Max Rodriguez

 Sr. Manager Global Packaging R&D, discovery & Applications

Presentation Description:

Co-presenting with Dr. Gary Menary of Blow Moulding Technologies, Ltd., this presentation will include a unique lab scale stretch blow molding device for fast tracking preform/bottle design that enables a 50% reduction in lead time for new bottle concepts.   The machine, known as BLOWscan brings together 25 years of R&D in stretch blow molding that enables the industry the ability to quickly evaluate new materials, act as a quality control tool for preform production and through the combination of high speed video and a patent pending 3D printed mold technology, the ability to produce and evaluate prototype bottle concepts cheaply and quickly. 

The patent pending rapid prototyping technology represents a novel approach to making unit-cavity blow molds, utilizing heat resistant 3-D printer materials combined with an aluminum quick-change shell.  Through trials, the mold set demonstrated it can produce bottles of comparable performance as a metal mold, with enough longevity to consistently produce thousands of bottles at conventional production rates. 

A series of case studies will be presented demonstrating how BLOWscan was able to quantify the difference in heating absorption and blowing behavior of bottles with different percentage loading of RPET and how it was used to fast track the design, development and manufacture of a new bottle concept for PepsiCo. 

Speaker Biography:

Packaging Sr. Manager in PepsiCo’s Science and Technology Group, part of Global R&D. Drive short to mid-term packaging innovation technology pipeline and new formats, to deliver against PepsiCo’s beverage innovation platforms. Lead a team responsible for conducting research and establishing the feasibility of breakthrough and breakout packaging technologies to the existing and emerging PepsiCo beverage portfolio. Work in close collaboration with the NY Design Team, Marketing, Consumer Insights, and Global Procurement, by linking the consumer experience to new concepts, business models and emerging packaging solutions.

Max has demonstrated leadership in: New Product Development, Technology Development, Technology Transfer, New Product Commercialization, Quality Management, and Manufacturing Start-Ups (In-house and 3rd Party). 

Max possesses a proven ability in building solid internal and external relationships, by fostering a collaborative working environment, and effective communication (we are all in this together approach).  He is an open and inclusive problem solver with a solid Engineering, Project Management, and Quality background (Professional Engineer, M. S. – Mech. Eng., Project Management Professional).