The partners will support PMMI members and educators nationwide with advanced technical education, hands-on training, and certifications to close the STEM skills gap.

PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, and Festo Didactic Inc. North America, have joined forces to provide PMMI members and education partners with advanced technical education and hands-on training aligned with the industry's highest standards. Together, the two organizations are bringing highly customizable training options to packaging and processing companies, helping to close the growing STEM skills gap.

PMMI elevates the talent level within the entire industry through cost-effective, convenient training and development opportunities, and by connecting employers to the next generation workforce.

Festo Didactic, an education company with deep roots in manufacturing automation, leverages its industry expertise to offer a wide range of learning solutions that support skills development in all aspects of mechatronics and factory automation.

"Packaging and processing is a uniquely innovative industry, with endless career opportunities - but we are seeing the skills gap continue to grow. This collaboration presents a significant opportunity to provide critical resources to PMMI members and educators who need support to meet the technical workforce needs of the industry," said Stephan Girard, Senior Director of Workforce Development, PMMI. "I look forward to working closely with the Festo Didactic team as we leverage our strong synergy in this joint effort."

Mechatronics Certifications
Manufacturing employers need skilled workers who can operate, maintain and troubleshoot equipment on the plant floor. To achieve this, employees must have the right mechatronics skills. The PMMI Mechatronics Certification program was developed to help educational institutions create industrial maintenance programs that align with the technical needs of manufacturers and prepare students for careers in advanced manufacturing. Through a series of online tests based on industry-developed skill standards, PMMI's Mechatronics Certification program helps employers during the hiring process and helps assess current workers for core skills.

Festo Didactic's mechatronics learning solutions provide lab equipment and educational content aligned with PMMI's industry-recognized Mechatronics Certifications. This capability provides a turnkey solution for high schools, colleges and universities looking to provide mechatronics training that meets the needs of the industry.

Customized Training for Packaging and Processing Professionals
Festo Didactic and PMMI are bringing highly customizable training options to packaging and processing companies. The customized curriculum and hands-on training offers a wide range of topics and skills related to mechatronics and factory automation such as robotics, CAD/CAM/CNC and PLC. Festo's factory automation learning systems are designed to simulate the most technically advanced processing plants, focusing first on individual stations with the option to scale to more complex Industry 4.0 cyber-physical systems.

Benefits for industry:

Improve workforce readiness
Upskill employees quickly
Reduce turnover
Close skills gap with continued learning and professional development courses
Highest-quality industry standards
"As a long-standing member of PMMI, with similar goals and approaches to workforce development, stepping into the role of Preferred Technical Learning Collaborator is a natural fit," said John Holmes, VP of Sales for Festo North America. "This partnership was forged in response to the industry's ongoing hiring and upskilling challenges, and we're eager to see how our combined expertise and resources positively impact the schools and companies PMMI serves."

"Expanding our technical education and training services with PMMI is an exciting milestone," said Tony Oran, Vice President of Festo Didactic North America. "As experienced industry professionals, we also have a responsibility to give back as educators, and that's what PMMI and Festo Didactic plan to do. We're committed to setting people up for success in their careers as individuals while looking for smart ways to come together so industry can thrive as a whole."

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About PMMI
PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, represents more than 950 North American manufacturers and suppliers of equipment, components and materials as well as providers of related equipment and services to the packaging and processing industry. We work to advance a variety of industries by connecting consumer goods companies with manufacturing solutions through the world-class PACK EXPO portfolio of trade shows, leading trade media and a wide range of resources to empower our members. The PACK EXPO trade shows unite the world of packaging and processing to advance the industries they serve: PACK EXPO International, PACK EXPO Las Vegas, PACK EXPO East, EXPO PACK México and EXPO PACK Guadalajara. PMMI Media Group connects manufacturers to the latest solutions, trends and innovations in packaging and processing year-round through brands including Packaging World, Automation World, Healthcare Packaging, Contract Packaging, ProFood World, Mundo PMMI and OEM. PMMI Business Drivers assist members in pursuing operational excellence through workforce development initiatives, deliver actionable business intelligence on economic, market and industry trends to support members' growth strategies and actively connect the supply chain throughout the year.

Learn more at pmmi.org and packexpo.com and pmmimediagroup.com.

About Festo Didactic
Festo leverages its automation expertise to provide comprehensive industrial and technical education solutions. Festo Didactic is committed to providing educators and employers with the hands-on training, digital coursework and blended learning solutions needed to close the STEM skills gap. Our lab equipment, curriculum and certification programs are thoughtfully designed to support various learning pathways and on-the-job training. With 4,000+ FICP certifications and 36,000 Festo-equipped educational institutions, Festo Didactic and its partners are preparing students and employees for the future of work.

Learn more at https://www.festo-didactic.com/us-en/ and http://www.festo.com.