Julie AckermanWith PACK EXPO Las Vegas right around the corner, attendees are busy mapping out their schedules for the show. More than 1,600 processing and packaging solutions providers will occupy over 700,000 net square feet, making the 2013 edition the largest PACK EXPO Las Vegas since the first event opened in 1995.
 
That’s a lot of innovation to explore.
 
With the growth has come evolution — PACK EXPO Las Vegas has continuously adapted to attendees’ changing needs. This year, show owner and producer PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, bolstered its research by commissioning an in-depth study with past show attendees.
 
Among the study’s many findings, which have been documented in a study called ‘Voice of the Attendee: CPG Attendees’ Perceptions of the “Total Show Experience,” was the fact that personalization and the ability to easily identify solutions was key to attendee satisfaction because it helps maximize productivity. 
 
To meet this need, PACK EXPO Las Vegas will offer several customer-centric features to help attendees plan their agendas and efficiently navigate the exposition.
 

Specialized Pavilions

  • Candy producers will find the innovations that can help solve their processing and packaging challenges within The Confectionery Pavilion, sponsored by the National Confectioners Association. 
  • The Processing Zone will address the trend of integration at a greater level with the latest processing technologies for a range of market sectors including food, beverage, baked goods, snack food, meat, dairy and produce. Attendees will find additional examples of these technologies throughout the exhibit halls. 
  • The Brand Zone will help brands break out of the packaging box, with innovative containers and materials to create a competitive edge at the point-of-sale and build consumer loyalty.

Industry Specific Lounges

Dedicated lounges on the show floor will offer focused networking opportunities for professionals in the baking and snack, beverage and confectionery industries to connect with suppliers for even faster access to the solutions they need. Each lounge will house an “Ask the Expert” forum, where attendees can receive guidance from experts on specific packaging- and processing-related challenges. 
 

The SMB FastTrack Program

Small- and medium-sized manufacturers with annual revenues between $50 and $500 million qualify for the new SMB FastTrack program. This free program will connect them with exhibitors that offer special incentives, programs, pricing or other services to SMBs. Additional benefits are available to C-suite executives with the SMB FastTrack Platinum program. Full program details are available at www.packexpo.com/fasttrack. Register for PACK EXPO by August 26 to participate.
Register for PACK EXPO Las Vegas now at www.packexpo.com and take advantage of discounted rates. Admission to the show floor is $30 through Sept. 9 and $60 thereafter. 
 
 
 
 
PMMI is a trade association representing 600+ packaging and processing supply chain companies that provide a full range of packaging and processing machinery, materials, components and containers. PMMI actively brings buyers and sellers together through its various programs including: The PACK EXPO family of trade shows, PACK EXPO Connected Communities, packexpo.com, PMT Magazine, PACK EXPO Show Daily, networking events, educational programs and more. 
 
PMMI organizes the PACK EXPO trade shows: PACK EXPO International, PACK EXPO Las Vegas and EXPO PACK México, connecting participants in the packaging and processing supply chain with their customers around the world. Coming Up: PACK EXPO Las Vegas at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Sept. 23–25, 2013; EXPO PACK México 2013 at Centro Banamex, Mexico City, June 18–21.
 
Learn more about PMMI and the PACK EXPO trade shows at PMMI.org and Packexpo.com.