PMMI reports Pack Expo Las Vegas set records for attendance, exhibitors, size and other measures. The Sept. 26-28 show netted 26,084 visitors, not counting exhibitor personnel, up 15 percent from the previous Las Vegas show (although still behind the 40,000 or more that attend the Chicago shows in even-numbered years). International attendees (includes Canada) jumped by nearly a third. Net square footage was up more than 20 percent.
It was the first Las Vegas show and second Pack Expo without Process Expo, its former partner, which is staging its own show Nov. 1-3 in Chicago. But the packaging association marketed its show heavily to suppliers of processing machinery. Although the so-called Processing Zone was not apparent, there were plenty of exhibitors of processing equipment dispersed among the show's three halls.
Actually, in deference to this processing effort, the Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Assn. has been subtly rebranding itself by its acronym, PMMI.
Charles Yuska, PMMI president/CEO, notes the show serves more than 40 vertical markets, including food, beverage, confectionery, pharmaceutical and baking and snack.
New additions this year were a Pharmaceutical Pavilion and The Consumer Retail Experience, an interactive feature created by Clemson University and sponsored by Kodak. There also were break areas sponsored by the Snack Food Assn. and the National Confectioners Assn.
The first Leadership Lecture featured Colin Powell, retired general and former secretary of state, speaking on the art of leadership. His address was titled "Diplomacy: Persuasion, Trust and Values." Other technical and educational sessions included an update of the Food Safety Modernization Act. Speakers were David Acheson, the FDA's former food safety head and now with consulting firm, Leavitt Partners; Leon Bruner, the Grocery Manufacturers' Assn.'s vice president of scientific and regulatory affairs; and Greg Flickinger, director of manufacturing for Snyder's-Lance Inc.
PMMI also promoted its Connected Communities, a new, year-round online platform for networking and staying informed in specific niches of the processing and packaging communities. They're tailored to: confectionery, baking & snack, pharmaceutical and general packaging and processing. Each community includes a range of features, such as tailored news, insight and discussions developed and moderated by PMMI staff.
Some exhibitor highlights from the show: