PACK EXPO International may be turning 50 this year, but the show will focus on nothing but the latest developments in packaging technology and state-of-the-art advances in packaging machinery, converting machinery, materials, packages and containers, and components. This year’s show at Chicago’s McCormick Place begins October 29 and ends November 2.

PACK EXPO International 2006 represents this year’s largest and most comprehensive resource for the latest developments in packaging technology, featuring more than 1,600 exhibiting companies located over 1.2 million square feet of space. The biennial show is co-located with Converting & Package Printing EXPO and PROCESS EXPO, attracting more than 50,000 visitors including 6,000 international visitors, and 20,000 exhibitor personnel. The PACK EXPO trade shows are sponsored and produced by the Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Institute (PMMI).

Attendees to this year’s PACK EXPO are expected to include decision-makers and influencers from thousands of companies across the United States and more than 75 other countries. They represent such diverse industries as dairy/meat/poultry, private label, snack food, entertainment, chemical/household and electronics.

Several pavilions among the total exhibitors will focus on specific issues or needs. For one thing, the brand protection center concentrates on packaging technologies that protect against bioterrorism, package tampering, counterfeiting and more. The contract packaging pavilion is a starting point for assessing a project and exploring the many possibilities offered by contract packaging partners.

The containers and materials pavilion, occupying about 40,000 square feet of exhibit space, is dedicated to the latest innovations in materials, containers and converting machinery. It debuted at the 2003 show and increased by 33 percent at the 2005 show.

The radio frequency identification (RFID) pavilion highlights solutions that meet the requirements of the entire supply chain. The exhibit includes technologies to upgrade conventional lines into RFID-enabled packaging lines, as well as the latest advances to verify the presence of tags, write to the tags and validate data on the tags.

Advance registration of $25 for the expo runs through October 10. After that, on-site registration will cost $50. For more information about PACK EXPO, contact the PMMI at (703) 243-8555, or visit pei2006.packexpo.com.

The Packaging That Sells IV Conference, sponsored by BrandPackaging magazine, a publication of Stagnito Communications, and co-located with PACK EXPO, runs November 1 and 2. The conference theme: “Power Your Brand through Packaging” focuses on the marketing impact of consumer packaging. Attendees will have an opportunity to interact with other brand managers, brand marketers, and package design and development teams interested in the increasingly vital link between packaging and the brand.

The conference features presentations from brand owners and marketers in diverse industry segments who bring new ideas and actionable insights to the field of consumer packaging. It also features BrandPackaging’s Design Gallery, a showcase of the year’s more innovative packages.

Hot topics at the conference include designing for a universal audience, marketing to kids, brand nostalgia, elevating a brand’s image, packaging’s role in the in-store experience and private-label packaging. For more information about Packaging That Sells IV, visit www.packagingthatsells.com. NP