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Thought leaders deliver packaging insights

At a first-of-its-kind Pack Expo Thought Leaders Dinner, supplier panelists discuss economic factors, food safety, sustainability, and private-label growth.

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Pack_Expo_Intl.

Economic challenges are driving end-user packagers to rely more than ever on their packaging machinery suppliers. As engineering resources decline among some end-user firms, those companies will call on machinery builders to fill the void. At the same time, economic justification will demand more from equipment.

Before the current recessionary period, a one- to two-year payback on packaging machinery was a typical timeframe for an end-user/packager. Now, return on investment (ROI) expectations have shrunk to 12 months or less, depending on the industry, said Brian Barr of Heat and Control, Inc.

Barr was one of several packaging-supplier panelists to speak at a first-time Pack Expo Thought Leaders Dinner held Feb. 16 in Rosemont, IL. The event was hosted by the Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Institute, organizers of Pack Expo.

The event not only addressed various packaging and processing supply chain trends, but also updated attendees on Pack Expo Intl. PMMI expects 45,000 attendees from more than 110 countries to attend Pack Expo between Oct. 31-Nov. 3 at Chicago’s McCormick Place. Before the upcoming show, exhibitor displays were required to be packaging-related, said PMMI’s Jim Pittas. Now the event will serve as a convergence of packaging and processing.

During the Feb. 16 panel discussion moderated by PMMI’s Matthew Croson, suppliers noted that economic factors and rising sustainability requirements were driving increasing demand on packaging machinery vendors for more advanced controls and automation systems, greater efficiencies, shorter delivery times, and more modular/versatile equipment—all at a lower cost.

Pro Mach’s Jack Aguero explained that customers are seeking greater energy-saving features when purchasing packaging equipment. Greg Jacobs of Allpax indicated that customers are looking to retrofit systems to enhance sustainability efforts.

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