PACK EXPO is the largest international packaging exhibition in its region, alternating between Chicago and Las Vegas each year. The 2018 event was held in Chicago. There were more than 2500 exhibiting companies spanning nearly 116,000 sq m of exhibition floor space, making it the largest packaging show of 2018.

As always, the World Packaging Organisation (WPO) had a booth manned by various executive members for the duration of the event, and enjoyed a steady stream of visitors throughout the show. In addition, WPO and PMMI co-organised the first ever Forums, where both Nerida Kelton and Johannes Bergmair from the WPO Executive Team gave presentations alongside guests, Prof Karin Proctor (RIT, USA) and Franco Mercado (Teckdes, Argentina). It was a resounding success with many of the presentations filled to beyond capacity. The show was incredibly rewarding due to the variety of exhibits and the sheer number of booths, all under one roof.

There was a good focus on packaging to help reduce food loss where companies were offering oxygen-absorbing technology for flexible packaging that is able to double the shelf life of some food products. The technology, embedded in a film layer within flexible packaging, protects original food flavours, aromas and textures without the need for sachets or packets.

Such technology is ideal for retort packaging applications and organic and gluten-free products that are vulnerable to food spoilage. It was interesting to learn that in the USA the Drug Supply Chain Security Act will make item-level serialisation mandatory at beginning of November 2018. This will do wonders for the industry related to serialisation and compliance.

It was great to learn that there is now a water-based (not solvent) adhesive available with a significant temperature range from hot to cold and has no added fillers to the adhesive, thus no very strong odours and a better shelflife. Some ultra high barrier film were on offer where the metallised barrier layer is locked in, thus preventing it from being damaged in downstream processing using a protective top-coat.

I discovered that a recent trend is the movement towards paperboard and corrugated blanks versus pre-glued. Paperboard and corrugated blanks have cost-saving benefits and require machinery to form. This has led to greater need for full automation, with erecting and forming integrated into the line compared to simple packing automation.

What was evident at this show was the environmental concerns impacting on the packaging industry, for example the general move to Doypacks. Another example would be the move towards more recyclability, in general. With regards to machines. Of interest was a new launch of a two robot case loading system with vision allowing processors and co-packers to pack both vertical and horizontal on the same line. There was a new launch of a stretchy new flat belt surface, practically eliminating dust build up with a higher coefficient of friction moving 30kg cartons on inclines up to 16 degrees.

There were various in-line printing solutions directly onto flat, contoured, cylindrical or taper-walled containers. Some good ideas with regards to sustainable dry ice cleaning solutions, with less unscheduled downtime, cleaning more effectively with no abrasiveness. On show were some new ultrasonic sealing systems producing high-quality seals as narrow as 1 mm, reducing packaging material, documented savings, increased shelf-life and package strength. They could also prove a reduction in manufacturing waste and energy use which was a bonus.

What was evident at this show was the trend for food packagers looking to improve production and switch to package formats in just minutes. On offer were machines offering an easily rotatable sealing jaw. The vertical form fill seal bagger can run pillow bags, gusseted bags, three-sided seal bags and stand-up pouches, all on the same bagging machine.

In conclusion, there was much discussion at the show around eCommerce packaging and the impact and changes that eCommerce is creating along the supply chain, from product manufacturing to delivery. The consensus is that eCommerce is not changing the rules of the game, it is starting a whole new game.

I was encouraged by the participation from a number of universities across the USA being involved in this show and actually having booths that were very interactive with other show attendees. Networking was very evident and always of great value. I always find that the value I attach to networking and the time I put into it is directly proportionate to the return thereof. PACK EXPO 2018 again proved this very positively.

Pierre Pienaar (Prof) MSc, FAIP, CPP
President, World Packaging Organisation (WPO)
Education Director, Australian Institute of Packaging (AIP)