With an impressive display of more than 1,600 exhibitors, PACK EXPO 2013 is expecting a full house when the Las Vegas Convention Center opens its doors for three days-Sept. 23-25-to more than 26,000 packaging and processing professionals from all over the world.?
Also taking an active role in the show will be more than 20 trade groups that represent attendees and their industries. Several of these associations have gone on to sponsor the pavilions and lounges, which are at the heart of PMMI's customer-centric show approach.
"Attendees come to PACK EXPO to find solutions and new ideas," says Charles Yuska, president/CEO, PMMI, the show's owner. "And we design the show experience so they can meet that objective easily and efficiently, whether they produce baked goods, snacks, beverages, pharmaceuticals, confectionery or any number of items.
"We're pleased with the level of participation that we've seen," adds Yuska. "It adds depth to the PACK EXPO attendee experience."?
In the zone
Overall, the show offers a broad snapshot of packaging technologies, but market-specific areas also provide a deeper dive into subsets of several major categories.
Here attendees can find exactly what they need at pavilions where exhibitors will display technological applications and solutions geared toward specific industries, including branding, confectionery, pharmaceutical and processing. Alongside the pavilions are industry-specific lounges which are a great platform for idea-sharing and problem-solving among peers.
Already sold out, The Processing Zone offers attendees front-of-the-line solutions for the food and beverage industry. Drop by, then field more processing solutions throughout the show floor. (Located in the Upper South Hall.)
Looking for creative ideas in packaging design? The Brand Zone will feature innovative containers and materials that give brands a competitive edge at the point of sale and build loyalty with consumers. Here you will find forward-looking technologies that cut back on materials without sacrificing function and appeal, labeling systems that provide greater flexibility and new formats to boost shelf-appeal. (Located in the Lower South Hall.)
Endorsed by the Intl. Society of Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE), The Pharmaceutical Pavilion creates a spot where visitors can meet with suppliers dedicated to answering the unique safety and security challenges that pharmaceutical and medical device companies face. Highlighted here are the latest advances in equipment and materials such as labeling technologies, filling and inspection systems, blister packaging, tubes and closures.
It's not all work and no play, though. Network with your peers in The Rx Lounge. The "Ask-the-Experts" Forums, comprised of representatives from ISPE, will give visitors an opportunity to gain tips on how to resolve packaging and processing-related challenges. (Located in the Central Hall.)
The Confectionery Pavilion and The Candy Bar Lounge, sponsored again this year by The National Confectioners Assn. (NCA), offers solutions for advancing efficiency, flexibility and safety in the candy and confections industry. (Located in the front of the Upper South Hall.)
The Reusable Packaging Pavilion, sponsored by the Reusable Packaging Assn. (RPA), is a 5,500-sq-ft space that highlights secondary and transport packaging to help users accomplish supply chain sustainability goals and maximize value. (Located in the Lower South Hall.)
"Pavilions help attendees focus their time at PACK EXPO, giving them a starting point for finding the technologies they came for," says Yuska. "The lounges add a networking aspect, and having industry leading associations serving at the 'ask the expert' desks, adds another layer of depth."
New on the block
Added to the line-up back in March, the Center for Trends & Technology (CTT) is sponsored by Rockwell Automation and its PartnerNetwork Program. (Located in the Central Hall, Booth #1358.)
"CTT will be a gathering spot for attendees who want to learn about new and emerging technologies to improve production," says Yuska. "We're pleased to work with Rockwell Automation, which is such an important innovator, to bring this new exhibit to life."
Show-goers can expect to find a variety of opportunities to learn at the CTT. Available will be state-of-the-art learning sessions, while interactive displays will showcase technology trends such as network security, line integration, secure remote monitoring, cloud-computing and manufacturing convergence. Attendees will then be directed to where they can find these solutions in action on the show floor.
Another addition this year is the SMB FastTrack program, which is structured to help small- and medium-sized manufacturers (that is, industrial or consumer-packaged goods companies with annual revenues between $50 million and $500 million) source innovation with greater speed and convenience. Participants will get to experience:
? The FastTrack Navigator pre-show planning tool at www.packexpo.com/fasttrack;
? Access to the SMB FastTrack Networking Center, a dedicated area, conveniently located on the show floor, for SMB FastTrack attendees to rest, recharge their electronic devices, find solutions using a PACK EXPO product locator kiosk and meet with exhibitors or industry peers.
? SMB FastTrack Platinum offers additional benefits for C-level executives, such as a Personal Equipment & Technology Sourcing Service and access to the SMB FastTrack Platinum Lounge.
"PACK EXPO's robust customer-centric strategy means we have designed our show around the attendees-the goal is to make it as easy as possible for any attendee to find the solutions he or she is seeking. While we have been very successful, we are always trying to take the show to a new level of experience," says Kate Achelpohl, director of member communications, PMMI.
Lights out
The adage "What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas" certainly does not apply to PACK EXPO, where an array of total solutions are available for attendees' business needs-all in the convenience of one place. Take advantage of what the world's largest packaging and processing event has to offer in exciting new tehnologies and educational resources.
