Converters Expo 2019: What You Need to Know

Hot on the heels of the second-annual Converters Expo South, which was held on February 5 in Charlotte, North Carolina, comes the flagship Converters Expo. Now entering its 12th year, the event returns to Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, from March 27-28, and is designed to unite converters, industry buyers, specialists and suppliers throughout the Midwest.

Here’s a look at what you need to know about the 2019 Converters Expo:

It’s a Quick, Comprehensive Show

Converters Expo isn’t designed to pull packaging professionals away from the office for days at a time, as it’s the Midwest’s only one-day expo, located in the heart of America’s premiere converting corridor. The event opens at 9:30 a.m. and ends at 3:30 p.m., so while the time commitment is minimal, the reward can be significant.

Networking Opportunities

In addition to the one-day show on March 28, Converters Expo also hosts the pre-event Welcome Reception, scheduled from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on March 27. For attendees that can’t make the Reception, however, networking opportunities are available throughout the actual show. Lunch, scheduled from noon to 2 p.m., and the event Happy Hour, scheduled from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. are ideal opportunities.

What’s more is Converters Expo has experienced a year-over-year increase in attendance. With more than 700 people expected inside Lambeau Field for the 2019 show, there’s increasingly more professionals for attendees to connect with.

It Features a Sold Out Show Floor

In addition to year-over-year increases in attendance, Converters Expo has also expanded in exhibit space. Back in 2017, the Expo moved a few floors down in the Lambeau Field atrium to accommodate more exhibitors, and this year’s sold out show floor expects to have about 125 exhibiting companies – and on multiple floors inside the Atrium. With exhibitors featuring the likes of slitting/rewinding, inks, printing, automation and handling, and testing and inspection, there’s a wide variety of companies for attendees to interact with. Be sure to check out www.convertersexpo.com for a full list of exhibitors.

You Can’t Beat the Venue

Finally, you really can’t beat the venue Converters Expo takes place in. Starting with the pre-event reception March 27 in the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame to the annual show itself in the Lambeau Field Atrium, even football fans of the Packers’ NFC North rivals can appreciate the location.

Converters Expo is produced by the BNP Packaging Group, which consists of Flexible Packaging, Brand Packaging and Packaging Strategies magazines.

Converters Expo     When: March 27-28, 2019 Where: Lambeau Field Atrium; Green Bay, Wisconsin What: A one-day trade show bringing together converters of paper, film, plastics and non-wovens. A pre-event Welcome Reception is scheduled for March 27. More info: www.convertersexpo.com

Hitting the Bourbon Trail: ICE USA Set to Descend Upon Louisville

The only event dedicated exclusively to converting and processing web-based materials, ICE USA 2019 comes to Louisville, Kentucky, April 9-11. Flexible Packaging recently caught up with Melissa Magestro, executive vice president of Mack Brooks Exhibitions, the organizer of ICE USA, to discuss what converting professionals can expect to experience this April in Louisville, Kentucky.

What can packaging professionals get out of a show like ICE USA?

A: ICE USA will provide an opportunity to widen your circle, strengthen your connections and explore strategic partnerships that will move your company forward. This all-inclusive event will combine a broad display of industry innovation with highly relevant education and technical trainings to help your company succeed in 2019.

Can you talk about the reasons behind the move to Louisville and why this location better suits ICE?

A: The decision to move ICE USA was made to put the show in the center of converting in the U.S. The Midwest and Midsouth regions of America are where manufacturing is taking place, and Louisville was the perfect spot, as it has been ranked No. 1 for manufacturing by publications such as Forbes. Travel budgets have been cut, and time away from the office is hard to come by, so having Louisville within driving distance of half the U.S. population will provide ease of access for more visitors. In addition, the infrastructure of the city is ideal for ICE USA exhibitors and attendees, as it leads to a brand-new convention center, hotels and restaurants within walking distance, and a fun atmosphere that will make for great customer events and networking.

Is there an estimate on how many exhibitors and attendees are expected?

A: Over 250 exhibitors will be on the show floor in Louisville exhibiting their latest products and technologies for the converting industry. ICE USA is an equipment show, so visitors can get hands-on with machinery and hear about the products from technical experts. Slitting, rewinding, coating, laminating, web control, testing and inspection, software, and flexo printing equipment and supplies will be on display in the exhibit hall. ICE USA exhibitors come from over 12 countries around the world including Canada, China, Germany, Italy, Spain, South Korea and more. Regarding attendees, we are anticipating over 3,000 registrants, mostly from the U.S. However, we also have visitors coming from Central and South America, Canada and Europe. ICE USA is truly a global show.

Can you speak about InPrint USA’s co-location and why this show complements ICE?

A: More converters are looking to incorporate digital and inkjet print in their processes to become a one-stop-shop. Having those print suppliers on the show floor, demonstrating their innovations and capabilities, and discussing the opportunities of industrial print implementation will give converters an extra benefit for attending ICE USA. Here they can get all their converting needs covered, plus learn about the possibilities available through industrial print technology.

Aside from the show hall, what are some of the other features of ICE? Is there anything new planned?

A: The education program for 2019 is more robust than anything we have ever done before. The day before the show opens, we will host the AIMCAL Fundamental courses which are full-day training sessions in Coating & Drying or Slitting & Rewinding. The Fundamental courses are perfect for those new to the converting industry. The ICE USA Technical Conference runs all three mornings of the show before the exhibit hall opens, and these sessions are ideal for engineers and technical personnel looking to stay updated on industry research and new processes. The Future of Converting Theater on the show floor will kick off each day with a keynote presentation on disruptive forces that are changing the converting industry and creating new opportunities. These sessions are free to all registered attendees and feature some of the most respected experts in the industry. The Future of Converting sessions will help visitors stay competitive in a rapidly changing marketplace.

ICE USA 2019     When: April 9-11, 2019 Where: Kentucky International Convention Center; Louisville, Kentucky What: A dedicated event for the conversion of paper, film, foil, non-wovens and other flexible web-based materials. More info: www.ice-x-usa.com