2024 PACK EXPO Chicago SHOW DAILY—Monday Nov 4th

SHOW DAILY

TECHNOLOGY EXCELLENCE AWARDS P. 18 • NETWORKING P.

NEWS BRIEF

Young Professionals Networking Reception

Work hard AND play hard at PACK EXPO International this year! Join young professionals in packaging and processing at a free networking reception tonight from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. at Flight Club Chicago hosted by PMMI’s Young Professionals Network and sponsored by Beckho Automation LLC (Booth N-6136). For more information visit packexpointernational.com/theshow/young-professionals-reception ■

Silent Auction – PMMI Foundation Fundraiser

The PMMI Foundation Silent Auction is new to the show and takes place daily via virtual bidding. Notable items up for bid include accommodations at premier Chicago-area hotels, including the Langham, Sheraton Grand Riverwalk, LondonHouse, Loews, and the InterContinental Magni cent Mile. In addition, premium wine and spirits, gift cards, and more are available. Items will be displayed on the Grand Concourse, Level 2.5. All proceeds bene t the PMMI Foundation. ■

Nate Bargatze Headlines Tonight

PACK Gives Back, sponsored by Rockwell Automation, bene ts the PMMI Foundation.

PMMI, organizer and producer of PACK EXPO International 2024, announces tonight’s return of the highly anticipated PACK gives BACK™, sponsored by Rockwell Automation (Booth S-1544), at the Arie Crown eater (Lakeside Center, McCormick Place). is annual bene t, a staple of the PACK EXPO experience, promises a night of entertainment, networking, and philanthropy, with proceeds bene ting the PMMI Foundation, supporting the future packaging and processing workforce. is year’s event will feature a special performance by the award-winning comedian Nate Bargatze, known for his clean humor and relatable storytelling. Bargatze has over 10 appearances on e Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, has performed for the troops in Kuwait and Iraq with Chris Rock,

GRAVITAS CEO Headlines PPWLN Breakfast

Lisa Sun will share her entrepreneurial journey

and at Bonnaroo, SXSW, Oddball Comedy Festival, Sasquatch, Clusterfest, and the JFL Montreal Comedy Festival, where he’s received critical acclaim multiple years in a row. He also returned to host Saturday Night Live on Oct. 5 for the second time.

Before the show, attendees will enjoy an exclusive networking opportunity with industry professionals while indulging in refreshments and appetizers. It’s a chance to relax, unwind, and connect with peers in a casual, fun environment.

Tickets for the event are $95 each, with a special o er to treat your team, customers, or business

Dow is the O cial Sustainability Partner of PACK EXPO International

Lisa Sun, founder and CEO of retail brand and lifestyle company GRAVITAS, will be this year’s keynote speaker at e Packaging & Processing Women’s Leadership Network (PPWLN) Breakfast tomorrow morning from 7:30 to 9:00 a.m (Room W-375). e breakfast is free, but PPWLN asks that you preregister at pmmi.org/ppwln PPWLN is a vibrant and inclusive community that

—Continued on page 2 —Continued on page 6 —Continued on page 2

As the o cial Sustainability Partner of PACK EXPO International, Dow (Booth W-21062) and other event collaborators, including PMMI (Booth N-4550), McCormick Place, and Independent Recycling Services, have worked together to expand recycling infrastructure and increase education with literature throughout the event. Informative materials include recycling tip sheets and content showcasing how actionable options can help brands address sustainability goals.

“As one of the world’s leading materials science companies, helping to deliver a sustainable

Lisa Sun, founder and CEO, GRAVITAS

Syntegon (Booth S-2914) welcomes attendees to the opening of the largest PACK EXPO International in history.

NEWS BRIEF

MONDAY SHOW DAILY

NOVEMBER 4, 2024

2

—PACK gives BACK continued from page 1

partners. Purchase nine tickets and get one free with our 10-for-9 group deal. Don’t miss this opportunity to experience the show together and support a great cause.

“PACK gives BACK™ has always been about uniting the industry for a good cause, and we’re excited to bring everyone together once again for a fantastic night of laughter and networking,” says Laura Thompson, vice president, trade shows, PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies. “We’re proud that proceeds from the event will benefit the PMMI Foundation and its mission to strengthen the future workforce of the packaging and processing industry.”

“Rockwell Automation believes that the future of the packaging and processing industry depends on empowering the next generation with the tools and skills to drive innovation and sustainability,” says Steve Mulder, director, OEM. “By sponsoring PACK gives BACK™, we’re investing in the future workforce and helping shape the leaders who will advance this industry. We’re proud to continue supporting this impactful event and the PMMI Foundation’s mission.”

The PMMI Foundation has been a cornerstone

—PPWLN Breakfast continued from page 1

fosters growth, knowledge sharing, and networking opportunities for all women in the packaging and processing industry. It aims to empower women in their professional journey, inspiring them to reach new heights of success and leadership. The PPWLN PACK EXPO International Breakfast will allow attendees to hear Sun share her entrepreneurial insights, experiences, and valuable lessons. Following the breakfast, student attendees will have the unique opportunity to participate in guided tours led by PPWLN industry leaders, further reinforcing our inclusive and supportive network.

of support for educational initiatives across the U.S. and Canada since its inception in 1998. To date, the foundation has awarded more than $3.8 million to programs aimed at fostering the next generation of packaging and processing professionals. By attending PACK gives BACK™, you are directly contributing to this vital mission, helping students gain the education and skills they need to succeed in the ever-evolving world of packaging and processing. Join us for an unforgettable night that not only celebrates our industry but also makes a lasting impact on its future. ■

directly into dresses. She launched GRAVITAS as a company with a mission to catalyze confidence. GRAVITAS offers innovative size-inclusive apparel, styling solutions, and content designed to makeover women from the inside out.

Her first collection was featured two months after launch in O, The Oprah Magazine, PEOPLE, and TODAY. Sun and GRAVITAS have not slowed down since; she has been featured by many media outlets, including CNN, Forbes, Fast Company, New York Magazine, Elle, Marie Claire, and InStyle.

In addition to being a changemaker and entrepreneur, Sun is the national bestselling author of GRAVITAS: The 8 Strengths that Redefine Confidence. In the book, she shares her journey and the superpowers that anyone can call upon to be confident and successful. It is a USA Today bestseller and reached number one on the Amazon bestseller list for its genre.

Sun will seamlessly blend stories from her personal journey with data and experience-driven insights from her 11 years at McKinsey & Company into how she founded GRAVITAS in 2012. Its origin dates to her first professional review, at which time she was told that she “comes across as young and overly enthusiastic at times,” that she “lacked gravitas,” and “should go buy a new dress, big jewelry, and great shoes.” With those words in mind, an understanding of the transformative power of clothing, and a determination to create a game-changing company, Sun filed for a global patent to build shapewear

“Her remarkable journey from a young entrepreneur to an industry leader is truly inspiring, and we believe her insights will greatly benefit women in the packaging and processing fields and student attendees who are the future of our industry,” says Tracy Stout, vice president, marketing and communications, PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, and producer of the PACK EXPO portfolio of trade shows.

This year’s event sponsors are BW Packaging (Booth S-2100), Emerson (Booth N-5345), ID Technology (Booth S-3539), Morrison Container Handling Solutions (Booth N-4906), Plexpack Corp. (Booth S-2002), Schneider Electric (Booth N-6030), Septimatech Group Inc. (Booth N-5136), and Syntegon Processing and Packaging (Booth S-2914) ■

PMMI’s Jim Pittas, President and CEO (far left), and Andrew Dougherty, Vice President, Member Services (far right), honor Wayne Goldberg and Sam Goldberg on the 60th Anniversary of Econocorp, Inc. (Booth S-1502).

PMMI’s Jim Pittas, President and CEO (left) and Andrew Dougherty, Vice President, Member Services, (right) award Ryan Schuelke for Enercon’s (Booth S-1766) 75th Anniversary.

PMMI’s Andrew Dougherty, Vice President, Member Services, (far left) and Jim Pittas, President and CEO (far right) congratulate Jordan Hamrick and Phil Hamrick (left to right) of Hamrick Packaging Systems (Booth N-5619) on 35 years.

Nate Bargatze, Comedian

Celebrating Excellence: NEM and Ideal Pase Honored by PMMI

At PACK EXPO International 2024, two brands under the Massman Companies’ (Booth S-2530) umbrella, New England Machinery (NEM) and Ideal Pase, will be honored by PMMI for their incredible contributions to the packaging industry. This year marks NEM’s 50th anniversary, while Ideal Pase celebrates an impressive 75 years of innovation and excellence. These milestones highlight the legacy of both companies in driving packaging automation forward.

New England Machinery (NEM), founded on September 23rd, 1974, has built a reputation for its cutting-edge bottling equipment, including unscramblers, cappers, and orienters. Over the past five decades, NEM has become synonymous with reliability and precision, consistently providing solutions that streamline bottling and packaging processes for industries worldwide. At this year’s Pack Expo, NEM will showcase a new Compact Unscrambler integrated with advanced labeling capabilities—an exciting new development that continues its tradition of innovation.

Ideal Pase, which began as Ideal-Pak in 1949

and later merged with PASE Group, has spent the last 75 years becoming a leader in liquid filling and packaging solutions. Specializing in serving industries such as paint, coatings, chemicals, and food and beverage, Ideal Pase has played a crucial role in automating complex liquid filling processes. The company’s newest offering, the Auto Gantry Drum and Tote Filler will also debut at the show, highlighting Ideal Pase’s ongoing commitment to precision and scalability for modern production needs. ■

PMMI’s Jim Pittas, President and CEO (second from left) honored Mark Anderson (far left) Nicola Schinelli, Doug Stambaugh, Luca Bonardi (third from left to right) on 25 years of P.E. Labellers (S-3514)

PMMI’s Andrew Dougherty, Vice President, Member Services, (far left) and Jim Pittas, President and CEO (far right) congratulate Tom Sioui on Slideways (Booth N-5015) on its 60th Anniversary.

PMMI’s Andrew Dougherty, Vice President, Member Services, (far left) and Jim Pittas, President and CEO (far right) honored Daniel Brandao and Lashon Jones for Wipotec’s (W-18059) Golden 50th Birthday.

IN SHOW

See Superior Innovations from the Technology Excellence Awards Finalists

Vote for the Ultimate Winner in these Categories:

 Food/Beverage

 General Packaging & Processing

 Personal Care/Pharma

 Sustainability

Vote by Tuesday at noon on the mobile app or at packexpointernational.com/vote.

to see the finalist list and watch videos of these cutting-edge innovations.

future is woven into the very fabric of our culture and the values that propel Dow,” said Izabel Assis, North America commercial vice president, Packaging & Specialty Plastics at Dow. “This is why we are so excited to continue this partnership with PACK EXPO. We strive to inspire innovative thinking and encourage expanded collaboration throughout the packaging industry in our quest to create a more circular economy.”

Additionally, Dow leaders will present two educational sessions.

• Catalyzing Circularity: Policy, Products and Partnerships: Monday, 11/4 at 2:00 p.m., Sustainability Stage (Booth W-21020). Speakers will include Heather Turner (sustainability director) and Jennifer Ronk (senior sustainability marketer).

• The Packaging Playground: Investing for the Future: Tuesday, 11/5, at 2:00 p.m., Innovation Stage (Booth N-4560). Speakers will include Michelle Sauder (marketing director of food & specialty packaging), Kiesha Jones (marketing director of industrial & consumer packaging), and Dr. Rennisha Wickham (senior marketing manager of rigid packaging).

These presentations will showcase valuable industry experience and insights into improving packaging’s life cycle. Speakers will highlight Dow’s innovative solutions and the significance of collaboration when designing for recyclability and circularity.

“We take our role as an industry leader very seriously,” said Assis. “Our theme at this year’s show is A Circular Vision, The Diamond Standard. As the Official Sustainability Partner of PACK EXPO, we see an opportunity for Dow to help connect the value chain and inspire innovation, collaboration, open dialogue, and most importantly keep circular and renewable solutions top of mind. Experience shows us that it will take the entire value chain—from converters and OEMs, to haulers, brand owners and consumers—to create a truly circular economy.” ■

Supercharge Inspections with Dabrico’s DAI-50

A gap exists in the pharmaceutical industry regarding the visual inspection of difficult-to-inspect products. These products have challenging primary containers, such as molded glass, amber glass, and translucent plastic, and they also contain challenging pharmaceutical products, such as powders, freeze-dry products, and cloudy liquids.

Dabrico Inspection Systems (Booth LL-9011) chose the PACK EXPO International stage to unveil its DAI-50, claiming it’s the world’s first fully automated visual inspection machine for difficult-to-inspect products. Powered by Boon Logic’s AVIS platform, the DAI-50 learns normal variations in acceptable products, delivering unprecedented inspection accuracy with minimal false ejections. ■

—Dow official sustainability partner continued from page 1

High-Speed Pouch Loading/Unloading System

A 200-pouch-per-minute robotic system handles and protects pouches from loading retorts to unloading finished products.

Allpax (Booth S-3550), a ProMach brand, recently delivered a new high-speed automated pouch loading and unloading system to a customer to feed an existing bank of Allpax retorts.

“A world-leading contract packing operation struggled with manual loading and unloading of pouches for more than a year,” says David Cohen, Director of Software Engineering at Allpax. “The operation experienced excessive damage to pouches and trays, as well as not meeting output requirements. The Allpax automated pouch handling system solved these issues.”

At the load cell, the fully automated system uses Delta robots to orient and form a pattern of unprocessed pouches, and then uses six-axis robots to pick and place full patterns of pouches onto selfstacking trays at a rate up to 200 pouches per minute. A secondary six-axis robot is used to stack the trays on top of each other, and then the tray stack is conveyed out to an existing shuttle system that feeds the retorts. After the pouches have been retorted, the shuttle transports the tray stacks to the unloading cell. Trays are de-stacked by a six-axis robot and the full pouch

pattern is removed from the tray by another six-axis robot and placed onto a mass take-away conveyor.

As the pouches are moved down the mass conveyor, one row of pouches is discharged at a time to form a single lane of pouches, which are then sent to the packaging line. The six-axis robot flips empty trays over to ensure there aren’t any remaining pouches. The robot then re-stacks the empty trays so that complete tray stacks can be automatically returned to the load cell for use in loading the next batch of unprocessed pouches. Full automation maximizes output while reducing headcount in the retort room and lowers the risk of damage to the packages and trays compared to manual loading and unloading operations.

This scalable and customizable system integrates the robotic tray loading and unloading cells with an automated tray tracking system to ensure unprocessed tray stacks of pouches can’t be sent to the unloader cell without being fully processed in the retorts. The latest generation of Allpax automation controls are employed and are fully integrated with the retort process controls. Intuitive human machine interfaces

(HMIs) make learning, operating, and maintaining the system a breeze.

Like the equipment described above, the control system is designed and manufactured at the Allpax Covington, La., facility and uses offthe-shelf components for ease of replacement and serviceability. The Allpax engineers who design and build the system also support it, thus providing customers with knowledgeable and expedient help when needed. Customers can opt for 24/7 remoteaccess technical support for even quicker assistance, thus minimizing equipment downtime. ■

Feeders & Conveyors

Challenge

LEVEL UP YOUR CAREER

PACK Challenge Sponsors Support Workforce of the Future

Title Sponsor PepsiCo and Reception Sponsor Encoder Products Company (Booth S-4026) support student competition.

PepsiCo is the official title sponsor of PACK Challenge, a real-world, end-to-end packaging competition bringing together five high school teams for a machinebuilding challenge at PACK EXPO International. Show producer PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, introduced PACK Challenge (West Hall Lobby, Booth W–16005) to involve students in the machine-building process, provide real-world, hands-on experience, and demonstrate the benefits and opportunities available in a career in manufacturing.

PepsiCo’s sponsorship represents its commitment to advancing the packaging and processing workforce.

Join a network of packaging and processing professionals dedicated to advancing the industry through its next generation of leaders.

f On the Rise Awards

f Leadership Development Program

f Quarterly e-newsletters, monthly blog posts, & an active LinkedIn Group

f Young Professionals Conference

f Networking events at PACK EXPO and EXPO PACK trade shows

“At PepsiCo, we are deeply committed to nurturing the next generation of talent in the packaging and processing sectors. PACK Challenge not only equips students with hands-on, practical experience but also opens their eyes to the vast opportunities and innovations within the industry,” said Ron Khan, vice president, packaging, beverages, PepsiCo. “By sponsoring this competition, we aim to inspire students and underscore the importance of innovative thinking and technical skills in driving the future of sustainable and efficient packaging solutions. We believe that supporting educational initiatives like PACK Challenge is essential for cultivating a skilled workforce to lead the industry towards a more innovative and sustainable future.”

PACK Challenge provides the high schools with all the components necessary to build a machine that will denest and orient paper coffee cups in a mock production line. These teams designed and built their machine, which was then crated and shipped to PACK EXPO International, where they will be judged in various areas, including design, Factory Acceptance Test (FAT), operator training, marketing and sales expert and Judge Awards. The overall best-in-show team wins $9,000; second place receives $4,500; third place receives $2,500 from the PMMI Foundation, supporting student opportunities at PACK EXPO events.

Since its inception in 1998, the PMMI Foundation has given more than $3.8 million to strengthen the workforce within the industry.

“We are thrilled to host PACK Challenge and show students what a career in this industry looks like,” says Jim Pittas, president and CEO, PMMI. “Thank you to PepsiCo for supporting our future workforce and partnering with us to educate and inspire the next generation of leaders and innovators.”

In addition to PepsiCo’s title sponsorship of PACK Challenge, PMMI was pleased to have Encoder Products Company (Booth S-4026) sponsor the PACK Challenge Reception yesterday at the show. The reception allowed members and attendees to network, share their PACK EXPO experiences, and discuss industry challenges and developments. ■

SHOWCASE Future Innovators

Settle Plate Changer for Automated Viable Monitoring

SPC robotic solution from Syntegon reduces downtime and contamination risk in aseptic lling by 80%.

Syntegon Pharma Technology’s (Booth W-16099) Settle Plate Changer (SPC) for automated viable monitoring in the aseptic lling process is a robotic solution that helps customers comply with latest Annex 1 for new and existing equipment.

Higher machine availability thanks to automation

“Environmental monitoring is essential in aseptic manufacturing and has become even more important in the context of EU GMP Annex 1,” says Ste en Gröber, Global Product Manager Service at Syntegon.

Settle plates may be exposed to cleanroom air for a maximum of 4 hours and must then be replaced to ensure consistent sampling for liquid lling operations. With Syntegon’s new robotic handling unit, this step can now be performed automatically, signi cantly reducing the previously required production interruptions.

THE ‘BOTS ARE TAKING OVER PACK EXPO International!

Come see high school students from across the country.

Interact with the bright minds of the future and ask questions about their innovative robot designs.

Located in the West Hall in Booth W21054

Sunday - Tuesday | 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

Wednesday | 9:00 am - 3:00 pm

The newly developed Settle Plate Changer SPC 1000 automates passive viable monitoring and increases the change interval of the settle plates to a minimum of 24 hours.

“ anks to the SPC, machines only need to be stopped once a day for viable monitoring, which results in noticeably higher machine availability of up to 300 hours per year and, therefore, more sustainable processes,” says Gröber.

Process reliability and traceability also can be increased thanks to optional barcode scanning.

Reducing manual intervention and contamination risks

For more information about supporting student programs, visit the PMMI U booth at W20022. Produced by:

In addition to signi cant productivity advantages, the Settle Plate Changer ful lls another important Annex 1 requirement: reducing manual operator intervention in the process zone for environmental monitoring by 80%, thereby minimizing the contamination risk to a minimum. In the second chapter of Annex 1, automation and robotic systems are particularly emphasized under the keyword “appropriate technologies” for maintaining sterility.

“ e SPC re ects our commitment to meeting regulatory requirements at all times and to always putting customer needs rst. Even before Annex 1 came into force, we

As a key player in the packaging industry, RYCHIGER Canada formerly known as Nuspark Inc. is excited to see you at PackExpo in Chicago. We specialize in delivering complete packaging lines, standalone machines, and customized solutions for primary, secondary, and tertiary equipment. To continue setting industry benchmarks, we will be showcasing our new innovative Tray Packer with our new nesting solution, smart linear track tray handling system, our small footprint vertical cartoner, and a collaborative robot palletizer.

Come by our Booth #S-2153 on November 3rd – 6th for a chance to WIN some amazing prizes by participating in our “pronunciation” challenge and discuss firsthand the power of our state-of-the-art packaging automation solutions. We are eager to connect with you and discuss opportunities, share insights and experience in the packaging industry.

www.rychiger.com/packexpo

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—Continued from page 12

started developing our automated solution and secured the patent,” says Muhammed Ali Turac, Project Manager Automation at Syntegon Service.

Seamless and sustainable integration in new and existing machines

e Settle Plate Changer from Syntegon is available both with the purchase of a new machine and as a retro t for existing equipment.

“What’s more, it can also be seamlessly integrated into all machines and control systems from third-party suppliers,” Ste en Gröber emphasizes. “As a result, we ensure that the service life of existing equipment is increased and pharmaceutical manufacturers can run more sustainable processes thanks to reduced downtimes.”

Also

at PACK EXPO:

GKF 60 R&D ProTect Capsule Filling Machine

Also on display is the GKF 60 R&D ProTect capsule lling containment solution, which provides a barrier system to protect personnel from negative contamination impacts for production processes classi ed up to OEB4. Its compact design features six stations, making it a exible and space-e cient solution ideal for R&D and smallscale production.

RMA: exible assembly of small batches

anks to the new RMA, pens and autoinjectors, essential for antidiabetics and weight management products, can be precisely assembled. Syntegon developed this space-saving, semi-automatic assembly machine for clinical trials and small batches in close cooperation with customers. e system supports pharmaceutical manufacturers in determining the properties of their drug delivery systems and assembling them in accordance with regulatory standards. e RMA adheres to Syntegon’s design philosophy of scalability, allowing customers to seamlessly transition to higher-output machines as they increase capacity for market launches. ■

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!

Please join us in expressing our heartfelt thanks to the sponsors of PACK EXPO International 2024 for their generous support.

Boundless Educational Opportunities Available at PACK EXPO International 2024

Attendees can explore over 150 free educational sessions, engage with industry experts, and experience new show features that offer the latest strategies and innovations shaping the future of packaging and processing.

PACK EXPO International 2024 is proud to host unmatched educational opportunities designed to empower industry professionals from around the world. With over 150 free educational sessions available, attendees will have access to a wealth of knowledge, insights, and resources essential for navigating today’s rapidly evolving manufacturing landscape.

This year, two exciting new show features— Emerging Brands Central and Sustainability Central—will take center stage, offering attendees cutting-edge insights and strategies to propel their businesses forward.

Emerging Brands Central

Located in the West Hall at Booth W-20049, Emerging Brands Central is a must-visit destination for rising brands looking to scale their operations and expand their reach. This educational hub, an evolution

of the Emerging Brands Summit, will host 30-minute sessions led by industry experts.

These sessions will cover a range of topics including packaging machinery and innovation and scaling strategies, providing actionable advice for brands eager

Sustainability Central

to grow. Attendees will be uniquely able to engage with thought leaders and gain the practical knowledge needed to overcome growth challenges. Brands can also take advantage of an opportunity to meet industry expert advisors one-on-one at Emerging Brands Central. Advisors are available for complimentary oneon-one private consultations to provide personalized advice for each brand’s specific need.

Making its debut at PACK EXPO International 2024, Sustainability Central is set to become the epicenter of sustainable packaging innovation. Located in the West Hall at Booth W-21020, this new feature provides a comprehensive look at what sustainability means for brands today. Industry experts will lead discussions on a wide array of topics, including sustainable packaging, design, EPR, and circularity. Attendees will walk away with actionable insights on enhancing their sustainability initiatives, making their brands more eco-friendly and competitive in an increasingly environmentally

conscious marketplace. In addition, the latest research and best practices in sustainable packaging from leading colleges and universities, PMMI Business Intelligence, and AMERIPEN will be on display.

“PACK EXPO International 2024 is not just an exhibition; it’s a global hub for innovation and education,” says Laura Thompson, vice president, trade shows, PMMI. “With the introduction of Emerging Brands Central and Sustainability Central, we’re providing attendees with unparalleled access to cuttingedge strategies and solutions that are shaping the future of our industry. This is the place where ideas become reality and where professionals come to expand their knowledge and drive their businesses forward.”

A World of Learning at Your Fingertips

In addition to these new features, PACK EXPO International hosts a multitude of educational stages and pavilions where attendees can dive into specialized topics and learn from global industry leaders. Highlights include:

Reusable Packaging Learning Center: Sponsored by the Reusable Packaging Association, the Reusable Packaging Learning Center (Booth LU-6737) offers insights into how reusable packaging systems can

drive efficiency and sustainability in the supply chain and cover topics such as logistics, improving material handling performance, and value assessment.

PACK EXPO International 2024 is more than just a trade show—it’s a dynamic educational experience that equips packaging and processing professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to excel in today’s competitive environment.

Whether you are a seasoned expert or an emerging brand, the opportunities for growth and learning at this year’s event are unparalleled. ■

Innovation Stages: On three stages in the North Hall (Booths N-4560, N-4580, N-4585) exhibitors and subject matter experts present free 30-minute seminars on breakthrough technologies and solutions such as AI, robotics, design, and sustainability.

Processing Innovation Stage: Focused on food and beverage processing advancements, experts on this stage cover topics such as food safety and sustainability in 30-minute sessions at Lakeside Upper Hall, Booth LU-7147.

Industry Speaks: Experts from the PACK EXPO International Partner Program, covering multiple industry verticals, address the latest hot topics and industry trends such as sustainability, safety, AI, automation, design, and robotics. Located at Booth N-4544 in the North Hall.

Vote Now for Technology Excellence Awards

Recognize PACK EXPO debuts by selecting winners in four categories.

New this year, voting began online on Oct. 28 and runs through noon on Tuesday, Nov. 5. In-person attendees are encouraged to visit the nalist’s booths and vote via the o cial show app or online. Winners will be announced a er noon on Nov. 5.

More than 100 solutions suppliers submitted nominations for this year’s awards, which were reviewed by a panel of top industry professionals and narrowed down to three nalists in four categories.

e Technology Excellence Awards Panelists are:

• Anne Marie Mohan, senior editor, Packaging World

Voting remains open for the 2024 Technology Excellence Awards (TEA), which recognize the best innovations in packaging and processing being presented for the rst time at a PACK EXPO event.

Detecting the Invisible — The Only Proven Detection Technology for Soft Plastic Food Radar (Booth LU-7464)

e patented Food Radar® technology was born out of a need to detect common food contaminants that existing technologies could not detect. Food safety must always be at the top of the industry’s agenda, and removing physical contamination is central to achieving that goal. Low-density foreign bodies, such as so and hard plastics, rubber, wood, and pit fragments, have always caused problems for the industry. e traditional methods are insu cient to address this issue going forward, so the Food Radar® represents a new opportunity for the food industry. Foreign bodies are detected by transmitting

• David Smith, principal, David S. Smith & Associates

• Matt Reynolds, editor, Packaging World

• Michael Costa, editor-in-chief, ProFood World

Food/Beverage

low power microwaves through the food product. e system uses a microwave sensor designed for emulsions and pumpable products and measures the dielectric properties of the food. Foreign bodies produce a deviation from the norm, activating a very fast pneumatic rejection, controlled by a proprietary automatic algorithm. e system can also detect denser foreign objects such as glass and metal but is particularly well-suited to less dense foreign objects such as wood splinters, hard and so plastics, rubber, extraneous vegetable matter, fruit, stones and starch lumps.

Now boasting a client list of major international food manufacturers, the Food Radar® technology is continuously proving its value.

PMMI Vice President of Trade Shows Laura ompson announced the nalists for each category in a series of videos available at www.packexpointernational.com/tea “ e Technology Excellence Awards at PACK EXPO International are a testament to the incredible innovations shaping the future of the packaging and processing industries,” says ompson. “ ese nalists represent the forefront of technology, driving advancements in sustainability, e ciency, and safety across multiple sectors. We are excited to give attendees the opportunity to engage with these trailblazing solutions and vote for their favorites both online and in person.”

Read more about the 2024 Technology Excellence Award nalists below.

Food Safety Solution

Antares Vision Group (Booths LU-6816, S-3754) is comprehensive solution allows manufacturers and distributors to track the origin of raw materials, manage purchase orders, track statuses and deliveries with subcontractors, while providing a labeling solution with all required attributes to meet regulatory compliance, particularly addressing FSMA regulations.

Challenges Solved:

• Traceability: Ensures full traceability of raw materials and ingredients to verify authenticity and origin.

• Regulatory Compliance: Addresses stringent FSMA regulations by providing comprehensive labeling solutions.

• Supply Chain Management: Streamlines procurement, production, and delivery processes to meet consumer demands and regulatory requirements.

• Transparency: Enhances transparency across the supply chain to satisfy consumer demands for information and veri cation.

• Data Accuracy: Ensures accurate recording and reporting of food safety data to drive informed decision-making.

Bene ts:

• Enhanced Food Safety: Guarantees the safety and quality of food products by tracing their origins and complying with FSMA regulations.

• Regulatory Compliance: Meets regulatory requirements e ortlessly with comprehensive labeling solutions and accurate data reporting.

• E cient Supply Chain Management: Streamlines supply chain operations for improved e ciency and reduced risks.

• Improved Transparency: Enhances transparency across the supply chain, enabling quick response to food safety incidents and consumer inquiries.

• Throughput of 1,000 products/min

• Ideal for fast lines with light products

• Advanced vibration control

• Digital force balance cell See the AW9 Checkweigher in Action at Booth N-4725

Anritsu AW9 Checkweigher

Experience the latest innovation in weighing technology with Anritsu’s new AW9 Series Ultra-Fast Checkweigher. The AW9 delivers precise weighing accuracy at an impressive throughput of 1,000 products per minute. This innovation is just one of many Anritsu solutions that enhance quality control and operational efficiency.

PAVILION HOTSPOTS

FIND TARGETED SOLUTIONS

LAKESIDE UPPER HALL

The Processing Zone

Find front-of-the-line solutions for food and beverage processing and discover ways to increase safety, improve efficiency, and achieve total system integration.

The Reusable Packaging Pavilion

Discover reusable assets that reduce waste, provide more reliable protection for your production, and can be part of a smart supply chain.

Sponsored by:

NORTH HALL

The Logistics Pavilion

Find supply chain solutions that include equipment and systems for warehousing and material handling, dock and warehouse, inventory management and control, distribution logistics services and transportation providers.

SOUTH HALL

The Confectionery Pavilion

Uncover specialized equipment and integrated systems for your candy, chocolate, mints, and gum production lines.

Sponsored by:

PACKage Printing Pavilion

Explore technology that makes customization, promotions, small runs, on-demand production, and smart packaging cost-effective.

WEST HALL

The Containers and Materials Pavilion

Find new sustainable materials, flexible packaging, printable films, and more. Also, see award-winning packages at:

—Continued from page 18

Visual AI — Setting the New Standard for Resilient, E cient, and Sustainable Manufacturing

Oxipital AI™ (Booth LU-7243)

Food/Beverage

By unraveling the challenges of high-variability manufacturing environments, Oxipital AI™ visual AI presents manufacturers with actionable insights to drive more resilient and sustainable manufacturing. Inspection data unveils essential intelligence for:

• Defect Detection: Identify and classify defects at any production stage to pinpoint origin, optimize quality, reduce waste, and improve margins.

• Attribute Tracking: Identify, measure, and track a vast range of product attributes to ensure your products are in spec at any point in production.

• Live Monitoring: Gain real-time insight into production quality to respond faster, minimize downtime, and improve e ciency.

• Trend Analysis: Identify and analyze production trends to make data-driven decisions, anticipate future issues, and drive continuous improvement e AI-enabled inspection solution seamlessly. integrates into manufacturers’ existing work ows without process disruption or upstream product presentation requirements. No code, machine vision,

or data labeling is required to deploy these solutions, leading to immediate and transformative impact for manufacturers.

Oxipital AI™’s visual AI solutions combine reliable hardware with intuitive so ware and pre-trained object models to deliver a holistic experience to users. A camera captures images, which are then processed on the edge in real-time to recognize patterns, anomalies, and deviations, agging those that don’t meet desired quality standards. User-friendly webbased dashboards deliver actionable insights, allowing process and quality engineers to uncover trouble areas in production and make data-driven process changes, resulting in increased yield, reduced waste, improved quality, and pro tability.

General Packaging & Processing

Amcor Revolution™ APET Packaging Solution — Revolutionizing Recycling

Amcor Flexibles North America (Booth S-3705)

The Healthcare Packaging Pavilion

Visit your one-stop shop for solutions targeted to pharmaceuticals, biologics, nutraceuticals, medical devices and more.

When disposed of in curbside recycling containers, this innovative packaging is sorted into PET bales and processed by plastics recyclers. e wash tank method separates the PE layer from the PET, allowing the PE sealant to oat and be collected with other components, while the PET sinks for recycling within the PET stream. is technology is designed so existing infrastructure separates the PE from the PET so consumers do not need to separate the PE sealant prior to recycling the package. is design maintains optimal peel strengths, tailored sealant layers, and consistent oxygen barrier performance. Recycling Revolution™ Sortable Barrier APET packaging dramatically lessens the

environmental impact when recycled compared to baseline packaging sent to land ll. According to an Amcor ASSET™ life cycle assessment, it reduces nonrenewable energy use by 71%, cuts the fossil carbon footprint by 57%, and uses 51% less water. ese savings are comparable to the energy use of burning a CFL light bulb for a year, the emissions of driving a car for a year, and the water used in numerous showers. Amcor Revolution™ APET has received Critical Guidance Recognition from the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR) for meeting or exceeding Critical Guidance criteria, is prequali ed with How2Recycle® for “check locally” in the U.S. and “widely recycled” in Canada, and is listed on Walmart’s ‘Circular Connector’ platform. ese achievements underscore Amcor’s commitment to sustainability and innovative solutions that facilitate a circular economy.

SSV Series Drum Motors

Most Hygienic Conveyor Belt Drives

IP69K- d W hd w

belt profile is machined directly onto the drive ( ) for another profiled sleeve to match the belt required

belt profile is machined directly onto the drive

ELIMINATE B H b

ELIMINATE P d B d

ELIMINATE D v S k

General Packaging & Processing

In-Line Magnets

•Vacuum or pressure line protection.

Pneumatic Style Metal Separators

•Detect and reject ferrous, non-ferrous, and stainless steel metal contaminants.

• Fast-acting flap reject assures minimal loss of good product.

sales@buntingmagnetics.com buntingmagnetics.com

Syntegon Cookie Tray Loading System

Syntegon Packaging Technology, LLC (Booth S-2914)

• Unobstructed product flow in dilute phase conveying up to 15 psi.

e integrated cookie tray packaging system features an FGCT Tray Loader, a FIT/202 Tray Overwrapper and a MagTrac/BEC Cartoner.

e all-new FGCT (Feeding Grouping Counting Turbo) is a high-speed tray loader providing a multilane high-speed counting operation. e rotary stacker precisely counts the cookies, which are then placed into a cross-chain for downstream trayloading. e new FGCT can achieve a rate of up to 3,000 cookies per min.

e FGCT system is complemented by the FIT linear motor infeed system and Pack 202 wrapper.

e FIT enables contactless synchronization of trays, surpassing the speed of traditional chain solutions

Fogg’s PF Series Pressure Filler

Fogg Filler Company (Booth S-3614)

Fogg’s PF pressure ller series is a complete rethink of lling technology engineered as a hybrid system to o er signi cant advantages over current gravity bowl and pressure gravity lling designs. It is a technological hybrid pairing that integrates the precision and the product supply pressure of contactless electronic metering valves with the closed loop bypass process controls and clean/sterilize-inplace (CIP/SIP) cleanability in a contact- lling valve. In place of exible hoses, this system is comprised of downward-sloped stainless-steel plumbing for a more direct and hygienic product path. is makes for a fully CIP/SIP-able system that will increase speed and cleanliness in the lling process and greatly reduce the opportunity for temperature loss in hot- lled products. ese stainless tubes are in a xed position, minimizing the total moving parts on the ller. e technology is simpler to operate and maintain, with fewer parts and controls than non contact electronic or vacuum- lling solutions. Technicians can easily understand the operation without a lengthy and costly training process.

and reducing infeed lengths. is will be the rst time the FIT “smart” infeed is joined with the Pack 202 horizontal ow wrapper, further pushing the advanced linear motion technology to lower-priced machines. e new FIT/202 can achieve a tray overwrapping rate of up to 150 trays per min. Once wrapped, the trays enter the all-new MagTRAC production feed, capable of handling a wide range of products, from wrapped bars to pre-formed trays, e ciently staging the products for automatic loading. e new Kliklok BEC endload cartoner o ers the bene ts of the proven machine series combined with the latest technological advancements to meet the requirements of automated production processes. e MagTRAC/BEC can achieve up to 400 products per minute infeed rate and up to 170 cartons per min.

ese lling systems dramatically improve the speed and e ectiveness of lling in distilled spirits and hot- ll beverage processes, among other food and beverage products, given creative new valve designs, valve product supply and venting systems, and precision “predictive pumping” technology. is new lling technology exempli es Fogg’s innovative reputation in the food and beverage lling industries. It represents long-awaited features and bene ts integrated into a machine that is historically discrete from multiple machine technologies.

MONDAY SHOW DAILY

—Continued from page 22

Unique Medical Lea et — Thin Bible Paper Booklet

ThinPrinting by St Michel Print (Booth W-13062)

e in Bible Paper Booklet is a new standard for pharmaceutical packaging. It provides an outstanding patient experience on their treatment journey, a shallow carbon footprint, and maybe the lowest cost. It is easy to open, close, and nd correct information (e.g., table of contents with page numbers and larger font size) compared to the standard lea et. In addition, it can be tailored to customer needs, and therefore, the size is suitable for the current package, and the content will be as needed. Because there is no folding, the booklet is extremely easy to remove from the package and vice versa. At the same time, it is highly environmentally friendly (~30 – 50% less paperweight than standard lea ets), and the price is signi cantly lower (~20%) with high volume. Due to lower weight, a package is lighter weight, and if needed, smaller in size, and transportation will have lower CO2 emissions (lighter containers and less transportation). For the same paper volume, as with the standard lea et, it can include at least three-to-four times more information (e.g., more languages). When several languages are included, the logistics and warehouse costs will also decrease (stock item numbers and the need of warehouse space will decrease).

Personal Care/Pharma

Omni-IR™

Pace Packaging, LLC (Booth S-3506)

e Omni-IR™ is the new generation of Pace’s linear technology. Employed in a wide range of industries, these unscramblers excel at e ciently unscrambling a wide range of container types, including round, rectangular, square, and oval PET, HDPE, PP, PS, and PVC bottles, with and without handles, as well as spiral-wound ber containers. Capable of achieving speeds ranging from 250 to 650 bottles per min., the Omni-IR™ series o ers manufacturers of all sizes a customizable solution to meet speci c production demands while adhering to budgetary constraints. Applications include personal care, ready-to-drink beverages, bottled water, automotive, laundry, household cleaning, and container decorating.

Amcor Opening Feature

Amcor Flexibles Healthcare (Booth S-3705)

Amcor’s Opening Feature (AOF) technology is a proprietary tear initiation technology incorporated into a variety of pharmaceutical packaging formats. e AOF technology is a notch-less opening feature that provides both child-resistance and senior-friendly performance, facilitating controlled dosing of pharmaceutical powders, granules, creams, gels, and liquids. Common package formats using the AOF technology include sachets, stickpacks, and blister lidding. e AOF technology is incorporated into the packaging material during the manufacturing process and is compatible with a variety of laminate technologies. e AOF technology is applied in register with the graphics. e package tears at the printed indicator only and is not evident to a child. e AOF technology can be adapted to each individual package format for maximum e ectiveness. e AOF technology does not impact the package’s barrier properties, seal strength, integrity, or aesthetics. It is essentially invisible to the consumer, making it an ideal technology for use in child-resistant, senior-friendly packaging formats.

A CONFECTIONERY JUNGLE PACKAGED AUTOMATICALLY. BROUGHT TO LIFE WITH SCHUBERT.

PACKEXPO CHICAGO

NOV 03 - 06, 2024

SCHUBERT NORTH AMERICA NORTH HALL BOOTH 6151

SCHUBERT PHARMA WEST HALL BOOTH 16095 WELCOME

How can you package confectionery and baked goods flexibly in a wide variety of pack formats? With pick & place robots that accurately position each product and systems that effortlessly switch between different packaging materials. Saving precious resources –with virtually no waste. This is our Mission Blue. A true benefit for the climate and the many FMCG manufacturers who have been relying on us since 1 66. And for you too. www.schubert.group/en/confectionery-snacks.html

—Continued from page 24

EnduraGrip® Omada™ — Automating Application of Paper-based Handles at Scale Smur t Westrock (Booth S-2830)

e automated application of EnduraGrip® Omada™ allows brands to e ciently and e ectively replace plastic clips with a more sustainable, recyclable alternative. e use of these paper-based clips also increases shelf impact thanks to their fully printable surface.

Omada delivers e cient throughput and minimal

product movement, even with products in low-walled trays, by o ering a continuous product ow through the machine. Since intermittent stoppage can jostle bottles, Omada’s continuous product motion ensures the accurate placement of handles onto the primary products in the case.

Omada’s servo-driven application enables the machine to operate at a high speed with highly repeatable accuracy while carefully controlling the application pressure and positioning—critical

factors for successfully placing paper-based handles. Traditional pneumatic systems are powered by compressed air, while Omada’s servos operate on electricity. is is both e cient and cost-e ective and provides control over force and torque. e machine also utilizes an automatic magazine changeover system for seamless operation.

During the design process for Omada, Smur t Westrock used a digital twin to design and validate the machine virtually—for a more sustainable and e cient process that minimized unnecessary waste.

PPK Natura — World’s First PET Resin Made from Waste Carbon

Plastipak Packaging, Inc. (Booth W-24100) PPKNatura is the world’s rst polyethylene terephthalate (PET) resin made from captured carbon emissions. e innovative carbon capture and transformation (CCT) technology from LanzaTech converts waste carbon into materials such as sustainable fuels, fabrics, packaging, and other products that people use in their daily lives. e resin is suitable for food, personal care, pharmaceutical packaging, and other non-packaging applications.

PPK Natural resin reduces greenhouse gas emissions, and its production process does not require land or food resources. In addition, packaging made from this material can be fully recycled at the end of its life, keeping the carbon in a circular material cycle. Proprietary bacteria are applied to consume a variety of waste feedstocks and convert them into new chemicals, which can be turned into packaging, clothing, laundry detergent, aviation fuel, and more. e company explains that while PET resin contains 30% monoethylene glycol (MEG) traditionally sourced from petroleum, PPK Natura utilizes LanzaTech’s carbon capture technology to produce CarbonSmart MEG.

DISCOVER CUTTING-EDGE AUTOMATION

To get ahead and stay ahead in the protein industry, you need the world’s most advanced turnkey packaging solutions.

• Amcor Moda Packaging Solutions: modular equipment that improves safety, reduces handling requirements, increases product throughput, drives cost takeouts and enables business continuity.

• Amcor shrink bags: sustainable solutions that reduce leakers and rework, minimize waste, improve product presentation and optimize shelf-appeal.

Responsible packaging for a brilliant future.

DAILY DEMOS OF MODA PACKAGING EQUIPMENT

Experience the equipment and engage with our experts, in South Hall, booth 3705.

amcor.com/pack-expo

THE CANDY BAR LOUNGE

SOUTH HALL BOOTH S2682

A SWEET SPOT FOR NETWORKING

Indulge in fruitful conversations. Connect, learn and idea share with fellow confectionery enthusiasts.

Hosted by: Sponsored by:

—Continued from page 26

Sustainability

Innovating Circular Sustainability

Harpak-ULMA Packaging, LLC (Booths N-4736, N-4643, and N-5043)

Balancing packaging functionality with environmental responsibility is a key tenent of #ULMAweCare, driving technological innovations that support an increasingly circular production model. Transitioning to more sustainable materials, such as mono-material lms, is di cult as many packaging machines were not designed to handle these newer, more environmentally friendly lms. ese lms require precise temperature control and specialized forming processes to ensure optimal performance and recyclability. ULMA Packaging has developed two groundbreaking technologies, BETTER-SEAL™ and ECO-FORM™, each representing signi cant advancements in handling these new lm types. ■

Elevating Co-Packing with PLAN IT Packaging’s Automated Solutions

Machinery did work that previously took up to 25 employees to complete manually.

GET READY TO LAUGH WITH NATE BARGATZE!

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4

LAKESIDE CENTER, ARIE CROWN THEATER

Networking Reception: 4:30 pm

Comedy Performance: 5:30 pm

Tickets: $95 (purchase in registration)

Join colleagues for a night of laughs with Grammy-nominated comedian Nate Bargatze. Proceeds benefit the PMMI Foundation. Tickets include beer, wine, light hors d’oeuvres, and general admission seating.

Proceeds benefit the Title Sponsor:

PLAN IT Packaging (Booth LU-8735) takes pride in supporting businesses that push the boundaries of innovation and e ciency in their industries. One such business is WG Pro-Manufacturing Inc., a Canadian consumer goods sector leader. Since its inception in 1993 by President Karl Wirtz, WG Pro has transformed from a small operation in a 9,000-square-foot facility into a major player in the co-packing industry, with expansive facilities in the greater Toronto area and Lethbridge, Alberta.

A Legacy of Innovation and Growth

WG Pro’s journey began with managing reclaimed and returned products for a major pharmaceutical company. Over the years, the company has evolved into a powerhouse in the co-packing industry, o ering a comprehensive range of services, including ambient, frozen, and refrigerated product packaging. eir commitment to innovation and quality has earned them the trust of high-pro le clients like PepsiCo, Laura Secord, Nestlé, and Kellogg’s.

“We’ve always focused on providing a controlled environment where we can handle packaging for our clients,” said Wirtz. “ is approach has allowed us to alleviate congestion in their spaces and o er streamlined services.”

Meeting Challenges

with Automation e challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in the second year, made it di cult for WG Pro to maintain its operations due to labor shortages. Faced with this obstacle, Wirtz turned to PLAN IT Packaging Systems for a solution.

“I’ve known Mark Evangelista, PLAN IT’s Director of Sales, for many years, so when we faced labor challenges, I knew PLAN IT’s automated solutions could be the key to our continued growth,” Wirtz said. “ e exibility and e ciency of their equipment, particularly the portable bagger, were exactly what we needed.”

Embracing Advanced Packaging Technology

WG Pro’s facilities are now equipped with stateof-the-art machinery from PLAN IT Packaging, including the Mars ComPak vertical form/ ll/seal (V/F/F/S) bagging machine. is advanced system has revolutionized WG Pro’s operations, allowing them to achieve high-speed, precise packaging with minimal manual intervention.

“ e Mars ComPak allows us to produce approximately 40 bags per minute, a task that would have required about 24 to 25 personnel to accomplish manually,” says Wirtz. “ is machine has enhanced

our e ciency and exibility, enabling us to handle various products with ease.”

e Mars ComPak is integrated with automated weighing systems, ensuring precise measurements and compliance with weight regulations—essential for maintaining consistency in packaging weights and reducing product waste. Additionally, PLAN IT’s comprehensive array of automated packaging equipment, including lling machines, sealing equipment, and labeling systems, has streamlined WG Pro’s processes, reduced labor costs, and improved operational e ciency.

A Partnership for the Future

As WG Pro continues to expand, the role of automation will be pivotal in supporting their ambitious growth plans. Wirtz is already considering additional investments in PLAN IT Packaging’s systems, including the potential establishment of a new facility in Tennessee or Georgia.

“Our advancements in automation are creating new opportunities for us,” Wirtz said. “PLAN IT Packaging’s solutions have been integral to our success, and we look forward to further collaboration as we continue to grow.” ■

Emerging Brands Accelerate Growth at PACK EXPO International

New show feature, Emerging Brands Central, offers free educational sessions and one-on-one consultations for businesses looking to scale up.

Growing brands seeking to scale up and expand operations can find valuable information and resources at the new Emerging Brands Central at PACK EXPO International 2024.

Emerging Brands Central, located in Booth W-20049, features free educational sessions with industry experts designed for brands growing their manufacturing operations. The free 30-minute sessions will cover topics such as:

• Brand Growth Strategies: How companies can effectively scale operations through value engineering and incremental automation.

• Sustainability and Innovation: Focused discussions on sustainable packaging, materials, and processes, plus utilizing innovations in manufacturing and packaging.

• Navigating Market Challenges: Insights into market trends, overcoming entry barriers and supply chain challenges for new brands.

A complete list of sessions can be found under the Education tab in Map Your Show or at www.packexpointernational.com/education/emerging-brands-central.

Expert advisors also will be available for complimentary one-on-one consultations on-site during the show. The advisors have decades of combined consumer packaged goods experience with companies like PepsiCo, Dannon, General Mills, Del Monte, Nestlé, and Kraft. Meet the advisors and schedule appointments at www.packexpointernational.com/education/emerging-brands-central

“The addition of Emerging Brands Central to PACK EXPO International shows that companies of all sizes and backgrounds have a place at the largest packaging and processing event in the manufacturing industry,” says Laura Thompson, vice president of trade shows, PMMI. “Growing brands seeking to expand can use this time to learn, get expert advice, and network with their peers. The possibilities of the types of connections that can be made are endless.”

Emerging brands can also take advantage of being introduced to thousands of manufacturing solutions located within seven specialty pavilions that can help them scale up and expand operations. In addition, there are 150+ educational sessions available at the show featuring topics such as sustainability, AI, automation, robotics, food safety, production, and more. Brands also have ample opportunity to connect with other businesses at the many networking and special events.

Emerging Brands Central is sponsored by Accredo Packaging Inc. (Booth W-24049), Bizerba USA, Inc. (Booth S-2066), Esko (Booth W-13051), Formic (Booth N-5069), Matthews Marking Systems (Booth S-2272), Oxipital AI (Booth LU-7243), Patterson Fan Co. (Booth LU-7127), PMMI ProSource (Booth N-4550), ProSys Fill LLC (Booth S-3656), Selig Group (N-5881), Sonoco (Booth S-2666), and Smurfit Westrock (Booth S-2830) ■

N -O -LIN

IN SOLU IONS

IPacteon works with you and for you as your single source solution to design, integrate, and service your product handling and automation needs. Your success matters.

Emerson Renews Commitment to Amazing Packaging Race

Student teams will tackle challenges set by exhibitors on Wednesday.

Emerson Discrete Automation Group (Booth N-5345) reaffirmed its support for The Amazing Packaging Race at PACK EXPO International, continuing a partnership with show producer PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, for over a decade.

Laura Thompson, vice president, trade shows at

PMMI, emphasized the significance of education and workforce development, stating, “PMMI is committed to engaging students and fostering their enthusiasm for our industry. The return of The Amazing Packaging Race to Chicago this year underscores our dedication to this cause.”

The event, which sees student teams solve

Carbon footprint reduction

challenges set by exhibitors across all four halls of the show floor, will culminate on Nov. 6 with prize presentations to the top three teams. Each winning team member will be awarded $1,000, with second and third-place teams receiving $500 and $250 per member, respectively.

Jim Pittas, president and CEO of PMMI, commended Emerson’s ongoing support, noting its pivotal role in sustaining programs like The Amazing Packaging Race and contributing significantly to the PMMI Foundation. “Our partnership with Emerson Discrete Automation Group is a source of immense pride, enabling us to collectively shape the industry’s future,” Pittas remarked.

The Amazing Packaging Race is one of several student activities designed to attract the next generation of packaging and processing professionals. Additional programs include PACK Challenge (Booth W-16005), sponsored by PepsiCo, a machinebuilding competition among high school teams; the Future Innovators Robotics Showcase (Booth W-21054), sponsored by Schneider Electric (Booth N-6030), displaying designs from Chicago-area high school teams; and the Workforce Development Pavilion (Booth W-20022), where companies can connect with students from PMMI education partner schools. ■

Next-level cosmetics fillin osin

Your benefits

Reduced footprint

⚪ Up to >50% savings compared to linear competition

Reduced time-to-market

⚪ Maximum flexibility in containers

⚪ Reduction of the format costs of the

Linear machine concept

⚪ Reduction of format changeover

by >50%

Decorative cosmetics

Skincare Health and Beauty

Exceptional Networking at PACK EXPO International 2024

PACK EXPO International 2024 offers invaluable networking opportunities designed to foster connections and inspire innovation across the industry.

PACK gives BACK™

Comedian Nate Bargatze, hailed as “The Nicest Man in Stand-Up” by The Atlantic Magazine, will headline this year’s PACK gives BACK™ event, with Rockwell Automation (Booth S-1544) as the Title

Sponsor. Scheduled for Monday, Nov. 4, at the Lakeside Center’s Arie Crown Theater, the evening will commence with a pre-show networking event followed by Bargatze’s performance. Tickets are $95 each, with a special offer: buy nine, get one free.

Vertical Conveying. Simplified.

Ryson Spiral Conveyors need less floor space than conventional conveyors and are faster and more reliable than any elevator or lift.

Unit Load Spirals convey cases, totes and packaged goods smoothly on our slat style belts and come in 9 standard slat widths ranging from 6” to 30”. Available in powder coated carbon steel, stainless steel, wet environment and freezer versions.

Mass Flow Spirals handle full and empty bottles, cans and jars in mass up to 2,000 units per minute. Available in 4 different slat widths ranging from 6” to 20”.

Narrow Trak Spirals are super compact and designed to handle smaller loads. Our 6” and 9” wide nesting slats can end-transfer small cartons and packages or side-transfer small bottles and containers in a single file or in mass at speeds in excess of 220 FPM.

Spiral Conveyors & Bucket Elevators

Ryson’s Bucket Elevators combine vertical and horizontal transportation of bulk materials in one integral unit.

Our Bucket Elevators are designed for gentle handling and well-suited to transport a broad range of bulk products. They are completely enclosed with overlapping pivoting buckets, that prevent spillage and helps mitigate foreign debris.

They can be configured with multiple inlets or outlets that can be controlled individually. Available in three standard bucket sizes, yielding capacities up to 300, 700 or 1,800 cubic feet per hour. They can also be delivered in powder-coated carbon-steel, or stainless-steel for wet environments.

All Ryson equipment is modular and built to order. No matter the application, the Ryson team is up to the challenge of finding solutions for your conveying needs. For application assistance or more information, give us a call or visit www.ryson.com

All proceeds will support the PMMI Foundation, which furthers packaging and processing education throughout North America.

Young Professionals Networking Reception

Immediately following PACK gives BACK™ on Monday, Nov. 4, PMMI’s Young Professionals Network will host a networking reception at Flight

Club Chicago. This event, sponsored by Beckhoff Automation LLC (Booth N-6136), provides a platform for emerging leaders in the industry to network and exchange ideas in a dynamic setting.

Nate Bargatze, Comedian

Too often you lose valuable production time to line changeovers between runs — or because lines aren’t equipped to handle modern packaging types. With Regal Rexnord’s flexible solutions, changeovers can happen faster:

• Accomplish news tasks within a few hours with this simple, modular design that can be integrated and reintegrated into a line.

• Efficiently handle a wide range of container types and sizes to maintain high throughput even when switching between different products.

• Eliminates last-mile sorting; which saves some of our customers up to $90,000.

Packaging & Processing Women’s Leadership Network Breakfast

On Tuesday, Nov. 5, this popular breakfast will feature Lisa Sun, founder & CEO of retail brand and lifestyle company GRAVITAS. Sun will share her inspiring story, providing data-driven insights and practical tips to help motivate all in attendance to step up and stand out. Breakfast sponsors include BW Packaging (Booth S-2100), Emerson (Booth N-5345), ID Technology (Booth S-3539), Morrison Container Handling Solutions (Booth N-4906), Plexpack Corp. (Booth S-2002), Schneider Electric

BE IMMERSED IN A WORLD OF PACKAGING SUSTAINABILITY

(Booth N-6030), Septimatech Group Inc. (Booth N-5136), and Syntegon Packaging Technology (Booth S-2914)

A Hub for Industry Connection

WEST HALL, BOOTH W21020

Experience how leading brands are paving the way towards a sustainable future. Expertled sessions and informational displays will help you understand packaging sustainability and what that means for your brand.

Scan to See Session List

Learn From the Best

Hear from companies leading by example. Amazon, Conagra Brands, Dr. Bronners, Merck and more on topics such as:

• How to drive sustainability in your organization

• Innovative collaborations and packaging solutions

• Designing for e-commerce packaging

• Pursuing the circular economy

Get Inspired

See firsthand innovative projects from academic institutions like Clemson University, University of Florida, and Virginia Tech, along with critical research from PMMI Business Intelligence and Ameripen

PACK EXPO International transforms more than 1.3 million net square feet of exhibit space into a vibrant hub for professionals seeking to connect. Exhibitor and member lounges, sponsored by Lenze Americas (Booth N-6024), industry-specific pavilions, and special association events such as the Cold Pressure Council Annual Conference and the F4SS Fall Connect will offer packaging and processing professionals meeting and collaboration venues.

Additional networking opportunities include the Confectionery Industry Reception, hosted by the National Confectioners Association (Booth S-2682) and held in the Candy Bar Lounge, sponsored by Syntegon Packaging Technology (Booth S-2914); the First-Time Attendee Breakfast, sponsored by ProMach (Booth S-3439, S-3500); and Industry Meets at PACK EXPO, featuring numerous events and meetings held by PMMI partner associations. For more information on networking opportunities visit packexpointernational.com. ■

Lisa Sun, CEO, GRAVITAS

Helping Customers Achieve Sustainability

Flexible packaging machines from Schubert support its sustainability goals.

Products must be packaged hygienically, e ciently and sustainably. With in-house developed robot technology and extensive consulting services, Schubert North America (Booths N-6151, W-16095) will showcase how it supports manufacturers in their pursuit of more sustainable processes and packages.

Whether due to consumer demands or legal regulations, sustainability is playing an important role for more and more manufacturers. Schubert has always valued environmental awareness. e company has set clear goals and measures through its Mission Blue sustainability initiative. To o er the best advice on addressing this complex challenge,

1. Download the PACK EXPO Mobile App –Select “Scavenger Hunt” for a listing of all required destinations. You must be logged into your My Show Planner to participate.

2. Visit Each Location – Enter the unique code located on signs at each destination stop.

Schubert experts provide support through its Packaging Perspectives services in the selection of materials and designing packaging solutions that are both machine-compatible and eco-friendly.

Schubert’s versatile, modular, and easily adjustable packaging machines process both conventional and fully recyclable packaging. Robot-based Top Loading Machine (TLM) technology manages a wide range of carton formats, trays, plastic crates, as well as standard and paper-based owpack lms while maintaining high quality.

“We are constantly advancing our innovative packaging machines, particularly in terms of sustainability,” says Martin Sauter, Head of Sales for Schubert. “Last year, for example, we upgraded our Flowpacker with Box Motion sealing technology, which allows cross-sealing using ultrasound. is seal is particularly suited for recyclable owpacks made from mono lms or paper-based lms.”

3. Win Prizes – Complete all stops to enter the drawing for one of three $1,000 Gift Cards. Winners will be announced via email the week of November 11. Join the Scavenger Hunt today and make your PACK EXPO experience unforgettable.

The pick & place robots ensure exact, millimeter precise placement of confectionery into the packaging.

The Bahlsen company saves 112 tons of plastic per year with new packaging developed by Schubert for its “PiCK UP” biscuit bar.

Optimizing packaging sizes reduces material usage

In addition to using more eco-friendly materials, packaging dimensions also play a crucial role in environmental protection. Saving just a few millimeters per pack can lead to signi cant material savings overall. However, smaller packaging sizes can only be achieved if they can be lled with products without compromising quality. Schubert’s pick and place robots help ensure this by playing a key role in the packaging process. ey precisely pick up items and place them into trays, cartons, or thermoformed packaging with millimeter accuracy. is precision is enabled by the vision system developed by Schubert, which also performs quality control for the products before packaging.

Sustainable packaging processes

While Schubert’s primary focus is on modular, digital and robot-based packaging machines, the company also carefully develops sustainable packaging processes. Last year, Schubert introduced two environmentally friendly solutions developed in-house: Dotlock, a technology that eliminates glue from cardboard packaging, and a cardboardmono lm hybrid solution, also glue-free that signi cantly reduces plastic usage.

Among other innovations, the Schubert experts from Packaging Perspectives will be presenting a cardboard-mono lm hybrid solution without glue that signi cantly minimises the use of plastic.

then pressed into the cardboard to create a strong force and form t. As a 100% glue-free packaging solution, Dotlock is completely recyclable through the paper cycle. e new hybrid packaging consists of cardboard and a very thin mono lm, both of which are easily separable a er use and therefore fully recyclable. ■

Dotlock is based on “clinching” technology, originally used for joining metals. e cardboard layers are punctured with a needle from one side, forming a collar on the other side. is collar is

Dotlock is a 100 per cent glue-free technology for cardboard packaging that Schubert developed in-house.

The World’s Largest Packaging and Processing Classroom

PACK EXPO International features programs designed to engage and inspire the next generation of talent in the packaging and processing sectors.

As the manufacturing industry faces a critical skills shortage, with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projecting the addition of 3.1 million jobs in maintenance and repair occupations by 2031, PACK EXPO International 2024 plays a pivotal role in addressing this challenge. The event features comprehensive programs designed to engage and inspire the next generation of talent in the packaging and processing sectors.

Student-Focused Initiatives

Recognizing the acute need to attract and retain a skilled workforce, PACK EXPO International, produced by PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, prioritizes educational outreach to students.

“PACK EXPO International’s student activities are a bridge that connects today’s students to tomorrow’s workforce, empowering them with the skills, knowledge, and experiences needed to thrive in an ever-evolving world,” said Kate Fioranti, director,

workforce development, PMMI

The event features a variety of activities aimed at introducing high school and college students to opportunities within the industry:

Girl Scout Event: New to the show, local Chicago Girl Scout Troops will receive credit for their Sustainable Packaging Patch. Scouts will meet in the Student Lounge on Sunday, Nov. 3, at 11:00 a.m. for a hands-on project focusing on sustainability. Lunch will be provided, followed by a panel and show floor tour from industry professionals.

Silent Auction - Foundation Fundraiser: Also new to the show, the Silent Auction will take place Sunday through Wednesday. Notable items up for bid include accommodations at premier Chicagoarea hotels, including the Langham, Sheraton Grand Riverwalk, LondonHouse, Loews, and the InterContinental Magnificent Mile. In addition, premium wine and spirits, gift cards, and more are available. All bidding will occur virtually, and items will be displayed on the Grand Concourse, Level 2.5.

Proceeds will benefit the PMMI Foundation. PACK Challenge: Returning for its second year, the PACK Challenge, sponsored by PepsiCo, invites five high school teams to participate in a machine-building competition. Competitors will demonstrate their skills by constructing full-scale material-handling machines capable of denesting

and orientating paper coffee cups. Participating schools are Argo Community High School, Elk Grove High School, Legacy Academy/Becker High School Coalition, Rich Township High School, and Waterford Union High School. This event will take place in the West Hall Lobby at Booth W-16005 Students PACK the EXPO: On Nov. 4 and 5,

Total Detection for Reliable Safety

Find out more about our inspection equipment and see live demonstrations at BOOTH S-1758!

Redefine product safety with the combined power of Metal Detection and X-ray systems. Together, they deliver unmatched contaminant detection, safeguarding your production line from foreign material risks.

PMMI will host local area students from Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin for a comprehensive expo experience. Activities will include PACK Quest, student tours, and a lunch-and-learn session to deepen their understanding of the industry.

Amazing Packaging Race: Sponsored by Emerson Discrete Automation Group (Booth N-5345), this dynamic competition involves college and university students from across North America who will navigate the expo floor, engaging in tasks set by participating exhibitors. This event highlights student creativity and fosters teamwork and practical industry engagement.

• Rochester Institute of Technology

• Rutgers University

• San Jose State University

• Toronto Metropolitan University

• Tuskegee University

• University of Florida

• University of Wisconsin – Stout

• Virginia Tech

Student Lounge (Room W-470b): PMMI HR professionals will conduct workshops focused on interview best practices and resume writing, equipping

students with essential tools to enter the workforce.

“These initiatives reflect our commitment to bridging the skills gap in the packaging and processing industries,” says Laura Thompson, vice president, trade shows, PMMI. “By connecting students with industry leaders and exposing them to real-world challenges and solutions, we are addressing immediate workforce needs and also investing in the future.”

For complete details on student activities at the show, visit packexpointernational.com/education/ student-opportunities ■

Future Innovators Robotics Showcase: In this event, sponsored by Schneider Electric (Booth N-6030), attendees will be able to witness cuttingedge robotics from high school teams across the country. These students will showcase their design, engineering, and troubleshooting prowess in the West Hall at Booth W-21054.

Student Tours: PMMI staff will conduct tours of the show floor daily at 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Tours start at the PMMI U/PMMI Foundation Booth at W-20022 (West Hall). Interested students should meet at the PMMI U Booth 10 minutes prior to the starting time. No pre-registration is required.

Professional Development

Further enhancing the student experience, PACK EXPO International will offer dedicated spaces for networking and professional development:

PMMI U/Workforce Development Pavilion: PACK EXPO International serves as the ultimate resource hub for strengthening the existing workforce and nurturing the future workforce. Colleges and universities will showcase their mechatronics and packaging and processing programs in the West Hall, while companies will have the opportunity to engage with students interested in pursuing careers in the industry. The list of participating schools include:

Superior High Shear Efficiency

Slash mixing times by up to 90% for faster production cycles

Create stable emulsions & suspensions effortlessly with high shear

Handle large volumes with ease while maintaining high-quality output

Maximize yields and achieve consistent results batch-after-batch

• California Polytechnic State University

• Clemson University

• Hennepin Technical College

• Illinois Institute of Technology

• Indiana State University

• Michigan State University

• Northwood Technical College

• Purdue University

Ready to optimize your food or beverage production process?

Explore our comprehensive mixing application guides & how-to videos to find the ideal solution for your mix >>

High Speed High Shear Mixers

Show Floor Education Offers Insight from Industry Insiders

Session descriptions, times, and locations can be accessed by scanning the QR codes or via the show app sponsored by ProMach (Booth S-3500).

Emerging Brands Central Debuts in Chicago

PACK EXPO International’s Emerging Brands Central is a new show feature debuting in the West Hall. Emerging Brands Central features free educational sessions with industry experts, designed for brands who are scaling their manufacturing operations.

Education session topics in Booth W-20049 include:

• How to Effectively Scale Your Operations Through Methods Like Value Engineering and Incremental Automation

• Responding to Consumer Demand for Product Innovation

• Developing a Smart Growth Strategy for Manageable and Controlled Scalability

Plus, take advantage of our free expert advisors who will be on-site during the show.

Sustainability Central Unveiled in Chicago

PACK EXPO International’s Sustainability Central is a new show feature debuting in the West Hall. Within Sustainability Central, attendees get different takes on sustainability from industry experts and gain insight into making brands more sustainable for the future.

Education session topics in Booth W-21020 include:

• Catalyzing Circularity

• Toward Global Recyclability Design Guidance

• Sustainability in Biopharmaceutical Packaging

• Enabling Circularity with Smart Packaging

• Sustainable Innovation: Collaborations Drive Decarbonization

• Creating a Business Case to Drive Sustainability

• Design E-commerce Packaging to Enhance Customer Experience

5 Star Rating

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• Robotic palletizer

• FlexLine delta robot packer

• Unipack robotic case packer

• Line auditing system ...and more

63 Pickering Street, Portland, CT info@standard-knapp.com • (860) 342-1100 standard-knapp.com • eol.group

4, 2024

Innovation Stages for Free Cutting-Edge Education Sessions

For up-to-the-minute content, head to the always-popular Innovation Stages (Booths N-4560, N-4580, and N-4585). Exhibitors and subject matter experts present packaging industry breakthroughs, new products, and best practices during fast-paced, 30-minute seminars presented on three stages.

Education session topics include:

• Designing the Future of Packaging

• Ensuring Food Safety

• AI Strategies to Meet Packaging Circularity

• 2024 Maintenance Trends & Challenges

• Accelerating Digitalization

• Leveraging Data for Predictive Maintenance

Education for Improving Food and Beverage Operations

Got 30 minutes? Take a seat at the Processing Innovation Stage (Booth LU7147) to hear about the latest food and beverage processing breakthroughs and improvements to make in operations. Content is targeted to food and beverage manufacturers. Exhibitors and subject matter experts present packaging industry breakthroughs, new products, and best practices during fast-paced seminars.

Education session topics include:

• Advances in HPP

• Transformative Waste Management

• AI-Enabled Vision

• Demystifying Automation

• Next Gen PEF Technology

South Building, Room S-102

Lounge Hours: Sunday – Tuesday: Wednesday: 8:00 am – 3:00 pm

If your badge says, “First-Time Attendee,” stop by to:

 Get expert assistance

 Access product locators

 Enjoy refreshments and comfortable seating

 Attend a special session just for newbies

Special Session: Sun – Tues at 8:30 am How to Navigate the Show Like a Pro

Your First-Time Attendee Badge is your access pass.

—Continued from page 46

PACK EXPO Partners O er Perspective at Industry Speaks Stage

ought leaders hailing from PACK EXPO International Partner Associations will bring you intriguing views from various vertical industries, address hotbutton topics, and share their thoughts on industry trends at the Industry Speaks Stage (Booth N-4544). Nearly 20 associations are scheduled to speak, including the Cold Pressure Council (Booth N-4512), CPA—Contract Packaging Association (Booth N-4511); IoPP—Institute of Packaging Professionals (Booth N-4513); and F4SS—Foundation for Supply Chain Solutions (Booth N-4510)

e free 30-minute presentations focus on topics including:

• Key Robotic Trends and eir Impact on Industry

• Find Your Perfect Contract Manufacturer

• BEMA Intel: Trending Data that Matters

• State of the Snack Category

Eltex TERRALIGHT

Ground Monitoring System

YOUR FACILITY

• Advanced LED Monitoring: Real-time status updates.

• Battery-Powered Operation: No external power required

• User-Friendly: Simple operation and maintenance.

• Durable: Withstands harsh environments.

PACK EXPO International 2024 Offers Robust Sustainability Education

Companies will share best practices in Sustainability Central.

PACK EXPO International 2024 spotlights sustainability with new and expanded show resources to help brands lessen energy consumption, minimize waste, and reduce overall carbon footprint.

Debuting at PACK EXPO International, Sustainability Central (Booth W-21020) is a unique opportunity for attendees to delve into packaging sustainability and its implications. This show floor destination, featuring expert speakers and a showcase of actionable, sustainable solutions in manufacturing, materials, recovery, logistics, analytics, and design, offers over 20 educational sessions. These sessions, led by experts from Amazon, Conagra, Clorox, Dow, Merck, Mars Wrigley, the Consumer Brands Association, and other major industry players, provide insights on a range of topics.

Additionally, Sustainability Central features displays from Virginia Tech, Consortium for Waste Circularity, Clemson University, PMMI Business Intelligence, U.S. Plastics Pact, and AMERIPEN, among others, sharing their latest planet-friendly innovations, research, and best practices.

As a testament to its commitment to a seamless and productive event, show producer PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, is expanding resources to assist attendees in efficiently navigating the show. This initiative is designed to ensure that attendees can make the most of the show’s exhibition space, where they can witness sustainability-enhancing solutions in action.

• For advanced online planning, attendees can use the Sustainability Solutions Finder, a professionally vetted and searchable tool, to locate exhibitors with environmentally friendly products and machinery. A kiosk is also located in Sustainability Central.

• On-site, attendees can look for the PACK EXPO Green icon to identify sustainable materials and machinery suppliers and educational sessions focused on sustainability. The online exhibitor directory has a complete list of current PACK EXPO Green exhibitors.

“We’ve intentionally partnered with companies, exhibitors, and vendors to integrate sustainability into every component of PACK EXPO International, including educational programming, show features, and how we do business as the largest packaging and processing event this year,” says Laura Thompson, PMMI’s vice president, trade shows.

In addition to the new and expanded education and show navigation resources, attendees can experience the returning features and initiatives that support their ecoconscious efforts:

• Sustainability-focused educational sessions occur at the Innovation Stage, Processing Innovation Stage, and Industry Speaks.

• The Reusable Packaging Pavilion (Upper Lakeside) features Reusable

Packaging Association member companies demonstrating sustainable packaging solutions to help reduce waste, cut costs, and gain supply chain efficiency. Attendees can explore reusable transport packaging products and services and see innovative reuse solutions.

• Sponsored by Smurfit WestRock (Booth S-2830), The Showcase of Packaging Innovations® (Booth W-21030), located within the Containers and Materials Pavilion, displays award-winning packaging from around the world.

Additionally, PMMI worked with Dow (Booth W-21062), the Official Sustainability Partner and the Official Sponsor of Show Floor Recycling at PACK EXPO International, to minimize the event’s environmental impact and divert as much waste as possible from landfills. PMMI is also proud to host PACK EXPO International 2024 at McCormick Place, recognized by independent thirdparty organizations such as LEED, APEX, Green Seal, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for its innovative strategies to reduce its carbon footprint.

Learn more about PACK EXPO International’s Sustainability Commitment at packexpointernational.com. ■

Let’s find out in

• We’ll convey your products from Process to Pallet, through every twist, turn and elevation along the way.

• Maximizing your productivity with a minimal footprint.

• Choose from 24/7 workhorse conveyors, standard or custom designs, including agency compliance.

CONVEYOR EXPERTISE includes:

Accumulate, Rotate, Elevate, Integrate, Lift-gate, Incline, Combine, Decline, Alpine, In-line, Grip, Flip, Split, Invert, Divert, Merge, Twist, Turn, Curves, Transfer, Push, Custom, Stack, Hand pack, Serpentine, Servos, Starwheels ... and more.

• Immediate solutions engineered for future expansion. www.multi-conveyor.com

inspired by the world’s best packaging designs and spark your

Tray Filling Solution

Fill and tamp salad with the Yamato Automatic Diving Funnel (ADF). Featuring a rugged, low-maintenance design, this in-line tray ller seamlessly places and tamps leafy greens into trays, bowls, and other rigid containers. e hygienic design keeps product safe from contamination, and ratio lling versatility and accuracy, no matter the application.

Yamato Booth S-3195 www.yamatoamericas.com

Continuous Box-Motion Bagger

WEST HALL | Booth W21030

In the Containers and Materials Pavilion

FEATURING ENTRIES

⁌ ABRE – Brazilian Packaging Association

⁌ ARC – Association for Roll-to-Roll Converters

⁌ DOW – Packaging Innovation Awards

⁌ FPA – Flexible Packaging Association

⁌ FSEA – Foil and Specialty Effects Association

⁌ IMDA – In-Mold Decorating Association

⁌ IOPP – Institute of Packaging Professionals

⁌ RPA – Reusable Packaging Association

⁌ Smurfit Westrock

e MVC-250 is a one-of-a-kind continuous box-motion bagger with the latest highperformance servo system for unprecedented precision motion control. e lowpro le machine (62 in. in height) is designed to t into tight spaces or areas with low ceilings. e MVC-250 is capable of reaching speeds up to 200 cycles/min. Matrix’s MVC Series uses a continuous-motion, high-speed jaw system where the lm never stops. e jaw system seals and cuts the lm and allows adjustable seal times for the cross seals to properly seal many types of lms.

Matrix Packaging Machinery

Booth S-3620 www.matrixpm.com

TIJ Technology

HP thermal inkjet (TIJ) technologybased solutions enable a futureready supply chain as regulatory requirements evolve and supply chain complexities continue to increase. HP TIJ enables quality barcode printing, allowing for fast, e cient product veri cation and identi cation that will help combat counterfeits in pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, and Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG).

HP Inc.

Booth W-14105 www.hp.com

PRODUCTS

High-Speed Pharmaceutical Production

Optima’s MultiUse 10-headed multi-use high-speed machine can process up to 24,000 containers/hr, covering applications ranging from clinical trials to large batches. e processes are transferrable on a one-to-one scale, up to the highest output, while maintaining precise dosing volumes and maximizing the product yield and exibility. Equipped with pharmaceutical-optimized robotics, it enhances safety while reducing operator interference. e machine combines speed and precision, making it the perfect solution for rapid, high-volume production with maximum quality assurance.

OPTIMA Machinery Corp.

Booths N-6135, W-16105 www.optima-packaging.us

Recyclable Water-Based Coatings

VaporCoat® recyclable water-based coatings from Michelman are designed to help control the rate at which moisture vapor travels through ber-based substrates and are approved for direct food contact. VaporCoat helps keep perishables fresh, frozen goods intact, and sensitive contents in factory condition. It also helps frozen protein release cleanly from paper and board, or can be applied as a topcoat to protect the printed surface of packaging while simultaneously improving moisture barrier. Some grades can even help prevent contaminants o en found in recycled paper from migrating into packaged dry food.

Michelman, Inc.

Booth S-4359 www.michelman.com

Smart Cobot Palletizers

Robotiq’s AX20 and AX30 cobot palletizers, featuring Robotiq’s Copilot so ware, are designed to build pallets as high as 108 in. and handle packaging as heavy as 60 lb. e AX20 and AX30 palletizers are designed using a coordinated axis (or a ball screw servo axis).

Robotiq Booth N-5760

www.robotiq.com

Automation Solutions from Washdown to Warehousing

Let Turck tackle whatever packaging automation challenges you are facing. Our wide range of reliable automation solutions – including sensors, industrial cordsets, distributed I/O products, and RFID stand up to the toughest packaging environments. From improving high-speed cap and can detection to cost-effective machine control with a combined HMI/PLC, or more rugged washdown-rated cables, Turck has a solution. Optimize your packaging machines and lines with Turck.

Visit us in booth N-5719

Visit the Lakeside Backyard Bistro, an oasis themed destination with delicious lunch options at discounted rates. Enjoy fun backyard style games and a place to kick back.

Open Daily Open Daily Lakeside Lower Hall back of the show floor

Sunday – Wednesday: 11:00 am – 2:00 pm

Packaging Automation

RYCHIGER Canada offers a variety of packaging automation equipment, including its tray packer with nesting solution, smart linear track tray handling, small footprint vertical cartoner, and a collaborative robot palletizer.

RYCHIGER Canada Booth S-2153, W-15106 www.rychiger.com

Industrial Mixing Solutions

MXD Process’ industrial mixing solutions, ranging from tank-mounted agitators to versatile portable mixers, are designed to handle the unique demands of food and beverage applications such as dairy, sauces, and beverages. They are designed to ensure hygienic processing and minimal downtime and are built with durable, food-grade materials and easy-to-clean designs.

MXD Process Booth LU-7613 www.mxdprocess.com

Single-Station Chuck Capper

All-Fill’s Eco-Capper was designed to give customers an economical offering when a capping machine is needed. The standard dualstation chuck capper can be overkill for customers, making a straightforward single-station chuck capper a more practical choice, especially when rates are not their main concern. The Eco-Capper can achieve rates of up to 50 cpm (application dependent).

All-Fill, Inc. Booth S-1706 www.all-fill.com

ATLANTA, USA

March 10-12, 2025

GUADALAJARA, MEXICO

June 10-12, 2025

LAS VEGAS, USA

Sept. 29-Oct. 1, 2025

PACK EXPO Premier Packaging and Processing Events

PHILADELPHIA, USA

Feb. 17-19, 2026

Wherever you are and whatever your industry, there’s a PACK EXPO event to provide solutions you need today and the inspiration for tomorrow.

MEXICO CITY, MEXICO

June 2-5, 2026

CHICAGO, USA

October 18-21, 2026

Wrap Around Machines

The FW Series is part of Cama’s Breakthrough Generation (BTG) which offers design and operational features that set the standard in secondary packaging. Their modular, scalable and hygienically designed frameworks house contemporary automation solutions—including advanced rotary and linear servo technology—that can be tightly coupled to in-house-developed robotics, to deliver the all-important flexibility required by modern packaging operations. The machine range is also based on a digital platform that supports full Industry 4.0 capabilities, including AR, VR and virtual testing, training, and operation.

Cama Group Booth N-5152 www.camagroup.us

Unlock New Packaging & Processing Innovations For

EVERY Industry

Discover solutions you won’t see anywhere else in the Southeast. The exciting new PACK EXPO Southeast 2025 unites all vertical markets in one dynamic hub, generating more innovative answers to your production challenges. Don’t miss this extraordinary opportunity for your business!

Semi-automatic Wrapper

The Phoenix PLPH-2150 semiautomatic stretch wrapper offers low- and high-profile turntables. The operator places a pallet load on the turntable and starts the wrapper. When the load is wrapped, a blade on the turntable cuts the film, allowing the operator to remove the wrapped load. The Extreme Tension Dual Film Roll on the wrapper eliminates the need for strapping by roping some of the film down to a cord. Phoenix Wrappers Booths S-3300, W-16041 www.phoenixwrappers.com

Food-grade Transport Conveyor

Multi-Conveyor’s food-grade transport conveyor system consists of two levels of sanitary compliance. Designed to move processed cheeses, the initial conveyors are stainless steel constructed for maximum 3A Dairy compliance as required to move processed cheese in a food-grade, wash-down atmosphere through the bagging process. The filled bags then travel through a sectional wall into a reduced sanitation area of the line where much more cost-effective sanitation Level 2 conveyors made of painted mild steel are acceptable.

Multi-Conveyor

Booth S1507 www.multi-conveyor.com

PRODUCTS

High Speed Coder/Labeler

The RF Auto is a heavy-duty system for high-speed coding or labeling of flat-form packaging. With little human intervention, the versatile system uses its patented auto-gating technology to easily handle products of varying thicknesses, such as windowed cartons and lift-the-flap sleeves, reducing set-up time and waste. The versatile system can accommodate a wide range of coders and labelers and features an intuitive PLC with built-in HMI system to ensure efficiency for operators.

AT Information Products

Booth S-3010 www.atip-usa.com

Coding and Marking Solutions

LEIBINGER launches the IQJET coding and marking solution designed to meet the evolving demands of modern production lines. Features include a unique print-head design that prevents ink clogging, so no unscheduled breaks in production; and no maintenance required for the first five years. It is also economical to run, as it uses 50% less solvent, achieves zero ink wastage, and draws a frugal 36W of power.

Paul Leibinger Inc.

Booth S-3936

www.leibinger-group.com

Robotic Case Packer

The V30 robotic case packer from ESS, a Pacteon company, uses servo technology in a versatile case packer design capable of packing a variety of pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and health and beauty products in most any package. The compact, fully automated case packer erects RSC cases (plastic or corrugate) and places them for loading by an integrated FANUC M-20iD/25 robot with custom end-of-arm tooling. The design easily incorporates integrated OEM serialization systems.

ESS Technologies, Inc. Booths S-3300, W-16041 www.esstechnologies.com

Horizontal Flow Wrapper

Campbell Wrapper’s customizable Revolution flow wrapper features Allen-Bradley’s servo drive technology with 5700 Kinetix drives, PanelView Plus 7 1000 color touchscreen, and VPL servo motors. Features include a servo driven film feed roll, automatic film splicer, separate servo drive for the first set of fin wheels, sanitary modular design, verification of rejected products, and a patented long dwell servo cutting head drive for accurate cutoff adjustment and capable of producing hermetically sealed packages at high speeds.

Campbell Wrapper Corporation

Booth S-1700

www.campbellwrapper.com

Solutions for the Food Industry

HRS Heat Exchangers’ equipment for the food and beverage industry, include the MI Series, Unicus Series, R Series, and AF Series. They are designed for processes such as heating and cooling, pasteurization, aseptic filling, pumping, ice re-melting, cleaning-inplace (CIP), and waste stream.

HRS Heat Exchangers

Booth LU-7732

www.hrs-heatexchangers.com

Belted Curve Conveyor for Sanitary Applications

The C3 belted curve conveyor from Dorner utilizes FDA approved fabric belting to facilitate both a 90and 180-deg curve. Because of the FDA approved belting and stainless bed plate, the C3 complies with BISSC standards making it ideal for any bakery or confectionary production setting.

Dorner Mfg. Corp.

Booth N-5623

www.dornerconveyors.com

PRODUCTS

High-Speed Palletizing Layer Tool

To maximize palletizing efficiency, Schneider’s highspeed layer palletizer tool can handle up to 100 cases/min with continuous motion and fast, repeatable changeovers. The layer handling tool, designed for highspeed precision placement, is ideal for a variety of case, bag, and bundle sizes. With the layer handling tool transferring the full case layer to the pallet, even lightweight products are perfectly protected from damage. Its reliable design uses FANUC robots.

Schneider Packaging Equipment

Booth S-3300 www.schneiderequip.com

Partner with PMMI and connect with more than 1,000 PMMI Members - World-Class North American manufacturers and suppliers of equipment, components, and materials, as well as providers of related equipment and services to the packaging and processing industry!

PMMI’s Directory of Agents Connects You with PMMI Members Looking for Agents!

Secure your FREE listing in PMMI’s Directory of Agents today. The online Directory matches you with PMMI Members based on your areas of expertise and their target markets.

To learn more and include your free listing in PMMI’s Directory of Agents, visit pmmi.org/agents.

Case Packaging System

TNA’s high performance ropac 5 case packing system features a bag conditioner, case packer, case erector, and checkweigher. It is capable of packing up to 200 bags/min on a single infeed configuration. Using patented semi-rotary technology, it is designed to pack small-to-medium, pillow style snack bags and can handle most bag widths and lengths easily. Applications include snacks, confectionery, pasta, and cereal.

TNA North America, Inc. Booth N-5120 www.tnasolutions.com

Rotary Labeler Injector Pens

WLS, a ProMach product brand, introduces a device stabilizer for injector pens on rotary labelers. This patentpending solution prevents the pen from inadvertently activating during labeling by diverting axial force. Eliminating the need for specialized ‘active’ pucks to hold the pens in place, the device stabilizer helps medical device manufacturers and packers increase efficiency and improve profitability.

WLS

Booth W-16017b www.weilerls.com

Bottle Closure Printing Station for Labelless Bottles

Domino’s bottle closure printing stations o er high-speed, in-line solutions for printing variable data and machine-readable codes directly onto HDPE bottle caps and closures. e stations feature an advanced product handling system capable of stabilizing lled water bottles, alongside high-resolution printing of 300-900 dpi variable data codes at speeds up to 44,000 bottles/hr. e stations also feature pre- and posttreatment of the printed codes to ensure code adhesion and longevity, as well as integrated machine vision for automated code inspection and veri cation.

Domino Amjet, Inc.

Booth S-2122

www.domino-na.com

Case Packaging Machine

SOMIC launches the 434 case packing machine capable of handling up to 34 cartons/min during a single cycle. e compact 434 features a sidemounting grouping station for straight line case and tray packaging cartons. e stainless steel frame has machine height safety doors with improved accessibility and LED corner lighting for enhanced visibility.

SOMIC Packaging, Inc.

Booth N-6148

www.somic.us

High-Performance Wrap Labeling System

Label-Aire launched the Inline 5100-TS wrap labeling system designed to streamline labeling processes in high-speed, high-volume operations. e system is designed for medium- to high-speed, multi-shi operations, providing reliable full- and partial-wrap labeling. It includes variable frequency drive to ensures smooth operation and precise label placement at speeds up to 1,200 in/min.

Label-Aire, Inc.

Booth S-3210

www.label-aire.com

BOOTH HAPPENINGS

Take a break in the Candy Bar Lounge, hosted by the National Confectioners Association (NCA) and sponsored by Syntegon Packaging Technology, LLC (Booth S-2914).

Packaging Solutions That Work!

ADCO’s innovative packaging solutions are perfect for food & beverage, pharmaceutical, consumer & household products and much more!

Explore the full line of ADCO packaging machinery at adcomfg.com.

Don’t miss your chance to connect with us at BOOTH #S-2450!

Rychiger (Booths S-2153, W-15106): Our new Cobot Palletizer!

Eager for your visit! Especially the APR participants!

Industry Training

Elevate your talent through PMMI’s convenient training and development opportunities.

Certified Technical Sales Professional (CTSP)

Certification (for PMMI members only)

Be a trusted advisor to your customers.

Certified Trainer Workshops

Develop your team’s training skills.

Field Service Essentials (for PMMI members only)

Give your technicians the non-technical skills they need to provide great customer service.

Mechatronic Certifications

Identify multi-skilled workers to troubleshoot and repair automated equipment on the plant floor.

Risk Assessment Workshops

Improve productivity and ensure worker safety.

SheLeads: Navigating Leadership for Women

Take your leadership skills to the next level.

Successful Selling @ PACK EXPO

Maximize sales from trade shows.

The Pactiv Evergreen team invites everyone to check out our gable top lling equipment and customizable packaging solutions.

Ready for businesses! See you soon!

PACK EXPO Day 1 Cama team ready to rock.

Come by and say hi!

Visit MG America in the West Hall Booth W-17033!

Super sanitary, low-pro le Slim-Fit by Multi-Conveyor is perfect for hygienic food, beverage and pharma appointments. Wash down ready and pre-engineered for quick ship!

Day one of #PackExpo2024 has been busy. Live demos at trade shows are the perfect way to look at new solutions and set up your production line for success. We are waiting for you at booth S-3760!

This Ronchi ller capper monoblock is now being produced in Atlanta, GA with maximum 12 weeks delivery time for U.S. and Canada.

For nearly 40 years...

Trusted Strength

Proven Solutions

Providing a range of today’s finest packaging and processing equipment.

• Capsule fillers

• Capsule check-weighers

• Capsule banding machines

• Pouch fillers

• Cartoners

• Tray formers

• Case packers

• Palletizers

• Packaging line integration

• Metal detectors for capsules

• Bottle unscramblers

• Bottle fillers/cappers

- Tablets/capsules & liquids

• Bottle labelers

• Bottles: Carton coding, verification, serialization

• Bin blending equipment

• Material handling equipment

• Blister machines

• Thermoformers

• Washers

• Sterilizers

• Depyrogenation