What's new at PACK EXPO Las Vegas 2019?

Produced by PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, the show will address trending issues such as sustainability, efficiency and product safety, bringing together solutions from 2,000-plus exhibiting companies on the almost sold-out 900,000 net square foot exhibit floor.

The show is expected to host 30,000 attendees, including 5,000 international visitors from more than 125 countries, with a wide range of job functions, including engineers, purchasers, production supervisors, package designers, brand managers and marketers, logistics and supply chain management, as well as corporate, general, plant and project managers among others.

Features include:

• The Innovation Stage:​ PACK EXPO Las Vegas and Healthcare Packaging EXPO attendees will have free access to educational programming at the Innovation Stage. Industry-specific solutions and best practices will be addressed by suppliers during the 30-minute seminars in the Central Hall presenting throughout the show.

• The Forum: ​New to PACK EXPO Las Vegas 2019, The Forum offers attendees an interactive learning experience featuring free 45-minute seminars. Attendees can delve into the latest industry trends, with hands-on activities, small group discussions and Q&A sessions. Topics include packaging design to enhance the consumer experience, planning for a successful career in packaging, and the best practices in education and workforce among others.

• Robotics Zone​: Making its debut at PACK EXPO Las Vegas 2019, the Robotics Zone showcases interactive robot and cobot displays, including pick and place/relocation activities and an artificial intelligence and human interaction demo. Visitors will be greeted by the PACK EXPO Greeter Robot, and can listen to live music by the Kuka Robotic Band. Robots will pack snacks for children facing food insecurity issues across Las Vegas and the US for PACK for a Purpose: Robots Fighting Hunger.

• The Reusable Packaging Pavilion:​ As demand rises for sustainable packaging solutions, the Reusable Packaging Pavilion is a hot spot for technologies that reduce waste, cut costs and gain chain efficiency. At the Reusable Packaging Learning Center, attendees can discover how investing in reusable packaging assets can both increase sustainability and lower supply chain cost.

• The PACKage Printing Pavilion: ​New to PACK EXPO Las Vegas, the PACKage Printing Pavilion located in the Central Hall, gathers exhibitors showcasing the latest digital printing advancements. Industry professionals can expect to find solutions for smart, short-run, on-demand, variable data and personalized packaging.

• The Containers and Materials Pavilion: ​Attendees can find the latest innovations in paperboard, glass, metal and plastic, flexible and resalable packaging as well as containers and materials in the Lower South Hall.

• The Confectionery Pavilion: ​Discover the latest trends and technologies relating to aeration, batch refining, shaping, cluster production and more in the Upper South Hall.

• Industry-Specific Lounges: ​PACK EXPO Las Vegas attendees can interact and network with industry peers to acquire new insights in three industry specific lounges, The Candy Bar Lounge, The Snack Break Lounge, and The Beverage Cooler Lounge.

• Student Opportunities: ​PACK EXPO Las Vegas offers programs and activities with a special focus on students, aimed at educating the next generation about careers in packaging. The Amazing Packaging Race is designed to highlight the possibilities in the packaging industry, and the Future Innovators Robotics Showcase will feature robotics teams from local schools in Las Vegas and their innovations. Suppliers can meet with students and veterans pursuing careers in packaging and processing during one-on-one informational interviews, through CareerLink, PMMI’s online job board, now live at PACK EXPO. At the Workforce Development Pavilion​, attendees and exhibitors can learn about PMMI’s student activities and find out about packaging programs.

• Training Sessions: ​PACK EXPO Las Vegas’ PMMI U offerings including training workshops. Schools will present mechatronics, packaging and processing offerings, and attendees can meet students interested in careers in the industry. Attendees can attend a session on Risk Assessment (Sept. 21-22), which explores ways to improve productivity and ensure worker safety, and a Certified Trainer workshop (Sept. 23-24), which delivers strategies and tactics to train across all employee skills. The Fundamentals of Field Service session (Sept. 23-24), open to PMMI members, delves into non-technical knowledge and skills needed to be a technician.

• Packaging & Processing Women’s Leadership Network (PPWLN) Breakfast: ​Launched in 2016, PPWLN’s mission is to recruit, retain and advance women in processing and packaging. This year’s keynote speaker is Ellen Ochoa, the first Hispanic woman to visit space.

• Technology Excellence Awards: ​New to PACK EXPO Las Vegas, the technology excellence awards, bestowed by PMMI, recognize innovative technologies that are being showcased for the first time. All registered attendees will be able to vote for the finalists selected in specific market segments.

Innovations that attendees can discover on the show floor:

Leak detection technology enables cost-effective and reliable testing for bulk products​ 

INFICON will debut the Contura S600, with an oversized test chamber that effectively tests products sold for bulk retail and foodservice applications as well as large format Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) and flexible packages. 

Engineered to test products sold in bulk, the system helps manufacturers extend shelf life, prevent recalls and returns and reduce waste. The S600 model relies on a proprietary differential pressure method to detect both gross and fine leaks and offers a faster, easier and quantifiable alternative to methodologies like water baths and gas-based testing. The Contura S600 is designed for a variety of food applications. 

Label applicator reduces waste and increases productivity with greater flexibility ​

Wexler Packaging Products Inc. will present the Ravenwood Nobac 500, a linerless labeling system that can apply various linerless formats to a range of products. High-speed linerless labeling systems produce less waste than traditional pressure-sensitive labeling systems because these labels do not require backing paper.

With a lower carbon footprint and reduced packaging coverage, linerless labeling systems replace typical sleeve and label applications with an environmental, economic and functional alternative.

The Nobac 500 eliminates the need to turn packs and is specifically designed for maximum flexibility and rapid changeover between wrap formats.

Paper straw machine line offers alternative to plastic​

NSC Packaging - Pakea will present its EcoPaperStraw machine line for manufacturing paper drinking straws, engineered specifically to be able to produce tubes with very small diameters. 

EcoPaperStraw can adapt to high speeds, with a nominal velocity of 60 meters of straws per minute. 

As the environmental impact of plastic straws becomes a greater concern for consumers, the machine enables companies to develop an alternative, more sustainable product. 

BOPP packaging solutions for lightweight, ‘recycle ready’ films ​

Innovia Films will highlight its range of biaxially-oriented polypropylene (BOPP) high-barrier, packaging films that allow converters to produce recyclable, lightweight printed barrier structures that maintain product integrity. 

The multi-layer ​extrusion technology means converters can incorporate more levels of functionality than with orientated polypropylene (OPP) films.

One of the transparent films from the line, Propafilm Strata SL, is designed to stand alone as a mono filmic solution or to be used in laminate. 

Sustainable humidity indicator cards provide detailed package history ​ 

Clariant Corporation will present Humitector Type 2, a halogen and cobalt dichloride-free humidity indicator card that combines multiple, reversible color humidity indicators with a patent-pending, non-reversible 60% humidity signal. This pairing provides package history that is more detailed than traditional reversible Type 1.

Additionally, these cards comply with and are preferred for handling, packing, shipping and use of moisture/reflow and/or process sensitive devices (IPC/JEDEC standard J-STD-033D) regulations. 

Often, reductions in a package’s humidity level, including extended storage in dry conditions, can cause the signifier to revert to their original color. The Humitector Type 2’s indicator combines reversible indicators (5% and 10%) with a non-reversible (60% RH) indicator spot, providing a reliable, permanent indication of the prolonged high humidity conditions that affected packaging and its contents.

For more information and to register online, visit packexpolasvegas.com​ or hcpelasvegas.com​.