This year's SouthPack is all about speed. SouthPack '99, being held May 18 to 20 in Atlanta, recognizes how much speed matters in the packaging business. However, in the South, speed often means stock car racing. That's why the show features a daily drawing to win a Richard Petty Driving Experience, and displays of Petty's and other NASCAR cars throughout the exhibit hall.

In addition to the fun of speed, the SouthPack exhibit floor will feature a full range of packaging machinery and equipment, materials, supplies, containers, packages and services from some 450 packaging suppliers organized into 115ꯠ sq'. SouthPack '99 is being organized and produced by Reed Packaging Exhibitions (Norwalk, CN). To register on-line, visit packaging.reedexpo.com.

This year's show sponsor, the Institute of Packaging Professionals, will present a new concept in professional development. Rather than a series of sessions and seminars, the education portion of SouthPack '99 will consist of two brief, informative sessions from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on May 18 and 19.

On Monday, May 18, the first sessions will cover four topics. Eric Greenberg, from Bullwinkel partners (Chicago, IL), presents Legalities and Realities. This topic glimpses into the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and how upcoming regulations are likely to affect the packaging field. Trash Crisis--The Sequel will discuss how recent European Extended Product Responsibility proposals could affect U.S. packagers. Victor Bell, program manager at Environmental Packaging Intl. (Jamestown, RI), is the presenter. Mike Kelly, vice president at Specialized Packaging, Inc. (Alpharetta, GA) presents Technological Tactics. This session will report on computerization and integration of equipment and new formulations of materials. Finally, Designing for Change will offer advice and counsel on meeting changing demographics and consumer tastes with innovative research and improved structural package design. The presenter is Ann Keeling, account executive at design firm Libby Perszyk Kathman (Cincinnati, OH).

On Tuesday, May 19, attendees can see the best and the worst of packaged goods design. Robert McMath, author and self-proclaimed marketing guru will give examples of what he calls new "product innovation and idiocies." He will then provide tips and techniques that were used or should have been used to ensure a packaged product's market success. The second part of this presentation will consist of lessons learned from the past, presented by Libby Perszyk Kathman's Ann Keeling.

Finally, also featured is Women in Packaging's "Going There, Doing That" program at 5 p.m. on Thursday, May 19 at the Networking Reception. The cost for this program had not been determined as the magazine went to press. For details go to womeninpackaging.org or fax an information request to 770/928-2388.

A complete list of exhibitors and booth numbers follows.