From Consumer Demands to Packaging, PACK EXPO Las Vegas Delivers Solutions

Keeping up with the latest consumer trends, staying on top of safety and freshness concerns and moving your product from concept to plant to market — these are just a few of the challenges protein and food processors face every day. They’re also a few of the challenges that can be met at PACK EXPO Las Vegas 2015 (Las Vegas Convention Center, Sept. 28-30). Owned and produced by PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, PACK EXPO is the largest and most comprehensive event of its kind this year, and will host 30,000 attendees and over 2,000 exhibitors in more than 800,000 net square feet of exhibit space.

“In addition to focusing on consumer trends, protein and food processing professionals need to be up to speed on the latest food safety rules, whether they fall under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) or rules from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). PACK EXPO will provide access to suppliers and education that will make compliance easier,” says Jim Pittas, senior vice president, PMMI.

Start at the Beginning
Meat producers can start the trip around the show floor in areas like the Processing Zone (Upper South Hall) a hub for processing equipment and front-of-line solutions that address safety and quality at the efficiency and productivity levels you need. You’ll find:

• State-of-the-art equipment and automation technologies for increased versatility and productivity
• Machinery specialized for hygienic processing
• Technologies that ensure chain of custody and safety
• Advances to increase speed and accuracy and provide modularity
• Materials and containers that preserve freshness, reduce waste and enhance your brand

While you’re in The Processing Zone, stop by the Food Safety Summit Resource Center (Booth S-7632), where you’ll learn about the latest on food safety issues. Organized and brought to PACK EXPO Las Vegas by the Food Safety Summit and co-sponsor GE, the Food Safety Summit Resource Center will be a central location where food safety experts will present educational seminars and be available for informal consultations.

Sometimes, it’s best to contract out your packaging needs. To learn more about contract packaging and how it can improve your operations, visit the Contract Packaging Sourcing Center (Booth C-1257), hosted by the Contract Packaging Association, where you’ll meet experts who can address your packaging needs, show you packaging samples and provide information on leading contract packagers.

The Brand Zone (Lower South Hall), which features materials and containers that shape winning brands, is a central point for attendees looking to improve product freshness or shelf appeal. Within The Brand Zone, the Showcase of Packaging Innovations®, sponsored by The Dow Chemical Company, will display award-winning packages from competitions around the world.

Feed the Mind with Educational Opportunities
There are plenty of opportunities to learn, too. The Center for Trends and Technology (Booth C-4829), organized by Rockwell Automation and its PartnerNetwork™, covers the newest in automation technology and smart manufacturing with displays and educational sessions. The PACK EXPO Innovation Stages (Booths C-1041, C-1045, C-1049) will showcase more than 40 educational sessions, and the Food Safety Summit Resource Center will also present seminars for protein producers:

• Advantages of Using Robotics and Advanced Sensing Technologies to Automatically Detect Leakers and How They Can Improve Line Performance Presented by Craig Souser, JLS Automation (Monday, Sept. 28, 3–3:30 p.m.; Booth C-1049)
• Basic Production Metrics Presented by Ted Andrew, Roka Bioscience (Tuesday, Sept. 29, 10:15–10:45 a.m.; Food Safety Summit Resource Center, Booth S-7632)
• Meat & Poultry Disinfection Using Ozone Presented by Gholamreza Zahedi, Ozone Solutions (Tuesday, Sept. 29, 1–1:30 p.m.; Booth C-1045)

Entertaining Success at PACK EXPO Las Vegas
“PACK EXPO is all about learning, doing business better and connecting with your industry,” Pittas says. “For connections and networking, you’ve got to go to PACK gives BACK. It will be a great time for a great cause.”

PACK gives BACK™ is an annual fundraiser and signature PACK EXPO event, and will feature a performance from legendary rock band Chicago. PMMI will donate ticket sale proceeds to the Fisher House Foundation, an organization that provides comfort to the families of wounded military and veterans during their stays in medical facilities, and the Nevada Military Service Alliance, which is building the state’s first Fisher House in North Las Vegas.

“With more than 40 vertical markets represented, PACK EXPO Las Vegas is the most comprehensive event of its kind this year. The industry comes here for solutions to their operational challenges, and because there’s so much breadth to the show, they have the benefit of coming to truly innovative solutions inspired by other industries,” says Pittas.

To learn more and register for PACK EXPO Las Vegas and its co-located partner show Pharma EXPO, produced in partnership by PMMI and the Institute for Pharmaceutical Engineering, visit packexpolasvegas.com. Tickets for PACK gives BACK ($100/person or $90 for groups of 10 or more) can be purchased during the registration process. PACK gives BACK is only open to registered attendees and exhibitors of PACK EXPO Las Vegas and Pharma EXPO 2015.

About PMMI
PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, represents the voice of more than 700 North American manufacturers of equipment, components and materials for processing and packaging. We work to advance a variety of industries by connecting consumer goods companies with manufacturing solutions through the world class PACK EXPO portfolio of trade shows, leading trade media and a wide range of resources to empower our members. The PACK EXPO trade shows unite the world of processing and packaging to advance the industries they serve: PACK EXPO International, PACK EXPO Las Vegas, Pharma EXPO, PACK EXPO East, EXPO PACK México, EXPO PACK Guadalajara and ProFood Tech, launching in April 2017. PMMI Media Group connects manufacturers to the latest solutions, trends and innovations in processing and packaging year-round through brands including Packaging World, Automation World, Healthcare Packaging, Contract Packaging and Packaging + Processing OEM. PMMI Business Drivers assist members in pursuing operational excellence through workforce development initiatives, deliver actionable business intelligence on economic, market and industry trends to support members’ growth strategies, and actively connect the supply chain throughout the year. Learn more at PACKEXPO.com, PMMIMediaGroup.com and PMMI.org.