Fifty-thousand attendees from around the world are expected to visit Chicago’s McCormick Place from November 7 through 10 to view the latest in packaging technology during the Pack Expo International® 2004. This show is sponsored and produced by the Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Institute (PMMI) —the leading non-profit packaging association in the United States.

This biennial event focuses on the latest developments in packaging technology and will showcase state-of-the-art advances in packaging machinery, converting machinery, materials, packages and containers, and components, plus a host of thought-provoking sessions, PMMI relays. Show attendees will include decision-makers and influencers from tens of thousands of companies from the United States and more than 75 countries representing multi-billion dollar industries, show managers add. Corporate managers, engineers, manufacturers, quality controllers, purchasers, production supervisors, research and development, and sales and marketing professionals represent approximately 85 percent of the PACK EXPO International attendees in a broad range of industries, including meat and poultry.

“The most prominent companies in the industry look to PACK EXPO International to accommodate all size exhibits and product introductions,” says a PMMI spokesman. “[This} is a biennial event [every other year] — ideal timing for important industry updates and new product technology.”

Here are some new components to this year’s show:

•The Radio Frequency Identification  (RFID) Pavilion will highlight solutions that meet the requirements of the entire supply chain. Included in the exhibits will be technologies to update conventional lines into RFID-enabled packaging lines capable of applying multi-pack, case and pallets tags online — as well as advances designed to verify the presence of tags, and validate data on the tags.

•Showcase of Packaging Innovations will feature an array of the latest award-winning packages from a selection of leading packaging organizations.

•The Packaging Security Resource Center focuses on protecting packaging operations against the threats of bio-terrorism, counterfeiting, and product adulteration. Tabletop exhibits and technology displays from a select group a package-security technology and service providers, as well as government stakeholders, will be on hand.

•The Confectionery Pavilion features the latest developments in both processing and packaging technology. The pavilion is offered through the joint effort of The Food Processing Machinery Association (FPMA) and the PMMI.

•The Food Safety and Sanitation Pavilion is made possible by the FPMA and Food Safety magazine. Exhibits and sessions galore

PACK EXPO International 2004 will feature more than 1,600 companies in more than 1.2 million net square feet of exhibit space. Exhibit hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday, November 7, through Wednesday, Nov. 10, and from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 11.

In addition to hundreds of exhibits, the Conference at PACK EXPO takes place from Monday, November 8, through Wednesday, November 10. The Eye-Opener session at 8 a.m. on November 8 is “The Hormel Foods Ingenuity Imperative: How and Why the Company Pushes for Product and Packaging Innovation,” and it will feature Jeff Ettinger, president and chief operating officer of Hormel Foods. Two other Eye-Opener sessions will take place at the same time on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Concurrent sessions under the broad banners of RFID, operations, security, and plastics will also be held from 9 a.m. until 1:25 p.m., from Monday, November 8, through Wednesday, November 10.

PACK EXPO International 2004 once again has been selected by the U.S. Department of Commerce to participate in the International Buyer Program. Each year the Department of Commerce selects 28 leading U.S. trade shows to promote worldwide through its global network of embassies, consulates, and commercial centers. Through this program, a number of services are offered to help international attendees make the most of their experience at the show. Several thousand international attendees traveled from 92 countries to attend PACK EXPO International 2002.

The Food Processing Machinery (FPM) EXPO, formerly called the International Exposition for Food Processors (IEFP), will be co-located with PACK EXPO International 2004. It will be located on the upper and lobby levels of the Lakeside Center at the McCormick Place. The focus of FPM EXPO will be on the newest developments in the processing technology to meet the challenges faced by the industry’s food and beverage manufacturers. Exhibitors will demonstrate state-of-the-art equipment in the meat, prepared foods, and other industries. This event is sponsored and produced by the Food Processing Machinery Association (FPMA).

More than 350 companies utilizing more than 100,000 net square feet will exhibit the latest in packaging, food processing equipment, air and liquid handling, and engineering/architectural design services, cooling and freezing, and instrumentation and controls. NP