Spring is always a busy time of the year when it comes to packaging trade shows and events, and 2018 happens to be extra busy with the return of NPE, held once every three years. In addition to spring mainstays in Converters Expo and FTA Annual Forum/InfoFlex, printers and converters have a lot to keep up with this year. Here’s a closer look at the three upcoming events:
Converters Expo
Hosted in the heart of America’s converting corridor, Converters Expo, the largest one-day expo serving the converting industry, returns to Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, from April 17-18. The event officially kicks off with a welcome reception on April 17 in Lambeau Field’s Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame. On April 18, more than 700 attendees are expected to gather in the Lambeau Field Atrium from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. for the expo.
Converters Expo is designed to unite converters of paper, film, plastics and non-wovens with buyers, specialists and suppliers in the industry. Here’s a closer look at the range of exhibitors and some of the innovative products and technologies companies will be showcasing at the annual event:
Atlas Converting Equipment (Booth 94): The Atlas and Titan brands are leaders in slitting/rewinding technology, with more than 3,500 global installations spanning more than 80 countries. Company representatives will be speaking with attendees on the various features of its equipment that have helped it become so trusted.
Davis-Standard (Booth 112): Davis-Standard representatives will be on hand to discuss the company’s line of converting and extrusion equipment, including the high‐value, pre‐engineered dsX flex‐pack extrusion coating line and the innovative dsX s‐tretch line for cast film. They’ll also be discussing Davis-Standard’s full menu of global aftermarket and technical services, which are aimed at providing convenience and improved performance for customers.
Double E/Appleton Mfg. (Booth 88): Among its family of converting products, Double E will showcase its DF-2000 Core Chuck as well as its new EE250 Pneumatic Brake and revolutionary Auto-Lock Safety Chuck. In the same booth, Appleton Mfg. will demonstrate its compact and powerful RollMover and CartMover product lines. These innovative material handlers safely and efficiently move heavy loads in almost any environment. Appleton will also feature its Appleton Core Cutters and roll slabbers.
Empire Rollers & Coatings (Booth 31): Empire will feature its Glassed Steel Treater Roll (GSTR), designed to provide unmatched line uptime and ease of maintenance. The GSTR coating offers an amorphous, porous-free, inorganic surface to help make it resistant to ozone, knife cuts, scratches and normal wear and tear. It also offers high dielectric strength and operates effectively, even in demanding environments. The rolls can be retrofitted to fit existing treater stations or made for new film lines.
Filmquest (Booth 21): Filmquest will have its CP-267 soft-touch matte polyester film on hand, which offers better heat resistance and mechanical properties with PET, but a much softer film to the touch than any other oriented PET. There’s no glare, allowing products to better stand out on the shelf, and the matte coating offers high COF properties and eliminates print wash-out from reflected light.
Roll-2-Roll Technologies LLC (Booth 16): Roll-2-Roll Technologies will showcase the latest addition to its web guiding solutions with the retrofit web guiding kits for intermediate and terminal web guiding applications. The retrofit kits allow converters to replace outdated pneumohydraulic or electromechanical guide systems by providing technologically advanced sensor and control systems. No calibration, ease of use and multiple applications with one sensor allow for improved productivity.
Jemmco (Booth 47): Jemmco will demonstrate its most effective release sleeve, the JemmSil RS200 High Release. This highly effective sleeve, which is easily installed in-plant on existing idlers, is the solution for preventing sticky materials from getting stuck on rollers and will save converters thousands of dollars compared to traditional hard coats. Jemmco will also display its full line of Release, Web Cleaning, Anti-Static, Traction and Corona Treating Sleeves, traction and release tapes, and dyne test products.
Nordmeccanica (Booth 34): Nordmeccanica will showcase its entire product line of coating, laminating and metallizing machinery. Its focus will be on the most recent innovations it has developed targeting solventless lamination, an integrated die cutting system and innovations in metallization. The most recent innovation in lamination technology has been developed in cooperation with Dow. Thanks to the interaction between a new concept laminator, Duplex SL One Shot, and a new adhesive by Dow, Symbiex, SL lamination now permits unprecedented efficiencies. Nordmeccanica will also discuss new partnerships that have generated industry-changing innovations in die cutting and metallization for very high-barriers at the show.
Simco-Ion (Booth 113): Simco-Ion will showcase its LP Static Neutralizing Bar, the newest member of the IQ Power family. Measuring less than an inch high, the LP bar is ideal for space-restrictive applications. Simco-Ion will also feature other IQ Power products, ideal for almost every step of the converting process with its smarter, more integrated and easy-to-use solutions to static issues.
Sun Centre USA (Booth 64): Sun Centre will speak with attendees about the SCSG 600 XL Multiformat Pouch Machine, a versatile machine that can create multiple formats. Its features include: twin-lane standup and side gusset, PE/PE petfood, center seal, 3-side seal and more. The machine also comes ready to run with ultrasonic crushing for zipper and adjustable K seal tooling for fast setup. It can be upgraded for cross-web zipper, bottom fold gluing, hot knife sealing and die cutting for shaped pouches.
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Converters Expo When: April 17-18, 2018 |
FTA Annual Forum/InfoFlex
FTA’s premiere annual event, its Annual Forum and InfoFlex exhibition, comes to Indianapolis, Indiana from May 6-9. With a theme of “Bringing it all Together: Synchronizing Processes, People and Potential,” the Annual Forum will feature nine educational sessions and 40 speakers, totaling 18 hours’ worth of learning over the four-day timespan. The event will be held at the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown, and a projected 2,000 attendees are expected. Notable sessions include:
- Purchasing Printing/Converting Equipment: Flexo’s New Market Scenario
- New Capabilities: Look at Flexo Now!
- First in Motion: Wide Web Project
- Expanded Gamut: Where Are We Now?
- Troubleshooting Survival Guide
Program development is being led by Forum chair Bob Coomes of Plastic Packaging Technologies and co-chair Ann Michaud of 3M.
“The growth we are seeing in flexible packaging has been phenomenal,” says Coomes. “This makes it even more important for those serving within the industry to identify trends in the consumer space, keep up with the latest in technology and raise up a strong, productive workforce that will meet tomorrow’s challenges today. I believe that the session speakers at Forum 2018 will provide many ideas, insights and solutions that are relevant to those attending. It’s also a great opportunity to hear from industry experts and network with others within the flexo family. There will be something for everyone.”
On May 7-8, Forum attendees can take the skywalk from the Marriott to the Indiana Convention Center for the InfoFlex exhibition, which is expected to feature more than 240 exhibitors relevant to printing and converting. In fact, according to FTA, more than 90 percent of all 2018 InfoFlex exhibitors serve the flexible packaging and label markets in some capacity.
In addition to the exhibition, the event features 15 technical breakout sessions and more than 10 hours’ worth of networking.
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FTA Annual Forum/InfoFlex When: May 6-9, 2018 
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NPE 2018
NPE 2015 was a record-breaker. The international plastics show, which is held once every three years, broke records in attendance (65,810), exhibitors (2,029) and exhibit space (1.13 million square feet), among others. Noting the success from three years ago, NPE 2018 is expected to be even bigger when it makes its return to the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida, from May 7-11.
“NPE 2018 is the leading forum for plastics industry leaders to share ideas and see the next generation of innovation and technology driving the plastics industry into the future,” says William R. Carteaux, president and CEO of the Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS), the group that organizes the event. “We’re excited to welcome the leading minds in plastics to a contemporary, interactive marketplace for five days of active learning, high-powered collaboration and unparalleled discovery.”
In addition to numerous exhibitors involved in the packaging supply chain, NPE 2018 will also offer a trio of special events for those involved in the industry:
Plastics Leadership Summit (May 8-10): This half-day symposium is designed for senior-level management professionals and is intended to help them better understand the factors that drive company success and innovation.
Re|Focus Sustainability & Recycling Summit (May 8-10): A workshop that offers speakers and networking to help discover new technologies and innovations in packaging sustainability and end-life solutions.
3D Printing Workshop: This workshop will focus on additive manufacturing and the role it can play in package design and development.
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NPE 2018 When: May 7-11, 2018 
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