The Northeastern United States is home to nearly one-third of the nation’s top CPGs. In fact, manufacturing companies are one of the top five employer groups in the region, according to Statistical Atlas. To meet the area’s high demand for the latest in cutting edge-technology and insights, PMMI, the Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, announces the return of PACK EXPO East 2018 (April 16-18, 2018, Pennsylvania Convention Center, Philadelphia) this spring. The show will bring together more than 400 exhibitors and 6,000 industry professionals over 100,000 net square feet of exhibit space.
PACK EXPO East will address the trends and challenges driving the food and beverage, pharmaceutical and medical device, cosmetics and personal care, industrial and household chemical, and other packaged goods industries. Attendees include manufacturers, managers, engineers, production supervisors, purchasers, brand managers, package designers, product development professionals and supply chain and logistics professionals from companies of all sizes.
Attendees and exhibitors alike will have access to some must-see highlights at this year’s show:
- Drone Demonstrations: Don’t miss the PACK EXPO East drone demonstrations, sponsored by Workhorse Group Inc., for valuable insights on new delivery technology and how it impacts your business. The daily demonstrations will take place on the hour from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
- The Innovation Stage: In the center of the action, the Innovation Stage offers ample opportunity for professional enrichment while you’re at PACK EXPO East. Exhibitors present free, 30-minute seminars throughout the day. The Innovation Stage is a valuable opportunity for attendees to learn about breakthrough technologies, innovative applications and proven approaches from the experts themselves.
- The Forum at PACK EXPO: Take advantage of free, unique, interactive presentations throughout PACK EXPO East. The Forum will feature 20-minute open sessions on the latest industry trends by the OpX Leadership Network, Institute of Packaging Professionals, Contract Packagers Association and PMMI Business Intelligence, followed by small group discussions and Q&A sessions.
- Packaging & Processing Women’s Leadership Network (PPWLN): Launched in 2016, PPWLN serves to recruit, retain and advance women in processing and packaging. The PPWLN breakfast is on Tuesday, April 17, 2018, from 7:30 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. followed by a program from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. The meeting will include presentations and discussions allowing peers to exchange ideas and experiences.
- Welcome Reception: Gather with peers before the show takes off and experience the “Taste of Philly,” a sampling of Philadelphia-inspired hors d'oeuvres. The reception is on Monday, April 16 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. (Location Broad Street Atrium.)
- Attend one or both of PMMI U’s industry-specific workshops available at PACK EXPO East. The Risk Assessment Workshop (April 14–15) teaches best practices for performing equipment risk assessment in a manufacturing environment, and the Certified Trainer Workshop (April 16–17) is an industry-leading train-the-trainer program that gives you the strategies and tactics to train well across all skill levels.
Some of the innovations attendees will discover on the show floor include:
Fastest pouch feeder on market now fills pouches and canisters
Omega Design Corp (Booth #1613) will present its new OmniFeeder, a servo-operated, variable-speed canister and pouch feeder for desiccants and oxygen absorbers. One of the fastest on the market, the feeder can precisely place pouches or canisters of any size into bottles at speeds greater than 600 bpm for single drops. The OmniFeeder is also capable of running both canisters and pouches through the same feeder head. Omega Design features PMMI-certified training and CE compliance, and offers a value version of the feeder for pouches running at slower speeds.
Applications: Food, Packaging
Color printer compatible with a medley of materials
Rena Systems, A Neopost Brand (Booth #1321) will introduce the new Mach 6 Digital Color Printer. Equipped with Memjet technology, it can print at rates of up to 60 feet per minute on material up to three quarters of an inch thick. The printer’s new design features a 6-inch, full color touch screen interface and a larger throat with a straight paper path, which accommodates a wide variety of materials and produces a smooth throughput.
Applications: Labels, Printing, Packaging
Invisible barcode leaves more space for branding
Inland Packaging (Booth #1323) will showcase the Digimarc Barcode, which is repeated multiple times over the entire label so that it can interact with point-of-sale image scanners and mobile devices, but remains entirely invisible to the consumer’s eye. The Digimarc Barcode leaves more room on the package for branding, while delivering data included in traditional barcodes – even the Global Trade Item Number currently carried in traditional produce barcode symbols. It also allows customers to learn more information about a product simply by pointing their smartphone camera at the label. The camera automatically senses the invisible barcode, eliminating the need for QR codes.
Applications: Labels, Printing, Packaging, Food, Pharmaceutical
Laser printing solutions with no consumables
Precision Automation Company, Inc. (Booth #1603) introduces both the CO2 and Fiber Laser Marking solutions to the U.S. market. The CO2 laser marker is ideal for wood, leather and glass, and the fiber laser is suitable for plastic, metal and ceramic surfaces. Both marking applications are fast, efficient and environmentally friendly – they produce no consumables or wasteful output.
Applications: Packaging, Food, Beverage, Pharmaceutical, Labeling
Inkjet printer uses 70 percent less solvent than manual cleanings
Keyence Corporation (Booth #1903) will present its MK-U Series inkjet printer, recently updated with automated cleaning. Conventional inkjet printers require manual cleaning to wash off the ink deposited inside the printhead, a time-consuming process that often requires printhead disassembly and exposes operators to chemicals. The automated cleaning system uses 70 percent less solvent than manual cleanings, minimizes operator exposure to solvent and allows operators to work on other tasks while the cleaning is running. The system also keeps track of when it is cleaned for production reports.
Applications: Packaging, Printing, Labeling
Capping machine compatible with multiple container types
Packline USA (Booth #1020) will exhibit its pneumatically-driven PXG capping machine, which features fully automatic filling, sealing and capping for pre-formed containers. The machine is compatible with both pre-cut lids or membranes cut from a roll and can combine either with a plastic cap. The PXG machine’s fillers can be fitted with a clean-in-place cleaning system, and its flexibility makes machine adjustments to different container shapes fast and easy.
Applications: Food, Beverage, Dairy
Continuous improvement software brings savings to mid-size manufacturers
Redzone Production Systems (Booth #1808) presents its Continuous Improvement Management software that enables mid-size food, beverage and CPG manufacturers to make continuous improvement a reality. A combination of social, mobile technology and a unique coaching program develops the skills and structure of the workforce to engage every employee. With over 250 deployments, Redzone’s cloud technology provides actionable data and a framework for new behaviors. Customers see an average of 12 percent productivity improvement and savings of $617,000.
Applications: Food, Beverage, Dairy, Packaging
PACK EXPO East offers a timely opportunity between the larger PACK EXPO shows for industry professionals to catch up on the latest technologies and trends. For more information and to register online, visit www.packexpoeast.com/.
