Industrial Packing Material and Manufacturing Method

 
 
Fairfield University, BEI Senior  Project proposal
Estimated Cost: $20-$200
 
Overview:
Presently we ship hundreds of boxes and spend up to 15% of the product cost on the packing material, the labor to pack it, and shipping weight expense.  This is true of many companies who ship products. What is needed is an inexpensive  packing material used to fill the empty void spaces inside the boxes. If  an inexpensive lightweight packing material can be made from normal newspapers, it could save a lot of money for companies and contribute to recycling efforts.
 
Statement of Work:
Develop a simple machine to convert normal newspapers into an effective packaging material optimizing fill space, weight, support, and crush resistance.
 
The following are segments of work to be finished for me to consider this a successful project. They can be sub-divided by the team members or assigned.  I consider this project to be mechanical design engineering based. Students need to apply creative mechanical engineering design and problem solving, engineering,  manufacturing process research and analysis, model fabrication and testing and financial feasibility analysis.
 
Segments Required:
1. Research:  Define problem, research existing packing materials and analyze.
 
2. Analysis:  Compile and analyze research.  Further define the problem and the outcome of a successfulsolution.  What features and functions will the successful solution have? Research standardized packing specifications and create a test procedure for the new packing materials.
 
3. Possible solutions: Develop 10-15 possible solution concepts such as different ways to crumple, fold, cut, tear or glue newspapers. Analyze the solutions and narrow it down to 3-5 preferred feasible solutions,
 
4. Design and Model fabrication: Using engineering skills, design the chosen feasible solutions. Perform further analysis to narrow the solutions down further. Construct breadboard models of the chosen designs for proof of concept. Construct actual size working models of the chosen concepts.
 
5. Test Fixture: Design and develop a test set-up which clearly demonstrates the product to spectators.
 
6. Testing: Develop standardized tests to compare the packing materials against each other and against existing packing materials.
 
7. Manufacturability: Research and analyze how the chosen solutions will be manufactured and at what cost.
 
8. Technology and Patent Search: Perform technology and patent searches to determine the uniqueness of the chosen solutions.
 
Please call if you have questions - 366-1112
 
Charles Sherts, President, Innex Corporation