Food Engineering logo
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Food Engineering logo
  • NEWS
    • Latest Headlines
    • Manufacturing News
    • People & Industry News
    • Plant Openings
    • Recalls
    • Regulatory Watch
    • Supplier News
  • PRODUCTS
    • New Plant Products
    • New Retail Products
  • TOPICS
    • Alternative Protein
    • Automation
    • Cannabis
    • Cleaning | Sanitation
    • Fabulous Food Plants
    • Food Safety
    • Maintenance Strategies
    • OEE
    • Packaging
    • Sustainability
    • More
  • EXCLUSIVES
    • Plant Construction Survey
    • Plant of the Year
    • Sustainable Plant of the Year
    • State of Food Manufacturing
    • Top 100 Food & Beverage Companies
  • MEDIA
    • Podcasts
    • Videos
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
  • FOOD MASTER
  • EVENTS
    • Food Automation & Manufacturing Symposium and Expo
    • Industry Events
  • RESOURCES
    • eNewsletter
    • Custom Content & Marketing Services
    • FE Store
    • Government Links
    • Industry Associations
    • Market Research
    • Classified Ads
  • EMAGAZINE
    • eMagazine
    • Archive Issue
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP!
Manufacturing News

TECH FLASH

Food Manufacturers See their Future at PACK EXPO Las Vegas 2013

Show floor features new technologies and insights as well as networking opportunities.

PACK EXPO Las Vegas
October 29, 2013

PACK EXPO Las Vegas

This year’s PACK EXPO Las Vegas brought together 1,788 exhibitors and more than 27,000 attendees from a variety of vertical markets, including the baking and snack, beverage, dairy, meat and confectionery industries. Attendees immersed themselves in the latest technologies for advancing efficiency, sustainability and food safety.

We spoke with Julie Ackerman, senior director, PR and Communications, of PMMI, about the highlights of this year’s show, including topics addressed through educational sessions held on the show floor. PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, owns and produces the PACK EXPO family of trade shows.

 

Q. What trends did you see addressed by the solutions showcased on the show floor?

A. This year, we saw a continued focus on sustainability and food safety, such as new nanotechnology developments with oxygen scavenging and antimicrobial capabilities that can extend the shelf life of food products and help maintain consumer safety.

Additionally, perceived concern around Bisphenol A (BPA) remains an industry-wide challenge, and in anticipation of changing regulations, manufacturers are exploring new materials options for items that come in contact with food and beverage products. It was clear at PACK EXPO just how much this is driving the demand for alternatives in food packaging, such as bio-based polymers.

 

Q. What solutions did you see that would help brand owners enhance shelf-impact?

A. We definitely saw more discussion around smart packaging. Brand owners are looking for ways to create new consumer experiences, and as a result multi-sensory packaging that engages all the senses — even the sense of smell — are gaining much attention.

Convenience-enhancing packaging solutions were also prominent at PACK EXPO. As “on-the-go” offerings such as finished ready-to-eat (RTE) breakfast sandwiches gain popularity, shoppers are also seeing packaging innovations designed to increase ease of use, such as microwavability, easy-open features and reusable closures.

 

Q. This year, PMMI brought education to the floor with a trio of Innovation Stages in addition to other educational focus areas. What were some of the key topics addressed?

A.The Innovation Stage presentations brought a wide range of insights to attendees as well as the other on-floor educational programming offered at the Food Safety Summit Resource Center, the Center for Trends & Technology and the Reusables Learning Center. Speakers focused on a range of front-and-center topics that coincided with trends that I mentioned earlier, including food safety, compliance with new regulations like the Food Safety Modernization Act, packaging to engage consumers at the point of purchase, sustainability, convenience-enhancing features for seniors and tech-savvy packaging that enhances the brand experience for connected consumers. At the Center for Trends & Technology, efficiency was the name of the game. Experts addressed trends in advanced mechatronics, line integration techniques, and driving efficiencies with robot integration .

 

Q. What is in store for PACK EXPO International 2014?

A.  With the tremendous success of PACK EXPO Las Vegas, we’re looking forward to PACK EXPO International (November 2-5, McCormick Place, Chicago).  We expect to attract 50,000 visitors with technologies showcased by 2,000 exhibiting companies in more than 1.1 million net square feet of exhibit space. Much like PACK EXPO Las Vegas, we’ll be bringing more resources for education, innovation and critical conversation to the show floor to help food and beverage manufacturers make the most of their time and advance their operations.

For more information on PMMI and PACK EXPO International 2014, visit www.packexpo.com.

KEYWORDS: manufacturing industry PACK EXPO trade shows

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
to unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • Global Organic Food & Beverage Market to Grow

    Global Organic Food & Beverage Market to Grow

    With a CAGR of 12.07%, Bonafide Research estimates this...
    People & Industry News
  • skilled MEP worker

    Predicting Food and Beverage Manufacturing Trends for 2024

    The two words that should be kept in mind are labor and...
    Automation
    By: Derrick Teal
  • cleaning and sanitation

    The basics of cleaning and sanitation in food plants

    Sanitation maintains or restores a state of cleanliness...
    Cleaning | Sanitation
    By: Richard F. Stier
Subscribe For Free!
  • eMagazine
  • eNewsletter
  • Online Registration
  • Manage My Preferences
  • Customer Service

More Videos

Popular Stories

Conagra Logo

Conagra Brands to Sell Chef Boyardee Brand to Hometown Food Company

Salt

FDA to Amend Standards of Identity to Include Salt Substitutes

Vilter IHP in plant

Industrial Heat Pumps: Sustainable Energy Solutions for Now and the Future

CHECK OUT OUR NEW ESSENTIAL TOPICS

Alternative ProteinAutomationCleaning/SanitationFabulous Food Plants

Food SafetyMaintenance StrategiesOEE

PackagingSustainability

Events

June 5, 2025

Mass Customization Driving Innovation in the Food and Beverage Industry

The food and beverage industry is at the nexus of transformative global manufacturing trends, driving a shift toward personalized, customer-centric solutions. 

June 5, 2025

How Cafe Spice Uses Automation to Propel Private Label

Learn about Cafe Spice’s new, state-of-the-art, highly automated manufacturing facility in Beacon, New York. 

View All Submit An Event

Products

Recent Advances in Ready-to-Eat Food Technology

Recent Advances in Ready-to-Eat Food Technology

See More Products

Plant of the Year

Related Articles

  • PACK EXPO 2013

    PACK EXPO Las Vegas 2013 provides path to food safety, better branding and more

    See More
  • PMMI releases mechatronics study guides

    What’s new at PACK EXPO Las Vegas

    See More
  • Worldwide Food Expo and PACK Expo Las Vegas Show Portraits 2006

    See More

Related Products

See More Products
  • food proces.jpg

    Food Process Engineering Emerging Trends in Research and Their Applications

See More Products
×

Elevate your expertise in food engineering with unparalleled insights and connections.

Get the latest industry updates tailored your way.

JOIN TODAY!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Food Master
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • eNewsletter
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing