Tom Egan

Tom Egan serves as the vice president of Industry Services for PMMI, the Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies. He joined the PMMI staff in 2003 following more than 20 years in the packaging industry during which he was also an active PMMI member. His previous work experience includes tenures at Eaton Corp. and as Vice President, Marketing & Sales, for Hoppmann Corporation. He has an MBA from Baldwin-Wallace College and a BEE in Electrical Engineering from Villanova University.

Commentary: PMMI

Automation, robotics and AI technologies advance meat and poultry operations

The deployment of AI is changing the way meat products are manufactured, inspected, and managed, providing solutions that improve quality, efficiency and safety.

Tom Egan

June 13, 2025

No Comments

PACK EXPO Las Vegas 2025 will feature cutting-edge automation, live machinery demos and efficiency-driven solutions in action.

Commentary: PMMI

Multifaceted approach addresses worker shortage

Automation, empowerment and personalized training support retention.

Tom Egan

January 10, 2025

No Comments

Shortages of workers, especially skilled workers, make recruitment and retention a major focus for protein processors.

COMMENTARY: PMMI

Transforming logistics

Technology forestalls supply chain disruptions.

Tom Egan

August 26, 2024

No Comments

The logistics process has become smarter, faster and more efficient by automating operations, adopting technology and forging partnerships to build resiliency.

Independent Thoughts

Industry needs to prepare as sustainability focus shifts to EPR and ESG

Processors must think beyond their emphasis on source reduction, recyclability, renewable content, recycled content and carbon footprint.

Tom Egan

June 15, 2023

No Comments

Processors of meat, poultry and seafood need to go beyond the usual sustainability efforts to integrate environmental, social and governance strategies into corporate policy.

Finding the right HPP solution

Operation size, extensive testing and understanding business capabilities are crucial steps.

Tom Egan

January 10, 2019

No Comments

According to Research Report Insights (RRI), a greater adoption of high-pressure processing (HPP) solutions is a strong signal of a growing industry. Expectations for the sector’s growth are for an incremental dollar opportunity of $350.5 million during the report’s forecast period (2016-26).

Packaging Tech

Marrying food safety and sustainability

Tom Egan

September 30, 2018

No Comments

Part of sustainability of food packaging is lightweight, more sustainable materials. The other part is keeping food fresh and protected throughout the supply chain, reducing food waste.

Guest Commentary

Flexible packaging: beautiful, protective, sustainable, smart

Tom Egan

June 23, 2015

No Comments

The U.S. meat market was valued at approximately $68 billion in 2013 and is projected to reach $84 billion by 2018, according to Canadean’s 2015 “Consumer and Market Insights: Meat Market in the U.S.” report.

Guest Column

Emerging meat-packaging trends from Pack Expo 2014

Tom Egan

December 15, 2014

No Comments

Shipments of U.S. packaging machinery increased by 6 percent in 2013, reaching a total of $7.9 billion, according to the 2014 State of the Industry Report from PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies.

Guest Packaging Column

Next-generation robotics for meat manufacturers

Tom Egan

September 16, 2014

No Comments

According to a recent study from PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, the number of manufacturing locations using robots has more than tripled since 2008

SPECIAL REPORT | STATE OF THE INDUSTRY

Looking for the ‘next big thing’

2013 State of the Industry: Packaging

Tom Egan

October 20, 2013

No Comments

According to the Food Marketing Institute (FMI), there are nearly 40,000 products in a typical supermarket, all competing for the same consumer dollars.