Centre of Packing Innovations and Research has almost five decades of experience in research, creation and installation of automated packing machinery, mainly used in food industry (milk, meat, etc.). A distinctive feature of the competence of PITC is orientation towards practical results of research.

Creation of prototypes, their production, comprehensive tests and improvement has always been integral part of creation of new equipment, which allowed creating of new equipment, which complies fully with formal requirements applied by both, industry and various regulations. One of the goals of reorganization in 2014 was expansion of the centre’s activities, integrating specialists from various University’s scientific fields, particularly, chemistry, mechanics, electronics, IT and offering potential customers a fuller package of services.

Recently issues related to legal regulation, sustainable development and environmental impact of packages or packing become more and more significant for the centre’s activities. A study of implementation of Directive 94/62/EC of European Community on Packages and Packaging Waste was prepared on the basis of expert knowledge collected at the centre, commissioned by the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Lithuania. Centre provides consultations on these issues to representatives of business and authorities.

Beginning of the history of Centre of Packing Innovations and Research (PITC) – 1968, when Laboratory of Research and Designing of Packing Machines was established at former Kaunas Polytechnic Institute.

Laboratory, which employed more than 120 engineers and scientists, soon became well-known research centre, because it created new type of automated packing machines “form-fill-seal”. These machines integrate and automatically perform a few different production operations: produce a package, fill it with product and seal it, which ensures a highly productive work in comparison to traditional packing technologies.

Laboratory created more than 100 packing machines and equipment for various use, produced prototypes, prepared and transferred to specialized production companies (for example, AB FASA, www.fasa.eu) packages of their technical and technological documentation. Approximately 15 machines have been produced in serial production. Total number of machines and equipment created and produced at PITC exceeds 3000.

Development of packing machines and equipment at the Centre has always been based on scientific research performed therein: 16 of its employees were awarded doctor degree, 2 – habilitated doctor degree, technical solutions were defended by more than 200 patents and author’s certificates.

Laboratory faced many challenges in the period from 1990 due to the problems, experienced by its production partners during their transition to economic activities based on principles of open and free market.

In 2004 laboratory was reorganized of Centre of Packing Research at Kaunas University of Technology, mainly oriented towards project activities; number of its employees is determined by demands of projects that are implemented.

On January 2014 Centre of Packing Research was reorganized to Centre of Packing Innovations and Research, aiming to focus more on sustainable development and innovations, based on interdisciplinary approach and broad integration of activities of specialists and scientists of chemistry, mechanics, electronics, IT, management (logistics) and environmental protection.

List of publications referenced in the Institute of Scientific Information (ISI) database:

• Varžinskas, Visvaldas; Milčius, Eugenijus. Sustainable packaging: concept, materials and tools for design. eISBN: 9783319710624 ; ISSN/eISSN: 2523-7403 ; 2523-7411 ; DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-71062-4_37-1 Responsible consumption and production / editors: Walter Leal Filho, Anabela Marisa Azul, Luciana Brandli, Pinar Gökcin Özuyar, Tony Wall. Cham : Springer Nature, 2019. p. [1-13].
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• Kliaugaitė, Daina, Varžinskas, Visvaldas, Baikauskienė, Agnė, Miliūnas, Valdas, Greenhouse gas emission reduction in frozen food packaging. // Environmental engineering and management journal. Iasi: Gh. Asachi Technical University of Iasi. ISSN 1582-9596. 2015, vol. 14, no. 00, p. [1-23]. [ISI Web of science].
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• Visvaldas Varžinskas, Jurgis Staniškis, Milda Knašyte. Decision-making support system based on LCA for aseptic packaging recycling//Waste Management & Research 2012 30(9) 931– 939, SAGE, DOI: 10.1177/0734242X12448519.

List of publications approved by the Lithuanian Science Council referenced in international databases:

• Varžinskas, Visvaldas, Main drivers for successful development of packaging: analysis, legislation and systematic approach. // Environmental research, engineering and management = Aplinkos tyrimai, inžinerija ir vadyba. Kaunas: KTU. ISSN 1392-1649. 2015, vol. 71, no. 1, p. 3-4. [INSPEC; CAB Abstracts].
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• Lebedys, Alis, Milčius, Eugenijus, Bendoraitis, Kostas, Varžinskas, Visvaldas, Karpušenkaitė, Aistė, Issues related to implementation of the EU requirements on plastic crates and pallets containing heavy metals in Lithuania. 2015-10-27. // Environmental research, engineering and management = Aplinkos tyrimai, inžinerija ir vadyba. Kaunas: KTU. ISSN 1392-1649. 2015, Vol. 71, no. 2, p. 31-41. [INSPEC; CAB Abstracts].
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• Bioplastics: development, possibilities and difficulties. Aistė Karpušenkaitė, Visvaldas Varžinskas. Environmental research, engineering and management = Aplinkos tyrimai, inžinerija ir vadyba. 2014, Vol. 68, no. 2. ISSN 1392-1649 p. 69-78.
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• Varžinskas, Visvaldas; Staniškis, Jurgis Kazimieras; Lebedys, Alis; Kibirkštis, Edmundas; Miliūnas, Valdas. Life cycle assessment of common plastic packaging for reducing environmental impact and material consumption // Environmental research, engineering and management = Aplinkos tyrimai, inžinerija ir vadyba. Kaunas: Technologija. ISSN 1392-1649. 2009, nr. 4(50), p. 57-65.
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• Varžinskas, Visvaldas; Staniškis, Jurgis Kazimieras; Lebedys, Alis; Kibirkštis, Edmundas; Bivainis, Vaidas. Assessment and minimization of life-cycle based environmental impact of paper packaging // Environmental research, engineering and management = Aplinkos tyrimai, inžinerija ir vadyba. Kaunas: Technologija. ISSN 1392-1649. 2009, nr. 1(47), p. 40-49.