The Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Institute, Arlington, VA, reported that 75꽸 packaging professionals exhibited or attended the Pack Expo Intl. packaging exhibition held at Chicago’s McCormick Place November 5-9. The show drew 48꼡 visitors, less than 1998’s 49꾿, including 6괷 international attendees. There were a record 937 participants in the Solutions Conference versus 808 in ‘98.
Exhibit space was up by 6%: 1곅깼 net sq’ this year compared to 1걹굋 sq' in ’98.
The show was co-located with the International Exposition for Food Processors (IEFP), which reported more than 300 exhibitors occupying more than 110ꯠ sq’ of exhibit space.
The figures were released on November 15.
“Attendance at Pack Expo international has hovered between 75ꯠ and 80ꯠ for the past six years,” says Tom Egan, show committee chairman, and vp of sales and marketing for Hoppmann Corp. “The attendance reflects not only consolidation, but also the productivity gains packaging operations are experiencing where companies are doing more with less staff.”
