More than 500 exhibitors of machinery and materials are expected at Expopak, with a sizable number of these companies coming from the U.S. The show is co-produced by Oprex (Mexico City, Mexico) and by the Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Institute (Arlington, VA). The sponsor is AMEE, the Mexican Packaging Assn.
AMEE will also conduct a separate conference that will be of interest to attendees. At press time, AMEE has released the topics and the date of presentation; times and speakers had not been disclosed. The theme for the conference is Food processing and packaging for global commerce, and it will be held at the Hotel Nikko Mexico.
On Wednesday, June 23, the program will focus on Risk factors. Topics to be discussed will include Microbiological factors in packaged foods, procedures for Sanitizing of processing and packaging plants, and methods for Hygienic handling of packaging and containers.
The newest technologies for food processing and packaging is the general theme for the Thursday sessions. Topics to be covered include Thermal processing, the proper methods for Packaging of acidified foods, and also Aseptic packaging.
The Friday program will look at Quality control systems necessary for international commerce. This regulatory-slanted program will include examinations of Good manufacturing practices, Hazard analysis critical control point (HAACP) systems and the requirements for Labeling of food products.
The marriage of food and packaging, like Procesa and Expopak in this co-located show, is particularly vital to Mexico. That country's food and beverage industries account for 24.8% of the country's gross manufacturing product, and nearly 5% of the total GNP. In packaging, AMEE reports growing use of plastic containers in a wide variety of industries. In the beverage market alone, the value of polyethylene terephthalate has reached $350 million annually. And its use is growing by a phenomenal 20%/yr.
Last year, attendees from food (approximately 68%) and beverage (32%) companies were primarily interested in packaging machinery (29%), while another 30% said their primary interest was in packaging materials, or containers and converters. One badge admits attendees to both shows.
Just slightly more than half of the exhibiting companies last year were from Mexico. Following this story are lists of U.S. packaging companies that are exhibiting and other companies that do business in the U.S.
