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PACK EXPO Las Vegas Is Back

After more than a year of virtual events, the largest in-person and most comprehensive packaging and processing event in North America, PACK EXPO Las Vegas, featuring the return of the Processing Zone, will take place in September.

AS THE COVID-19 pandemic’s grip loosens on society, in-person events are coming back, including PACK EXPO Las Vegas, which will take place Sept. 27-29 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. E ective June 1, Las Vegas returned to pre-pandemic guidelines, but to keep all attendees and exhibitors safe, updated health and safety protocols that meet current government regulations and industry standards are being put in place. PACK Ready (www. packexpolasvegas.com/packready), PMMI’s commitment to safety, provides a detailed list of protocols implemented by the Las Vegas Convention Center and show management.

With more than 1,500 exhibiting companies, PACK EXPO Las Vegas, co-located with Healthcare Packaging EXPO and produced by PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, will welcome tens of thousands of people.

Through in-booth demonstrations and free educational sessions on the show floor, attendees will not only see technology in action and have the opportunity to talk with suppliers, they also will learn about best practices and industry breakthroughs.

PHOTO COURTESY OF PMMI

PACK EXPO Las Vegas will feature the latest packaging and processing technologies in action, where attendees can meet with suppliers and learn about best practices and industry breakthroughs.

Can’t-miss seminars

Returning on all three days of the show are free, educational, 30-minute Innovation Stage seminars, showcasing breakthrough technologies, best practices, and case studies, presented by industry experts. Topics will include connecting your supply chain network to build resilience; continuous improvement success based on stories from 700 food, beverage, and consumer packaged goods (CPG) manufacturers; and Industry 4.0 and digital transformation best practices.

The Forum will also return to PACK EXPO Las Vegas. The 45-minute sessions begin with short presentations delivered by topic experts and OpX Leadership Network members on the latest industry trends, followed by roundtable discussions with peers on issues a ecting many CPGs. Keep an eye out for the sessions listing (www.packexpolasvegas.com/ education/the-forum), which will be released soon.

MELISSA GRIFFEN | CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

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While more than 1,500 companies will exhibit on the show floor, PACK EXPO Las Vegas has put protocols in place to keep everyone safe.

Processing breakthrough solutions

Another can’t-miss is the Processing Zone with solutions such as food processing/systems; food safety; engineering, design, and construction services; and more. Attendees can once again start their search for front-of-the-line processing solutions while continuing to solve their packaging challenges, all under one convenient roof. A new processing-specific Innovation Stage will also feature sessions focusing on the latest breakthroughs in facility design, spiral immersion systems, and cleaning systems.

On the Processing Innovation Stage, ProFood World will honor Conagra Brands, Smithfield Foods, B&G Foods, Li ey Meats, and Graphic Packaging International for outstanding sustainability achievements with the Sustainability Excellence in Manufacturing Awards. The award winners will discuss their projects on stage on Monday, Sept. 27, at 3:30 p.m.

Senior leadership from MWC, Kraft Heinz, and CTI Foods will share the details of their 2021 Manufacturing Innovation Award projects on the Processing Innovation Stage on Tuesday, Sept. 28, at 3:30 p.m.

With the return of the Processing Zone to PACK EXPO Las Vegas, attendees will have the opportunity to discover solutions to help increase e ciency, achieve total system integration, and ensure safety.

built. Attendees are encouraged to see the robots, watch the demonPHOTO COURTESY OF PMMI strations, and talk with the students about the industry. A final can’t-miss event is the Cold Pressure Council Annual Conference (Sept. 28-29), which will take place in conjunction with PACK EXPO Las Vegas and Healthcare Packaging EXPO, o ering education on the latest in high pressure processing (HPP) technologies. All registrants of this conference will receive complimentary registration to PACK EXPO Las Vegas and Healthcare Packaging EXPO. Attendees are invited to download the free PACK EXPO Las Vegas app to organize their schedules, so they can participate to the fullest. It includes all the features of the My Show Planner on the PACK EXPO Las Vegas website at www.packexpolasvegas.com. The app allows users to create a personal itinerary for navigating the show by simply clicking on an exhibitor or session and adding it to their schedules, along with their personal appointments. Registration, which includes access to both PACK EXPO Las Vegas and Healthcare Packaging EXPO, is $30 until Sept. 3, after which it increases to $130. For those unable to attend in person, PMMI now o ers virtual aspects of the live event via PACK EXPO Xpress (www.packexpolasvegas.com/pack-expoxpress), where you can search for products and innovations in digital showrooms and connect with solutions suppliers during the event, no matter where you are.

Past, present, and future innovations

The PACK to the Future interactive exhibit debuts this year, showcasing the industry’s past, present, and future. It will display curated items and machinery from some of the world’s largest CPGs and packaging companies. Industry experts, futurists, and business and financial leaders will speak daily on where the industry has been, where it is now, and what the future holds for packaging and processing. These 30-minute sessions will include advancements in artificial intelligence, sustainability, and more.

The Future Innovators Robotics Showcase will feature student teams from Las Vegas-area high schools, demonstrating creations they designed and

PACK EXPO Las Vegas at a Glance

Venue: Las Vegas Convention Center

Dates: Sept. 27-29, 2021

Show Floor Hours:

Mon.-Tues.: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Wed.: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Transportation: Free shuttle bus service between PACK EXPO Las Vegas hotels and the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Register: www.packexpolasvegas.com

LEARN MORE AT PACK EXPO BOOTH #N8917

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