And while many people we Packaging World editors talked with at the show view China’s emergence as a manufacturing center to be a source of grave concern, some are beginning to see that China may represent an opportunity, too. Chicago-based Combi Scale, for example, exhibited combination scales sourced in China. Certainly they weren’t the only packaging machinery builder at the show to offer a machine either built in China or incorporating components from China.
A conversation at Pack Expo Las Vegas with Dave Luttenberger, publishing director at Packaging Strategies, provided additional insight on the China question. Luttenberger reminded me that George Kellie, director of the UK consultancy Microflex Technology Ltd., will be on the program at the February 27-March 1 Packaging Strategies 2006, the 19th annual Summit Meeting of the packaging industry. Kellie’s topic: How to turn offshore competition into a competitive advantage. To learn more about Packaging Strategies’ Summit Meeting, visit www.packstrat.com.