For the 48,000-plus people who attended PACK EXPO in Chicago last month, it may have seemed like the mall three days before Christmas, and with the wealth of information and product solutions available, there was something for everyone. Preliminary combined figures from PACK EXPO and Pharma EXPO, the latter of which occupied McCormick Place’s West Hall, reveal 2,400 exhibitors used a total exhibit space of 1.2 million net sq. ft.

If you live in the Northeast and missed the Chicago event, PMMI has created a new show for you: PACK EXPO East. The event will take place in Philadelphia from February 16 to 18, 2015 in the Pennsylvania Convention Center, which is conveniently accessed by the Philadelphia subway system, regional trains and the airport train that serves all of Philadelphia Airport’s terminals.

“Whether your market is confectionery, baking/snack, pharmaceutical and medical devices, food, beverage, electronics or something else, PACK EXPO East will bring an exclusive focus on processing and packaging technologies, top-tier exhibitors and a customer-driven approach to operational needs,” says Jim Pittas, PMMI vice president of trade shows. “It’s everything you expect in a PACK EXPO show, located within 200 miles of a third of the nation’s major consumer goods companies.”

Through extensive customer research, Pittas’s staff learned the new show would be a great opportunity for exhibitors and end-users in the Northeast. PACK EXPO East better allows PMMI to meet exhibitor demand, which has already exceeded expectations. “We expected PACK EXPO East to generate a lot of excitement from exhibitors, but the demand has gone beyond what we hoped for,” says Pittas. “With the show just [a few months] away, it’s already 40 percent bigger than our original predictions.”

PMMI estimates the new show will debut with more than 400 suppliers. The show will feature education programs focusing on challenges in sustainability, food safety and automation, and will provide networking opportunities to connect with suppliers and peers on important issues and trends. For anyone who registers before January 21, the entry fee will be $30, half of the normal $60 charge. For more information, visit www.packexpoeast.com.

PMMI partners with FE on sustainability awards program

PMMI’s Alliance for Innovation & Operational Excellence (AIOE), working in partnership with Food Engineering magazine, has started a new awards program—the Sustainability Excellence in Manufacturing Awards. The award program will recognize exceptional sustainability achievements within the food, beverage and consumer products manufacturing operations.

The 2014 Sustainability Excellence in Manufacturing Award winners will be honored in a special presentation at the 2015 Food Engineering Food Automation & Manufacturing Conference, which will be held at the Sheraton Sand Key Resort, April 12-15, Clearwater Beach, FL.

“We’re honored to partner with Food Engineering for the Sustainability Excellence in Manufacturing Awards,” says Charles D. Yuska, PMMI president and CEO. “They are a leader in recognizing sustainability efforts. This partnership recognizes AIOE’s commitment to sustainability throughout the CPG industry.

“The peer-reviewed awards will recognize manufacturing plants for their efforts in driving improved performance through sustainability—focusing on pollution prevention, enhanced environmental protection and stewardship, and compliance assurance,” continues Yuska. Awards will be given in project categories including the reduction of water and energy use, waste conservation, pollution prevention and packaging reductions.

Awards will be given based on the project summary, environmental impact/social significance, important project dates/timelines, efficiency and cost effectiveness, originality and adaptive reuse, and technical value and transferability.

While the awards entry date is closed for this year, stay tuned for next year’s entry schedule in the Fall of 2015.

To view the latest agenda on the Food Automation & Manufacturing Conference & Expo, including speakers from Kellogg, General Mills, Costco, Beam Suntory and more, visit www.foodautomationconference.com.