During Election Day, processing and packaging suppliers voted with their booth space, and the show they voted for is PACK EXPO International 2014, to be held Nov. 2–5, 2014, at McCormick Place, Chicago.
The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies (PMMI), the owner and producer of the PACK EXPO tradeshows, reported that 2014 exhibit space sales have exceeded 970,000 net square feet.
“With more than 1,130 suppliers committed to exhibiting, we have sold 6 percent more space than at the same point in the 2012 show cycle,” said Jim Pittas, vice president of tradeshows, PMMI. “We anticipate a sold-out show floor, just as we had at PACK EXPO Las Vegas this fall.”
Co-locating with PACK EXPO International 2014 will be Pharma EXPO, a new joint venture from PACK EXPO, and the International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE). Pharma EXPO space sales have already exceeded initial projections. Together, the shows are expected to span more than 1.1 million net square feet of exhibit space and attract more than 50,000 attendees.
“So often, PACK EXPO attendees see a technology in action – even one for another industry – and understand how they can apply it to their own businesses,” said Pittas. “It’s what we call the ‘serendipity effect’ of PACK EXPO, and I think it will get even stronger with the resources of ISPE and Pharma EXPO on site with us next fall,” said Pittas.
Attendees in processing, particularly food manufacturing, report benefiting from the serendipity effect and often look to the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical and medical device industries for processes and innovations they can take home.
PACK EXPO attendees come from a range of markets including: Bakery and snacks; beverages; confectionery and candy; dairy; fruit and vegetable; grain, mill and cereal; meat, poultry and seafood; prepared foods; and fresh produce.
“The technologies used by the Pharma EXPO exhibit base can have practical applications for other processing attendees, particularly because of the regulatory changes in place because of the Food Safety Modernization Act,” said Pittas. “We’re making it easier for our attendees to see more and benefit more from being at PACK EXPO shows.”
