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'Stellar' year for packaging machinery shipments

U.S. packaging machinery shipments surged 9.3% to an estimated $5.344 billion last year according to the Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Institute’s 11th annual Shipments and Outlook Study.

Pw 10780 Pmmi Chart

The increase was the largest percentage jump since 1995’s 10.9% gain. Canadian packaging machinery shipments, meanwhile, climbed 8.8% in 2004 to an estimated C$420.6 million (US$323.7 million).

All 17 U.S. equipment categories PMMI tracks showed growth, with double-digit increases in seven of them: converting (24.6%), skin and blister (23.8%), filling—liquid products (22.8%), labeling (22%), capping, overcapping, lidding, sealing (13.8%), form/fill/seal, bag/pouch (11.1%), and palletizing, depalletizing, and pallet unitizing (11.1%).

U.S. domestic shipments rose by $336 million (8.5%) to $4.273 billion. Exports added $119 million (12.5%) to $1.071 billion, marking the first time U.S. exports have topped $1 billion.

Food, beverage, and pharmaceutical/medical product packaging applications accounted for 72.6% of 2004 shipments, up from 67.7% the previous year.

Looking forward, the study forecasts 3.8% annual growth to $5.982 billion in 2007. The three machine categories predicted to lead that growth are the following: coding, dating, printing, marking, stamping, and imprinting (7.6% forecasted annual growth rate); labeling (6.1%); and skin and blister packing (4.7%). The complete study is available for $2ę·” (nonmember price) by contacting Paula Feldman at 703/243-8555 or by e-mail at [email protected].

—Jim Butschli

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