-use industries.

So what is the scope for packaging in business? “There was a time when one would go to a shop and ask for a particular product, which would be handed over to you. But these days, even in a small shop, all products are displayed, so that customers can pick and choose from the wide variety offered. That’s where the role of good packaging comes in,” says Srinivasan.

Experts believe that packaging will gain more significance in the near future. The trends will be more technology and economy-driven, but in niche areas, market-driven. The field will witness more of research and development, as innovations will provide answers to many socio-economic, environmental and regulatory issues. With the industry making rapid strides, students of SIES-SOP have a bright future ahead. In other words, a good package in store for them.

Vital Statistics

WHAT IS IT? It is a packaging school at Nerul, Navi Mumbai

WHO’S THE BOSS? C.S. Purushottam is the director

what is the course fee? Rs 1,00,000 for a two-year course

Where is it? Sri Chandrasekarendra Saraswathy Vidyapuram, Plot 1C, Sector V, Nerul,
Navi Mumbai-400706 Website: http:// www.siespackaging.in

Devlina Ganguly