Pack Expo, the trade show devoted to packaging and processing equipment, has been canceled for the first time in its history of more than 60 years due to the pandemic.
“The PMMI Board determined that due to the evolving COVID-19 pandemic and the current state and local regulations, it was not possible to have a safe and productive event for attendees and exhibitors,” PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, said in a statement.
The show, which had been scheduled for Chicago’s McCormick Place, will be replaced by a virtual event called Pack Expo Connects 2020, Nov. 9-13, complete with live chats, live product demos, and educational opportunities. It will include: daily Jumpstart sessions on hot topics from industry thought leaders; the Innovation Stages, a staple at previous Pack Expo events; a Solution Room that will feature expert-led education sessions; and a special Packaging and Processing Women’s Leadership Network event that will feature an address from Jan Tharp, president and CEO at Bumble Bee Foods.
“Connecting the industry has never been more essential as packaging addresses the critical needs of this pandemic,” Laura Thompson, vice president for trade shows at PMMI, said in a statement. “While nothing can replace an in-person event, Pack Expo Connects will push the digital boundaries of virtual to provide the resources the industry needs to solve today's unique packaging challenges.”
