Chicago Hosts Pack Expo 2014

The Pack Expo International, the marketplace for processing and packaging innovation, comes to Chicago’s McCormick Place November 2-5, 2014. The show floor will cover more than 1.1 million square feet and feature more than 1800 exhibiting companies. Around 40,000 industry professionals from over 40 vertical markets are expected to attend the event. Pharma Expo will also be co-located at Pack Expo.

Presented by PMMI, the Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, Pack Expo exposes attendees to new technology, trends, and ideas from various industries. Visitors can see nearly every processing and packaging option available. Attendees have the opportunity to compare equipment in a hands-on environment, too.

What to Expect
Vendors at the show come from a broad array of industry markets: Baking & Snack; Branding; Confectionary; Dairy; Food; Fruit & Vegetables; General & Others; Grain, Mill, and Cereal; Personal Care; Pharmaceutical & Medical devices; Prepared foods; and Processing.

The four pavilions at Pack Expo are concentrated areas for specific industries. The Brand Zone will have containers and materials designed to differentiate brands, and a display of award-winning designs. The confectionary pavilion brings together industry-specific advances, as well as a Candy Bar Lounge. In the processing zone, there will be front-of-the-line solutions for safety and quality to achieve efficiency and productivity goals. The reusable packaging pavilion will show how to reduce waste and shipping costs, protect goods, and increase productivity and bottom line.

The Center for Trends & Technology sets out to improve production with interactive kiosks and presentations by AOIE, Cisco, Grantek Systems, Interstates Control Systems, Microsoft, Rockwell Automation, and Stone Technology. The Food Safety Summit will provide one-on-one consultations, address critical food-safety issues, and recent advances and practices for maintaining a safe and clean environment. The Reusables Learning Center will show attendees how to integrate reusables into their supply chain. And the CPA sourcing center plans to showcase 20 core contract-packaging services and have reps from the Contract Packaging Association.

Students attending the show are challenged to take part in The Amazing Packaging Race, and the Pack Solutions Challenge. FIRST Robotics teams, and Clemson Univ. will also be represented.

Don’t miss the special events at Pack Expo. The show will host Pack gives Back™ with Jay Leno, a live comedic event where a portion of ticket proceeds go to K9s For Warriors. On top of that, there will be a Packaging Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

To register for Pack Expo, visit packexpo.com. The registration fee is $60 per person in advance or on site.