ICPF News

Charles E. Hodges Inducted into ICPF’s Circle of Distinguished Leaders


The evening of Monday, April 11, 2022 during the International Corrugated Packaging Foundation (ICPF) presentation at the FBA annual meeting in Laguna Beach, CA, Charles E. Hodges (Hood Container Corporation President and COO) was inducted as the 26th member of the International Corrugated Packaging Foundation's Circle of Distinguished Leaders. Through the assistance provided to ICPF by Hood Container Corporation and Charlie’s family, friends and former fellow employees, the lifetime recognition was received as a total surprise to Charlie.

The Circle of Distinguished Leaders honors exceptional visionaries whose energy and talent have moved the industry forward in remarkable ways. These leaders are recognized for demonstrating a strong commitment to the continuing success of the global corrugated packaging industry.

Charlie was nominated for induction by ICPF Board members and corrugated packaging firms that made donations in his name to support ICPF operations.

2022 Holiday Weekend in New York – Friday-Sunday, December 9-11, 2022


Beginning this month, registration will be available on a first come first serve basis for ICPF's 2022 Holiday Weekend in New York scheduled for Friday - Sunday, December 9 - 11, 2022. Register by July 31, 2022 to save $200. Bring your spouse or guest for holiday shopping, sightseeing, dining, Broadway plays, and enjoying New York's holiday season. All while supporting ICPF’s educational mission.

This year's event will begin with a Friday evening reception, sponsored by Pratt Industries. ICPF guests will view a Saturday matinee of one of the latest Broadway hits, sponsored by BW Papersystems (matinee to be announced). Saturday night, participants will be treated to a reception and dinner at a special New York restaurant. The reception is sponsored by Fosber America and the dinner is sponsored by WestRock. Greif also is a sponsor of the weekend.

In addition to saving by registering by July 31st, ICPF's New York holiday event always "sells out" early. Space is limited to a first come first serve basis! We recommend you register by May 15, but no later than August 31 to ensure participation. Request a registration form by e-mailing registration@icpfbox.org.

ICPF’s University Awards Program


To date, ICPF has placed almost 13 million dollars in testing equipment, presses, CAD tables, grants and other donations at partner universities around the nation. And millions of dollars more in Artios and Arden design software. In just the past 12 or 13 years, ICPF additionally has created new packaging programs at 11 universities across the country by introducing structural design into their graphic communication programs.

Over the past year alone, ICPF has provided testing equipment to expand North Carolina State’s and Cal Poly’s packaging labs; donated a large scale flatbed printer, as well as placed 53 seats of Arden donated Impact software at Virginia Tech; donated 20 computers and 20 sets of computer desks and chairs to expand the design lab at University Texas Arlington; and provided a third annual grant commitment to Indiana State University that enabled the expansion of the university’s packaging engineering technology program by 24%. Upon the signing of partnership/asset agreements by the two universities this spring, ICPF anticipates further expanding Indiana State’s program by providing a large scale flatbed printer as well as anticipates providing an award to the University of Florida packaging program to fund 50% of the cost to replace the CAD table ICPF donated to the university to jumpstart its corrugated curricula in 2006.

Vocational & Technical College Program for Plant Floor Recruiting


ICPF is constantly focusing on expanding existing programs and creating new initiatives. The Foundation is launching a new pilot program in the Atlanta region to assist plants in working with two-year vocational and technical colleges to educate and recruit students for plant floor operations and maintenance. To date, half a dozen packaging manufacturing operations are participating in the pilot. ICPF will use this pilot program as a prototype to work with 2-year colleges in other cities around the country.

For those ICPF Corporate Partner firms that wish to contact vocational and technical colleges in their areas in advance of the completion of the ICPF pilot program, ICPF has compiled a list of contacts at two-year institutions of higher education in eight additional metropolitan areas that include Chicago, Detroit, Grand Rapids, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Columbus, Green Bay, and Milwaukee. These lists are available by contacting info@icpfbox.org.