This year’s largest, most comprehensive packaging event, PACK EXPO Las Vegas 2019 will take place Sept. 23–25, at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The biennial event co-located with Healthcare Packaging EXPO 2019, is set to bring machinery suppliers together with end users across a host of industries.

PACK EXPO Las Vegas, produced by PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, will address the latest trends such as sustainability, efficiency and product safety, drawing solutions from 2,000-plus exhibiting companies on the 900,000 net square foot exhibit floor.

The show is expected to draw 30,000 packaging professionals, including 5,000 international visitors from more than 125 countries, spanning a wide range of job functions. 

Attendees will have access to must-see highlights during show floor hours (9:00 a.m. to 4:00 a.m.), including:

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 presented throughout the show.

The Forum: New to PACK EXPO Las Vegas 2019, The Forum offers attendees a unique, 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 lively, interactive robot and collaborative robot (cobot) displays, including pick and place/relocation activities and an artificial intelligence and human interaction demo, sponsored by Siemens Packaging Automation Fair. The PACK EXPO Greeter Robot will greet visitors, who 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 United States for PACK for a Purpose: Robots Fighting Hunger, in collaboration with Blessings in a Backpack.

The Reusable Packaging Pavilion: As demand rises for sustainable packaging solutions, the Reusable Packaging Pavilion, sponsored by the Reusable Packaging Association (RPA), 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 advances in one convenient location. Industry professionals can expect to find cost-effective 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 resealable packaging as well as containers and materials in the Lower South Hall.

Industry-Specific Lounges: PACK EXPO Las Vegas attendees can interact and network with industry peers to acquire new insights in three comfortable and conveniently located industry-specific lounges, The Candy Bar Lounge (Booth S-7201), The Snack Break Lounge (Booth S-7628), and The Beverage Cooler Lounge (Booth S-7629).

Student Opportunities: PACK EXPO Las Vegas offers programs and activities with a special focus on students, aimed at educating and exciting 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.

The Workforce Development Pavilion: PACK EXPO Las Vegas’ PMMI U offerings, including popular training workshops keep industry members well-equipped to address evolving needs. 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 great technician.

PACK gives BACK: Headlined by the Steve Miller Band, PMMI’s regular benefit returns to PACK EXPO Las Vegas with a networking event in support of the PACK EXPO Scholarship, a program for students in the U.S. and Canada majoring in packaging and processing, on Monday, Sept. 23 in the North Hall. The 4 p.m. reception will be followed with a performance by The Steve Miller Band at 5 p.m. A portion of the proceeds will support NS2 Serves®, a nonprofit dedicated to helping recent U.S. military veterans transition from combat boots to business suits by providing valuable IT training and employment assistance at no cost to veterans. Tickets are $95 and include drinks and light hors d’oeuvres. For more information and to purchase tickets visit: www.packexpolasvegas.com/pack-gives-back.

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. Join the network for breakfast to hear from industry leaders on issues affecting women in manufacturing and connect with peers through networking exercises and shared experiences. Ellen Ochoa, the first Hispanic woman ever to go to space, is the keynote speaker at PMMI’s PPWLN breakfast taking place during PACK EXPO Las Vegas. Register for this PACK EXPO Las Vegas event on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019 at 7:30 a.m., at: www.pmmi.org/ppwln/events  

Technology Excellence Awards: New to PACK EXPO Las Vegas, the technology excellence awards, bestowed by PMMI, recognize innovative technologies showcased at a PACK EXPO show for the first time. All registered attendees will be able to vote on their favorites among the finalists selected in specific market segments.

Registration, which includes access to both PACK EXPO Las Vegas and Healthcare Packaging EXPO, is $30 through Aug. 30 after which the price increases to $100. For more information and to register online, visit packexpolasvegas.com or hcpelasvegas.com.

PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, represents more than 850 North American manufacturers and suppliers of equipment, components and materials as well as providers of related equipment and services to the packaging and processing industry. For more information, visit www.pmmi.org or www.packexpo.org.