Processors must stay ahead of the latest trends and technologies to remain competitive. This September’s PACK EXPO Las Vegas (Sept. 28-30; Las Vegas Convention Center), owned and produced by PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, will lead attendees to the latest solutions across a wide range of products and trends as they explore new applications and technologies from a wide assortment of industries. Here’s a bit of what you can expect when you’re there.
The 20th anniversary edition of PACK EXPO Las Vegas includes the Las Vegas debut of Pharma EXPO, a one-stop-shop for solutions to address the entire pharmaceutical lifecycle that PMMI produces in partnership with the International Society of Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE). Combined, the co-located shows will present more than 2,000 exhibitors across 800,000 net square feet of exhibit space. PMMI projects 30,000 attendees, from more than 40 vertical markets, will also attend. The event — which will be PMMI’s largest-ever Las Vegas show — will feature exhibitors with the processing and packaging solutions that can help companies improve operations, remain competitive and comply with food safety regulations.
Navigating the show
To navigate such a comprehensive show, processing professionals might want to start at The Processing Zone. Located in the Upper South Hall, this area’s 190 exhibitors will display front-of-the-line solutions to enhance process control, flexibility, automation and efficiency in addition to achieving total system integration and compliance with food safety regulations. Other customer-centric show features will also serve as guideposts, helping attendees maximize their time on the show floor. The Food Safety Summit Resource Center (Booth S-7632), organized and brought to PACK EXPO Las Vegas 2015 by The Food Safety Summit and co-sponsor GE, will provide access to subject matter experts on compliance challenges surrounding the first round of mandates stemming from the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). Additionally, The Brand Zone, located in the Lower South Hall, will present new materials, containers and cutting-edge package printing solutions.
Show features tailored to specific vertical markets will also help processors identify solutions specific to their situations. The Confectionery Pavilion, sponsored by the National Confectioners Association and located in the Upper South Hall, is dedicated to innovations in confectionary processing and packaging. Attendees can also rest, recharge and meet with industry peers and suppliers at PACK EXPO networking lounges: The Baking–Snack Break Lounge (Booth S-7427), The Candy Bar Lounge (Booth S-6500) and The Beverage Cooler Lounge (Booth S-7429).
Actionable insights
As processors aim to satisfy increasingly varied consumer preferences, trends toward greater process flexibility and small-batch production are transforming operations across industries. Both are supported by automation technologies such as robotics to improve efficiency, boost production speeds and reduce costs. With a series of displays and educational seminars by Cisco Systems, Grantek, Interstates Controls, Microsoft and Stone Technologies, The Center for Trends & Technology (Booth C-4829), sponsored by Rockwell Automation and its PartnerNetwork™ Program, will offer expert insights on automated solutions and technologies that promote productivity, agility and efficiency.
The best approach to staying ahead of trends and best practices is to create them. One of the many benefits of attending a show the size and scope of PACK EXPO Las Vegas is the opportunity to examine and apply technologies from one industry to another. Visit packexpolasvegas.com for more information and to register for the event. Registration for PACK EXPO Las Vegas and Pharma EXPO is $30 through Sept. 14, when it increases to $100.
PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, is a trade association representing more than 700 companies having a full range of processing and packaging machinery, materials, components and containers. PMMI actively brings buyers and sellers together through initiatives such as packexpo.com, educational programs and world-class events, connecting participants in the processing and packaging supply chain with their customers around the world. PMMI produces the PACK EXPO portfolio of trade shows. PMMI Media Group also produces The Automation Conference, an annual education and networking forum, taking place in Chicago each spring.
Learn more at PMMI.org and Packexpo.com and pmmimediagroup.com.
