Risley continued: "PMMI's shipments study recently reported an 8.1% growth in shipments
last year. It was the fourth consectutive year of growth and the
industry is expected to eclipse the $6 billion in sales mark in the
next year for the first time."
Just more than $1 billion of those shipments were exports, marking only the second time packaging machine exports have reached that mark since PMMI began tracking sales. When added to recent U.S. Dept. of Commerce data indicating sales growth this year, Risley declared, "the economic health of the industry is strong."
Risley mentioned that radio frequency identification (RFID), robotics, flexible packaging, and brand security represent four trends PMMI has identified as market forces shaping the packaging business.
Other interesting facts presented included the following:
• This year's Pack Expo includes more than 2,300 exhibitors spread across 1.2 million sq', with 45,000 attendees. Compare that with the first Pack Expo held in Cleveland in 1956 that drew 4,000 attendees, with 136 companies exhibiting in 43,000 sq' of space.
• For 73 years, Risley said, "PMMI has only represented packaging machinery manufacturers, but this year, we're inviting components companies to join the organization. To date, 23 companies have joined and we're hoping more will join PMMI."
Risley, the CEO of Materials Handling Systems, said adding components makers was an example of PMMI changing. "We want to partner with the leading packaging companies across the supply chain." To that end, he told the trade press, "Your readers--our customers--are looking for complete systems solutions, and PMMI feels we can foster collaboration and partnerships to better serve the industry by inviting other companies to join the organization."
Just more than $1 billion of those shipments were exports, marking only the second time packaging machine exports have reached that mark since PMMI began tracking sales. When added to recent U.S. Dept. of Commerce data indicating sales growth this year, Risley declared, "the economic health of the industry is strong."
Risley mentioned that radio frequency identification (RFID), robotics, flexible packaging, and brand security represent four trends PMMI has identified as market forces shaping the packaging business.
Other interesting facts presented included the following:
• This year's Pack Expo includes more than 2,300 exhibitors spread across 1.2 million sq', with 45,000 attendees. Compare that with the first Pack Expo held in Cleveland in 1956 that drew 4,000 attendees, with 136 companies exhibiting in 43,000 sq' of space.
• For 73 years, Risley said, "PMMI has only represented packaging machinery manufacturers, but this year, we're inviting components companies to join the organization. To date, 23 companies have joined and we're hoping more will join PMMI."
Risley, the CEO of Materials Handling Systems, said adding components makers was an example of PMMI changing. "We want to partner with the leading packaging companies across the supply chain." To that end, he told the trade press, "Your readers--our customers--are looking for complete systems solutions, and PMMI feels we can foster collaboration and partnerships to better serve the industry by inviting other companies to join the organization."
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