TricorBraun Design & Engineering Group, Oak Brook, Ill., USA, has promoted Gregg Aukeman to package qualification manager and expanded the packaging quality team by hiring Ryan Fichuk as packaging quality engineer. Aukeman has been with TricorBraun since 2014. 

"Gregg's experience with TricorBraun and instrumental role in meaningful data collection, coupled with the addition of Ryan, will allow the team to be involved in the custom package design process as early as ideation, enhancing the value we bring to our customers as well as risk reduction," said Matt Ramsdell, VP, design and engineering. He goes on to explain that with a focus on quality during development, the whole process is better and more accurate the first time and specs can be modified for form, fit, and function without compromising the manufacturing process.

Aukeman has a passion for engineering that began with his studies at Western Michigan University where he earned a B.S. degree in civil engineering. "I've always been fascinated with how things work, no matter what the industry. Packaging functionality within the parameters that have been defined by our customers and design team is something that I work toward validating every day for packages in diverse categories. No two projects are ever the same and this is what keeps me challenged, engaged, and excited about my role at TricorBraun," explained Aukeman. 

"In my new role," he continued, "I will be able to provide critical support in the development of custom packaging solutions by engaging with the team to validate prototype and production parts, satisfying timing expectations, specification requirements, and ultimately our customers." Aukeman sums it up this way: "I enjoy developing creative solutions to meet filling, labeling, and functional requirements in the design, engineering, and production stages. It's so rewarding to see the final result on shelf, in the real world, working as it was intended."

In his new role, Aukeman will be responsible for leading the packaging quality team and the packaging performance laboratory. "With Ryan on board, I am freed up to work on more complex projects. Ryan has a solid packaging background. I will be assisting him with investigative techniques, dimensional analysis, as well as gaining an understanding of the level of quality that our custopPackaging from Michigan State University and experience working as a package engineer intern at the closure manufacturer, Silgan White Cap.

When asked, Fichuk explains his motivation this way: "I get pretty excited when people ask me questions like, what do you do? Or, do you make boxes and bags? This gives me an opportunity to explain that packaging is about design, engineering, functionality, quality, marketing, and consumer preferences. It's so much more than people realize! My passion for the field shines through when I explain how unique it is to work in packaging and how lucky I feel to be part of quality assurance for innovative product packaging."

TricorBraun Design & Engineering Group is a business unit of TricorBraun, a provider of rigid, corrugated, and flexible packaging. The team's primary mission is to design, engineer, and manage the development, production, and commercialization of custom packaging solutions for personal care, cosmetics, healthcare, food and beverage, industrial household chemical, and animal health products. It is supported by TricorBraun's more than 40 offices globally.