Welcome to the Packaging Automation Forum

Kicking things off will be Wade Latz, senior director of global operations engineering at The Hershey Co. His keynote presentation: “The shifting packaging controls landscape—a view from inside The Hershey Company.”

Other highlights:

• “Real-time data offers real big benefits,” by Andy Woehl, process engineer at Clos du Bois Winery, and Larry Trunek, senior project implementation engineer at Miller Brewing Co.

• “Streamlining the business-to-packaging information flow,” by Doug Gray, director of process control and manufacturing information systems at Coors Brewing Co., and Procter & Gamble’s Dave Chappell, corporate technical section head.

• “How to gain versatility, flexibility, & interoperability,” by Brenton Smith, president of packaging machinery OEM The Aagard Group, and Thomas Burke, executive director of the OPC Foundation.

• “Packaging machinery controls—past, present, and future,” by Hershey’s Joe Wagner, manager of the controls engineering department for global operations engineering.

“Packaging World has been a pioneer in the editorial coverage of packaging automation, as evidenced by our well-known special section, Controls & Integration,” says Packaging World VP/Publisher Joe Angel. “Our editorial effort and our relationships with packagers and suppliers who work with controls technology have made us aware of the potential it holds for packagers. Our Forum is a logical extension of what we do in print—fostering innovation and bringing buyers and sellers together.”

Automation World publisher Dave Harvey shares Angel’s enthusiasm. “Our combined editorial strengths make us uniquely suited to producing a conference about controls and information technology in packaging automation. No other media company is bringing together professionals with this same objective. We’re excited about what this meeting has to offer our readers and those who supply them.”

Whether you build packaging machinery or specify and buy it, this unique educational and networking event is for you. For online registration, and a full description of the program, click here. You can also reach events manager Adriene Cooper at 312/222-1010 or [email protected].