Pack Expo 2009: At a Glance

Featuring more than 1,200 exhibitors spread over more than 600,000 square feet, Pack Expo 2009 highlights the newest equipment and technologies designed to tackle the most complex packaging challenges. The Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Institute (PMMI), producer of the show, expects roughly 21,000 attendees this year.

The Conference

In addition to exhibits, Pack Expo also offers a conference program centered on the theme of “Maximizing Performance, Sustainability and Economics.” PMMI has organized more than 50 individual sessions into conference tracks, which include branding, converting, digital package printing, economics, intelligent coding, legal landscape, materials, processing, sustainability, sustainable operations and vision systems.

Each day's program features a keynote address delivered by an executive from the grocery industry. Each keynoter will explore, among other topics, the growth in the private-label business. Doug Palmer, vice president of Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co.'s Own Brands business, will discuss retailer packaging and branding; Andrew Abraham, vice president of Supervalu's Our Own Brands division, will explore ways the private-brand industry can work with the packaging supply chain; and Steve Ryder, store design and planning director at Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market, along with Kevin O'Donnell, founder of sustainable design company thread collaborative, will tell the inside story of Tesco's U.S. launch of Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market.

What's New in 2009

The new DistriPak Pavilion, dedicated to packaging and paper distributors and sponsored by the NPTA Alliance (formerly the National Paper Trade Association), explores trends impacting packaging supply chains. Here, attendees can find industrial packaging distributors and manufacturers of machinery and materials.

Also, several organizations are hosting their own events in conjunction with Pack Expo. The Converting and Package Printing Expo showcases products for package printing, converting and finishing, while the co-located Process Expo, produced by the Food Processing Suppliers Association, reveals the newest developments in processing technology.

In addition, the Association of Independent Corrugated Converters, International Bottled Water Association and Reusable Packaging Association (RPA) are all co-locating their annual conventions with Pack Expo.

RPA is sponsoring and organizing an entire track of sessions at Pack Expo related to reusable transport packaging. Led by industry experts and end users, the sessions explore topics such as sustainability, RFID and reusable packaging in supply chains.

Packaging Automation

Case/Tray Packer

Arpac's intermittent motion DPM 2000 series wrap-around case/tray packer reaches speeds of 25 cases and/or trays per minute. DPM-2000 systems can be integrated into lines after cartoners and shrink bundlers or before tray stackers, shrink wrappers and palletizers. The machine integrates blank feeding, product loading, case forming and container sealing into a single, compact unit suitable for packaging cans, jars and bottles. Wrap-around case or tray blanks can reduce the amount of corrugated board used by up to 25%, according to ARPAC. Tightly wrapped cases and trays also enhance stacking strength and help reduce damage caused by materials shifting during handling. Standard features include a Nordson hot-melt glue system, Allen-Bradley programmable logic controller with Arpac operator interface and digital controls for conveyor speeds, timing and temperature settings.

Arpac, Booth C-1000