On a very hot afternoon, a large contingent of members of Australian Institute of Packaging (AIP) travelled out to Werribee to Victoria University (VU) on the invitation to explore the testing facilities therein located. Their host, Associate Professor Vincent Rouillard and his team of academic colleagues and research students, provided a memorable event, and even those unfamiliar with testing equipment and the reasons for testing up to the point of destruction were enthralled.

The actual area where entertained was the Engineered Packaging and Distribution Research Group. Their mission is to provide a local, national and international focus for high-quality applied scientific research aimed at developing environmentally sound and optimized solutions to support the distribution of products and produce.

Before moving into the testing halls Vincent gave an insightful talk about the facility and the rather pessimistic outlook for continued funding but a highly positive turnaround target.

Ralph Moyle National President of AIP advised folks about the 50th anniversary year of AIP and our honour to be the host nation for the World Packaging Organisation (WPO) meeting to be held in conjunction with Auspack.

Victoria University has a proud track record in packaging and distribution research. Since 1995, approximately 20 doctoral and master's research students have graduated. Additionally many scholarly papers have been published and a multitude of commissioned research and consultancies have been undertaken for a variety of industry partners.

Victoria University has built a strong reputation internationally with respect to Packaging and Distribution research as is evidenced by participation in a number of leading organisations. Not the least of these being Membership on the Board of International Association of Packaging Research Institutes.

The "commercials" over the group moved out to experience first-hand the various testing machines and technical apparatus. The research students and teaching staff were on hand to explain exactly what was being done and the expected outcome.

The visit needed a hands-on approach and it is not easy to put into words the various testing machines that go crash bang wallop or shake rattle and roll. The testing activities and research studies are also conducted at the Footscray Campus so not all disciplines were available for scrutiny.

The research group's activities are supported by a number of specialist laboratories across the University.

These include:

• The Environmental and Distribution Dynamics Laboratory
• The Dynamics Research Laboratory
• The Materials Engineering Laboratory
• The Polymer Research Laboratory
• The Analytical Instrument Laboratories
• The Food Research Laboratory

Associate Professor Vincent Rouillard aims to engage with industry by undertaking:

• Collaborative research projects (partially supported by government grants). These may involve the recruitment of higher degree research students.
• Commissioned research projects through which industry clients gain access to technical expertise and state-of-the-art experimental research facilities
• Consultancy services
• Testing services across our entire capabilities range.
• Design and delivery of short courses and training across our specialist areas.

On behalf of AIP, Ralph Moyle supported the initiative offered by Vincent Rouillard to engage industry as joint venture partners to ensure continued research and training of academics so vital in the dynamic industry of packaging.

So with heads full of newly learned things or revised understandings the group disbanded and headed home with the setting sun. None could say that their own skills had not been tested.