A job well done

Organisers of Pack Expo Las Vegas 2003 are slapping themselves on the back and enjoying a well-earning cup of tea after a highly successful show. The event, which was held 13 to 15 October 2003 and was produced by the Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Institute (PMMI), saw visitor attendance increase by 17 per cent and international attendance increase by 50 per cent from 2001.

"PMMI is pleased that so many buyers attended PACK EXPO Las Vegas looking to increase productivity and enhance their packaging capabilities with the latest machinery, materials, containers and components available in the marketplace,"​ said PMMI president Charles Yuska.

"Pack Expo Las Vegas continues to buck the tradeshow trend of flat attendance. Early indications from exhibiting companies point to strong buying intentions on the part of their customer attendees."​

The PMMI believes that the new containers & materials pavilion played a strong part in the attendance increase. The 50,000 gross square foot pavilion featured 133 materials and containers supplier exhibitors. Within the pavilion was the showcase of packaging innovations, which featured more than 300 award winning packaging designs from 11 different international packaging organisations.

"Because of the new containers and materials pavilion, attendees were able to view the newest award winning packaging designs, and discuss the best methods of automating and retrofitting their company's packaging machinery line with the equipment needed to get the job done,"​ said James Anderson, PMMI show committee chairman.

"The show offered a perfect blend of both machinery and materials innovation."​

The conference at Pack Expo was also hugely successful, featuring 39 packaging technology and market-focused presentations from companies such as Wal-Mart, H.E.B. Grocery, and General Mills. This year, 947 packaging professionals attended the conference, making it one of the most widely attended forums in the industry.

Topics included radio frequency identification (RFID), anti-counterfeiting strategies, materials and container advances, reducing changeover speeds and evolving regulatory pressures. Attendees were able to learn about the latest technologies and market trends affecting packaging.

Of particular note was the significant increase in international attendance. "With 17 per cent of the attendance coming from outside of the United States, it's clear that pack Expo Las Vegas has become an international packaging event,"​ said Yuska. "Our international outreach, coordinated with the US department of commerce's international buyer programme, is clearly making a difference."​

The Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Institute​ (PMMI) is a trade association whose more than 500 members manufacture packaging and packaging-related converting machinery in the United States and Canada. PMMI's stated mission is to improve and promote members' abilities to meet the needs of their customers.

Pack Expo​ events scheduled for 2004 include Expo Pack México and Pack Expo International. Expo Pack México will be held 22 to 25 June 2004 in Mexico City, while Pack Expo International will be held 7 to 11 November 2004 in Chicago.