Pack Expo Plus!

Published: October 01, 2006, By By Deborah Donberg Associate Managing Editor

Show Report

The North and South buildings of Chicago's McCormick Pl. will fill up with packaging machinery, converting machinery, materials containers, and more when Pack Expo Intl. 2006 arrives October 29-November 2.

Organized by the Packaging Machinery Mfrs. Inst. (PMMI), the biennial event expects 50,000 attendees (including more than 6,000 international visitors from more than 75 countries) and 1,600+ companies utilizing over 1.2 million net sq ft of exhibit space.

And that's only part of the event! For the first time, Pack Expo will co-locate with Converting & Package Printing (CPP), reflecting the new market synergies of the package printing, converting, finishing machinery, and supplies industries, reports PMMI. (See p40 for CPP coverage.) One badge allows access to both shows, as well as to Process Expo, also co-locating.

Some Highlights
The Showcase of Packaging Innovations will feature award-winning packages from a selection of global packaging organizations.

A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Pavilion will highlight solutions that meet the requirements of the entire supply chain. Included in the exhibits will be technologies to upgrade conventional lines into RFID-enabled packaging lines capable of applying multi-pack, case, and pallet tags online. Also featured will be the latest advances designed to verify the presence of tags, write to the tags, and validate data on the tags.

Another highlight will be the Packaging Security Pavilion, which will focus on packaging initiatives and technologies to protect against bioterrorism, package tampering, counterfeiting, and product adulteration. Visit packaging security exhibits from technology and service providers as well as government stakeholders.

Conferences for Converters
A broad, three-day conference program includes a number of sessions suitable for converters, including the following Keynote Sessions:

• Monday, October 30, 10:30-11:15 A.M. — Packaging: A Change Agent in Change. The packaging industry must transform itself from being viewed simply as a supplier of product necessary for going to market to a partner capable of meeting rapidly changing customer demands.
• Tuesday, October 31, 10:30-11:15 A.M. — Creating a Sustainable Future: Growing the Bio-Resin Market in a Greening Economy
• Wednesday, November 1, 10:30-11:15 A.M. — The Wal-Mart/Sam's Club Packaging Vision

Below is a sampling of other sessions of interest to converters:

• Smart Labels: From Standards to Practice — Monday, 8:30-9:15 A.M.
• Resolving the Technical Challenges of RFID Tagging of Liquids and Metal Packaging — Monday, 9:25-10:10 A.M.
• Enhancing Brand Identity and Value Through Shrink Labeling — Monday, 8:30-9:15 A.M.
• Bar Codes vs. RFID — Can they Coexist? — Monday, 12:20-1:10 P.M.
• New Water-borne Acrylic Technology for Packaging Lamination — Tuesday, 9:25-10:10 A.M.
• Fighting Fakes — Tuesday, 9:25-10:10 A.M.
• The Innovative and Sustainable Advantages of New Paper-Based Barrier Pouch Materials — Tuesday, 8:30-9:15 A.M.
• Smart Packaging: How Smart is it and Where is it Going? — Tuesday, 11:25-12:10 P.M.
• Chipless RFID Label Technology Progression — Wednesday, 11:25 A.M.-12:10 P.M.
• Easy-Open, Theft-Foiling Blister and Clamshell Packaging — Wednesday, 11:25 A.M.-12:10 P.M.

For more information on Pack Expo, call PMMI at 703/243-8555 or visit www.packexpo.com.

Show Hours

Sunday, October 29	9:00 A.M.-5:00 P.M.
Monday, October 30	9:00 A.M.-5:00 P.M.
Tuesday, October 31	9:00 A.M.-5:00 P.M.
Wednesday, November 1	9:00 A.M.-5:00 P.M.
Thursday, November 2	9:00 A.M.-2:00 P.M.