From:Packaging Digest

The inaugural Pack Expo East trade show extends the reach of the Pack Expo trade shows and returns to the eastern U.S., in Philadelphia, where packaging innovation takes center stage Feb. 16-18.

If the words “Pack Expo” are part of an event, you know it’s going to have the established strength, backing and participation of the members of the PMMI, The Association for Packaging & Processing Technologies. That cachet reaches into Philadelphia Feb. 16-18 with the launch of Pack Expo East, which is expected to draw 4,000 attendees out of the box including this editor. For we long-time show regulars, this will be a kind of throwback to when the Pack Expo was out east, in New York City, before it relocated to Chicago. In the approximately 20+ years since, PMMI’s membership has skyrocketed while its shows have grown larger and more polished.

As then and since, attendees at this newest member of the Pack Expo show family can expect to see advanced technologies from nearly 400 exhibitors that supply solutions for a wide variety of vertical markets.

The event will center on a common thread that weaves through every Pack Expo venue: packaging innovation. Innovation will be spotlighted on the Innovation Stage, a free, on-floor education program found in Booth #696 near the PMMI booth.

“Innovation Stage is one more way for attendees to learn how to make what they see on the show floor fit into their businesses,” says Maria Ferrante, vice president, education and workforce development, PMMI.

OEE education and more

Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) is a dominant theme among the dozen of Innovation Stage presentations and appears as the subject of these 4 sessions:


Monday, Feb. 16
11:30 a.m.–Noon  “Improving OEE through Automatic Changeovers with ProAdjust,” Kevin Keefe, marketing director, Schneider Packaging Equipment Co., Inc.

3:30–4:00 p.m.   “Why OEE as a Metric? Learn How to Design a System to Maximize Visibility into OEE”, Bob Gates, General Electric; Chris Carlins, senior application engineer, AutomaTech, Inc.

Tuesday, Feb. 17
2:30–3:00 p.m.   “The Power of 1% — Improving OEE and Driving Operational Excellence,” Chris Carlins, senior application engineer, AutomaTech, Inc.; Vikram Mankar, senior product manager, GE Intelligent Platforms;

3:30–4:00 p.m.   “Tools for Driving Manufacturing Excellence: Total Cost of Ownership checklist and Overall Equipment Effectiveness Calculators”        Steve Schlegel, managing director, AIOE

Innovation Stage is just one of several places for learning at Pack Expo East. Attendees can also take advantage of exhibitors’ in-booth education sessions and ISPE’s three-day “Manufacturing Solutions” conference.

Also, PMMI released last week an updated list of the wide range of notable associations supporting the show:

The Association for Automatic Identification and Mobility (AIM);

The Biscuit and Cracker Manufacturers’ Association (B&CMA);

Contract Packaging Association (CPA);

Independent Bakers Association (IBA);

International Society of Beverage Technologists (ISBT);

International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE);

Midwest Food Processors Association (MWFPA); and

The Organization for Machine Automation and Control (OMAC)

For more information visit the Pack Expo East website.
Lastly, if you have the chance, we invite you to stop by Packaging Digest Booth #1245A and say hi.