PACK EXPO Las Vegas a Great Success

Thu November 12, 2009

Pack Expo 2009, held in Las Vegas on October 5-7, attracted nearly 23,000 packaging professionals, making it the second most highly attended show in its 15-year history.

This year’s Pack Expo included new features and events that help explain the high number of attendees – and their enthusiasm. Among the most significant -

• A nearly 60,000 exhibit called the “Brand Zone” featured innovative packaging designs from around the world. The Association of Independent Corrugated Converters (AICC) displayed its Packaging Design Competition entries in the Brand Zone.
• The Sustainability Information Center came in response to the growing importance of sustainable packaging in the U.S. and internationally and attracted great numbers of students, government agencies, and sustainability consultants. In addition to the Information Center, Pack Expo featured 32 breakout sessions devoted to sustainability. 
• A Student Design Contest, sponsored by PMMI U, asked participants to propose a palletizing solution in response to specifications in a “real life” RFQ. Student teams from four major U.S. universities competed for scholarship prizes.
• Exhibitors reported strong booth traffic in terms of quantity and quality, an indication that interest in packaging automation is on the rise. Reasons for this include not only the growing recognition of the importance of branding and sustainability, but a more optimistic view of the economy in 2010.  

Pack Expo International 2010 will take place October 31 – November 3, at McCormick Place in Chicago.