This year's WestPack looks forward by highlighting new technologies, products and services that will define the direction packaging will take in the new millennium. WestPack also remembers the past with special events during this year's show.
Produced and managed by Reed Exhibition Cos. (Newton, MA), WestPack 99 is scheduled for Sept. 28 to 30 at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, CA. The Institute of Packaging Professionals (IoPP) and the Western Packaging Assn. (WPA) sponsor the show. More than 30ꯠ attendees and 900 exhibiting companies are expected.
According to a study conducted by Reed Exhibitions, California alone accounts for 13% of all U.S. packaging demand, and more than 98ꯠ manufacturing plants in the West use an average of $25.4 billion of packaging annually. WestPack targets both small and large companies that spend an average of $2.3 million a year on packaging.
Brand new this year is a Converting pavilion where suppliers will showcase the latest converting machinery/supplies. Converting materials, suppliers and equipment, components and accessories will be displayed. The California Film Extruders and Converters Assn. sponsors this pavilion.
Four other specialty pavilions will also be highlighting innovations and technologies on the 300ꯠ sq' WestPack floor. The Machinery pavilion offers a comprehensive array of the latest equipment advancements. Nearly 500 companies from the U.S. and Canada will present offerings from folding-carton machines to labeling and clamshell package sealing equipment to automatic form/fill/seal machines and on-line robotically controlled cap torque measuring systems.
The Creative Packaging pavilion will feature everything from materials, supplies, packaging, containers and components used in package design and presentation. This pavilion is particularly geared to the marketing/brand/product manager, designer, product developer, packaging/product engineer and materials purchaser.
The Materials Handling pavilion showcases equipment and systems for moving, storing, protecting and managing inventories of supplies and products. Its companies will show conveyor systems, pallets, robots, palletizers, stretch wrappers, data collection systems, collapsible bins and weighers.
Finally, the Automation & Controls and System Integration pavilion will display state-of-the-art controls that permit machinery to produce quality products faster. Representing a fast-growing segment of the industry, this pavilion is designed to help manufacturers seek the best way to automate and integrate their packaging lines for greater flexibility in planning changeovers, scheduling and meeting other production challenges.
Along with the pavilions, attendees will be able to examine the IoPP AmeriStar Awards packaging winners. In addition, special events will be held, including the WPA's 50 Years in Packaging Reception on Wednesday, Sept. 29, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Anaheim Marriott's Grand Ballroom.
Educational sessions
Starting the week off will be the Packaging sales and purchasing conference. Sponsored by San Jose State University, it will be held on Monday, Sept. 27, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in
room A9. Also on Monday, the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) will host the Fundamentals of quick changeover for packaging lines from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in room A3.
Tuesday's sessions kick off with IoPP's Packaging and the World Wide Web. Part one is on Tuesday, Sept. 28, from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. in room A9. The session continues on Wednesday, Sept. 29, at the same time and place. Speakers from around the world will lead discussions on topics including research, design, product transportation and distribution, retailing and merchandising. Presenters include: Mark Walsh of VerticalNet; David Canaan of SBG Partners; Kevin Waters of Cheskin Research; Thomas Bacon of Aaron Thomas Co.; and Victor Bell of Environmental Packaging Intl.
At noon on Tuesday, Brand Packaging magazine presents Five steps to packaging that sells(TM). This seminar, which ends at 1:30 p.m., will be held in room A3. Sponsored by SME, Proven solutions to reduce changeover for packaging lines is scheduled in room A3 from 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m on Tuesday. Also on Tuesday will be Issues affecting plastics today and in the future, sponsored by Eastman Chemical and the California Film Extruders and Converters Assn. This session will start at 5:30 p.m. at the Anaheim Hilton.
On Wednesday, Sept. 29, Innovations in pouch packaging, sponsored by SME, will be held from 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. in room A10. Also on Wednesday, Women in Packaging will host Conquering daily challenges from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in room A9. The program spotlights a day in the life of corporate America from the perspective of successful businesswoman Karrie Mann, director/packaging at Mattel Character Brands, Mattel, Inc. To wrap up the seminar schedule, SME will sponsor Successful systems integration of packaging, from 8:30 a.m to 12:30 p.m. in room A3.
