Merrill’s Joins Cal Poly’s “Packaging Puzzle” Symposium as Silver Sponsor
Merrill’s Packaging, now part of the Nelipak Healthcare Packaging group, was proud to be a Silver Sponsor at the 2026 Cal Poly Packaging Club Symposium, reinforcing its commitment to innovation, sustainability, and talent development in the healthcare packaging and medical device industries.
Held at the Multi Activity Center on the Cal Poly campus, the full‑day event brought together industry professionals, faculty, and students to unpack the multifaceted challenges shaping next‑gen packaging, ranging from materials and machinery to distribution, design, accessibility, and reusability.
Aligning with “The Packaging Puzzle”
The theme reflects how modern packaging is an interconnected set of challenges rather than a single problem. With over six decades of experience in custom thermoformed packaging for medical devices, biotech, and healthcare applications, Merrill’s fits naturally into this puzzle, helping clients solve complex performance, regulatory, and sustainability demands. As a Silver Sponsor, Merrill’s participated in the symposium banquet and networking opportunities, engaging directly with students and sharing insights on cleanroom manufacturing, ISO‑13485 compliance, and advanced packaging design.
Supporting Students and Industry Dialogue
The symposium’s tracks, on sustainability, materials, distribution, design, and machinery, align closely with Merrill’s core capabilities. The company’s work on thermoformed trays and sustainable material choices mirrors the forum’s focus on balancing environmental impact, product integrity, and supply‑chain efficiency. By taking part in these conversations, we shared our expertise and sought fresh perspectives from students on reusability, circularity, and inclusive packaging design.
Looking Ahead
Our sponsorship of the Cal Poly Packaging Club Symposium illustrates how established industry leaders can help students see packaging not just as a container, but as a system of interlocking solutions. As Merrill’s continues to expand its footprint, having recently grown its Costa Rica operations and joined the Nelipak family for broader global reach, it remains deeply invested in the human side of the packaging puzzle: inspiring, mentoring, and collaborating with the innovators who will shape the next era of packaging in healthcare and beyond.
