From Insights to Impact: A Transatlantic Learning Journey of Innovation, Exchange, and Inspiration
- Dorothee Stühlinger
- 12 nov
- Tempo di lettura: 5 min
The first Professionals Academy Learning Journey to the United States set new standards for international knowledge transfer and cross-industry exchange. Under the guiding theme “From Insights to Impact,” a select delegation of 18 European decision makers from the packaging sector embarked on a one week trip that combined strategic foresight, technological innovation, and meaningful interpersonal encounters in a unique way.
The route led from Washington, D.C. through Memphis and Little Rock to Las Vegas. The program offered exclusive access to companies, institutions, and future technologies that shape the U.S. packaging and logistics landscape while providing valuable momentum for European industry.
Political and Economic Perspectives in Washington, D.C.
The journey began with a briefing at the German Embassy in Washington, D.C., organized in cooperation with the German American Chamber of Commerce (GACC) Washington and the Representative of German Industry and Trade (RGIT). The agenda focused on U.S. economic outlooks, industrial trends, and the potential effects of a second Trump administration on transatlantic business relations.
Industry Experiences from Tradition to High Tech
The group continued on to Pennsylvania and Tennessee. There, participants gained exclusive insights into production sites that illustrate how tradition, modern technology, and sustainability intersect across the U.S. packaging industry.
At Keystone Sheets LLC, part of the Corrugated Partners Group, the delegation toured one of the most advanced corrugating plants in the country. The highlight was a 132 inch corrugator line (3.35 meters) housed in a facility of about 420,000 square feet (39,000 square meters). The installation stands for precision and efficiency at the highest level.
The next stop was Pratt Industries, the largest producer of 100 percent recycled corrugated packaging in North America. With more than 70 locations and five paper mills, the company exemplifies sustainability and a circular economy at industrial scale.
In Harrisburg, Arkansas, the delegation visited Corrugated Supply Company and Rusken Packaging. Rusken operates a converting plant that processes corrugated board made by CSC directly on site. The tight integration of corrugated production and packaging conversion at one location enables very short transport routes, efficient energy use, and smooth process flows. It was especially interesting to see how similar integrated production models are implemented in the United States, comparable to the approach established in Europe by Progroup and its packaging park partners.
The visit to Rusken Packaging offered another valuable perspective. Participants experienced a longstanding family business that has just completed a successful generational transition. With a 95 percent “Superior” production rating and new high end machinery, Rusken stands for quality, customer focus, and the courage to renew.
From Factory Floor to Roundtable: Peer to Peer Exchange
The Learning Journey delivered not only behind the scenes views of production processes but also ample space for in depth professional dialogue. At the Packaging Executives Roundtable in Little Rock, moderated by the Little Rock Regional Chamber, participants discussed current challenges and opportunities with U.S. counterparts. The focus was on topics such as the tension between sustainability and cost pressures, digital printing, automation, and supply chain resilience.
Another highlight was the visit to the Port of Little Rock. Executive Director Bryan Day reported on the site’s dynamic growth. The example of Elopak, a Norwegian company specializing in sustainable carton packaging for liquid foods, was particularly impressive. With the opening of its first U.S. production facility at the Port of Little Rock, Elopak shows how European companies can successfully enter the American market. The evening continued with representatives from the State of Arkansas, GACC, and German Honorary Consul Mark Hamer and offered a valuable opportunity for networking in a personal setting.
Logistics on a Grand Scale in Memphis
A special highlight was the midnight tour of the FedEx World Hub in Memphis. As the largest air cargo hub in the world, the site operates on a staggering scale. The campus covers around 940 acres (380 hectares). About 13,000 employees handle up to 484,000 packages per hour. The delegation received exclusive access to the automated facility known as Secondary 25, which features roughly 11 miles (18 kilometers) of conveyor systems along with state of the art scanning and control technology.
Innovation Meets the Future in Las Vegas
Las Vegas provided the final chapter of the trip and an ideal setting where research, technology, and entrepreneurial drive converge. At the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Dave Specht, Senior Fellow at the Drucker School of Management, delivered an inspiring presentation titled “5 Keys to Perpetuating the Family Business,” sharing insights drawn from companies with more than a century of history. He showed how sustainable success comes from intentionally managing the five Cs, namely contingency, cash flow, communication, conflict, and compensation. He emphasized that clear succession planning, open communication, and fair structures are essential to connect generations. In addition, Specht explained his Family Enterprise Systems approach, which brings family, ownership, and business into balance.
Another standout moment was the visit to the Amazon VGT1 Fulfillment Center in North Las Vegas, one of the most modern logistics facilities in the world. The highly automated site covers about 850,000 square feet (79,000 square meters), where roughly 1,500 employees work alongside advanced robotics. The combination of automation, efficiency, and sustainable logistics makes this facility a striking example of how the future of ecommerce is already here.
A Network that Connects and Inspires
“Observing how Americans communicate and really focus on customer satisfaction was such an eye-opener. It widened my view understanding of global business and people in general, which has been extremely valuable both at work and personally,” concludes Sahaya Kulandaisamy, who is currently a doctoral candidate working with JH-Holding.
Philipp Blank, Head of Professionals Academy, is equally enthusiastic: „Our Learning Journey to the United States together with our partners was a complete success from our perspective. In conversations with companies, universities, and business families, we gathered concrete impulses on automation, service excellence, and multigenerational family enterprise. I found the open exchange within the group and the direct shop floor insights especially valuable. The journey proved that this is a product that creates real value for our partners. We are already looking forward to our next journey.“
Conclusion and Outlook
The Professionals Academy Learning Journey 2025 demonstrated the potential that lies in international perspectives, targeted professional exchange, and personal encounters. The combination of hands on practice, strategic dialogue, and intercultural experience created lasting momentum that will continue to resonate long after the trip.
Anyone who could not join this year missed a special opportunity. The next Learning Journey in 2027 will once again offer the chance to gain valuable insights, build new connections, and broaden horizons.
Sahaya Kulandaisamy gave us an in depth look at her experience on the Learning Journey. Read the full interview here:
