Three standout innovations have earned top honors in the 2026 Technology Excellence Awards at PACK EXPO International, presented by PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies. Selected by show attendees, the winning technologies represent advancements in food and beverage packaging, general packaging and processing, and sustainability.
The awards recognize innovative technologies making their PACK EXPO International debut, highlighting solutions that address industry challenges, improve operational capabilities, and push the boundaries of what's possible in packaging and processing.
Following a competitive field of nine finalists across three categories, thousands of PACK EXPO International attendees selected the winners through online and mobile app voting, recognizing the innovations they believe will make the greatest impact on the industry.
"PACK EXPO International is where the industry comes to discover what's next, and these award winners represent that spirit of innovation," says Laura Thompson, vice president, trade shows, PMMI. "What makes these awards especially meaningful is that the winners are chosen by the professionals who work with these technologies every day. Their votes recognize solutions with the potential to make a real difference in packaging and processing operations."
PMMI
2026 Technology Excellence Award Winners
Food/Beverage
Technology: TAKELAC™ WPB 341: Advanced Water-Based Barrier Coating Technology
Company Name: Mitsui Chemicals America
Booth Number: W-15107
This water-based barrier coating protects against oxygen and moisture while supporting recyclable mono-material structures, transparent retort pouches, and paper-based packaging, helping extend shelf life while enabling more sustainable formats.
PMMI
General Packaging & Processing
Technology: OneLock™ All‑in‑One Closure
Company Name: Colorcon
Booth Number: W-23070
Designed for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical packaging, OneLock™ combines moisture protection, child resistance, senior-friendly access, and tamper evidence in a single closure. Eliminating separate desiccant insertion and induction sealing reduces components, simplifies packaging operations, and minimizes potential failure points.
Technology: DecoFusion(TM) 100% PCR Tube
Company Name: Amcor Rigid Packaging Solutions
Booth Number: S-3500
DecoFusion combines near-seamless, photorealistic decoration with a lightweight polyethylene tube design. The base tube can incorporate up to 100% post-consumer recycled material while reducing package weight by up to 27%, helping brands advance sustainability without sacrificing appearance, performance, or the consumer experience.
Sustainability
Technology: DecoFusion(TM) 100% PCR Tube
Company Name: Amcor Rigid Packaging Solutions
Booth Number: S-3500
DecoFusion combines near-seamless, photorealistic decoration with a lightweight polyethylene tube design. The base tube can incorporate up to 100% post-consumer recycled material while reducing package weight by up to 27%, helping brands advance sustainability without sacrificing appearance, performance, or the consumer experience
Recognizing Innovation That Moves the Industry Forward
The Technology Excellence Awards celebrate the ingenuity of packaging and processing suppliers and provide attendees with a firsthand look at emerging technologies with the potential to transform manufacturing operations.
This year's competition featured nine finalists representing advancements in packaging materials, equipment, digital technologies, and sustainable solutions. Attendees had the opportunity to explore the innovations, connect directly with the companies behind them, and vote for their favorites.
"The caliber of innovation showcased in this year's competition reflects how rapidly our industry is evolving," says Thompson. "Congratulations to our winners and all nine finalists for bringing forward technologies that are helping manufacturers work smarter, operate more efficiently, and prepare for the future."
The winning technologies, along with thousands of additional solutions, are on display at PACK EXPO International 2026, taking place Oct. 18–21 at McCormick Place in Chicago. The event brings together 2,700 exhibitors and tens of thousands of attendees from more than 40 vertical industries to explore packaging and processing technologies, machinery in action, materials, education, and networking opportunities.
Attendees can visit the winning exhibitors' booths to experience the award-winning innovations firsthand before the show concludes on Wednesday, Oct. 21.
For more information about the Technology Excellence Awards and to view the finalist videos, visit packexpointernational.com/tea.
For more information about PACK EXPO International, visit packexpointernational.com
