Pack Expo 2024, which concluded on Nov. 6, saw significant increases in participation from both attendees and exhibitors compared to recent years, according to PMMI, a trade association for packaging and processing technologies, which produced the event.
 
The show brought in 48,000 attendees and 29,500 exhibitor personnel, reaching 77,500 in total attendance. International attendance increased 19% over 2022.
 
A record 2,700 exhibitors occupied 1.32 million net square feet of space, making this year’s event the largest show in its history, and the biggest event at McCormick Place this year.
 
“Pack Expo International 2024 has truly raised the bar for what an industry event can achieve,” said Jim Pittas, president and CEO of PMMI. “This show has not only grown in scale but also in substance, attracting attendees and exhibitors from every corner of the industry. The connections made here are invaluable, reinforcing Pack Expo’s role as an unmatched platform for innovation, collaboration, and progress across the packaging and processing landscape.”
 
Compared to 2022, Pack Expo has grown 10% in exhibit space and 24% in number of exhibitors. “All across the board, our numbers have increased,” said Laura Thompson, vice president of trade shows at PMMI. “Exhibitors continue to showcase top innovations, and attendees are flocking to see the latest solutions to their manufacturing challenges. It’s not just the size of our show which draw people in, it’s the quality.”
 
New features included in this year’s event were Sustainability Central and Emerging Brands Central, along with new show resources to help attendees plan their days.
 
“I am a packaging engineer in the pharma space, and I love coming to Pack Expo International to network and find new packaging materials. It’s an amazing show,” said Rachel Hark, packaging engineer at Catalent Pharma Solutions. “I’m especially focused on finding packaging solutions that are also good for the earth. I have attended Pack Expo shows about ten times and love the app. It has really helped me map out what I have to do while onsite and not feel overwhelmed.”
 
“We came to Pack Expo International looking for conveyors and other solutions that can help improve our operations. This show is great. A lot of people and a lot of vendors. It’s awesome to see so much innovation all under one roof,” said Ali Buehler, engineer at Hallmark.
 
“The show is packed with great companies and innovation. If each person from my team walks away with just one great idea as a result of the inspiration we find here at Pack Expo International, it will already have been worth it,” said Warren Pruitt, SVP of global engineering at Colgate-Palmolive.
 
In addition to larger companies and longtime attendees, first-time visitors also shared positive impressions.
 
“This is our first time attending, and it’s been a really great show. It’s been great to see the equipment that’s here and see who’s differentiating across various areas,” said Michaela Belling, business development director at Plexus.
 
“I’m most impressed with how well-organized everything is given the number of exhibitors and attendees,” said Ernest Swindell, owner of Xcel. “We produce vegan and gluten free meal replacement bars and have been in business since 2021. We do everything by hand right now and we’re looking to scale up, so attending an event like this allows us to network with end users and the equipment manufacturers for our potential future co-manufacturers.”
 
Exhibitors also found the show rewarding, with opportunities for sales leads, PMMI reported.
 
“Pack Expo International is a very important packaging show for our business in the U.S. market and the automation industry,” said Jonathan Titterton, CEO, Coesia North America. “We appreciate the opportunity to discuss with our customers’ face-to-face how customized solutions are helping them with greater flexibility, efficiency, and productivity.”
 
“This is our first time exhibiting at Pack Expo International. We have a lot of customers at the show, and we’re seeing a ton of foot traffic,” said Conrad Lilleness, CEO of Conduit. “As a result, we already have several meetings booked. Pack Expo International is the biggest show I’ve ever exhibited, with the right audience. We’re connecting with high-quality leads and plan to be at Pack Expo Las Vegas next year.”
 
“Pack Expo International is a great show. We’ve been an exhibitor for many years. This year, we’ve met many of our target customers, connected with vendors, and met our goals for leads. The conversations we’re having are positive,” said John W. Ruyf, project planner, The Austin Company. “We choose to exhibit at the show for brand awareness. The industry’s major suppliers and brands are all here. It’s a good place to connect with the people we work with. As long as the show is around, we’ll be at Pack Expo International.”
 
“We’re exhibiting at Pack Expo International for the first time this year. We’ve received good interest. Our goal was to find the people interested in automating processes, not just exploring it, and we’ve had conversations with leads that are ready to automate,” says Matt Labinski, director of business development, Macrovey.
 
There were plenty of networking events off the show floor too, such as Pack Gives Back, sponsored by Rockwell Automation, which saw nearly 3,000 attendees enjoy comedy from Nate Bargatze to benefit the PMMI Foundation.
 
The Packaging and Processing Women’s Leadership Network (PPWLN) breakfast featured guest speaker Lisa Sun, founder and CEO of retail brand and lifestyle company Gravitas.
 
The Young Professionals Networking Reception, sponsored by Beckhoff Automation LLC at Flight Chicago, gave emerging leaders in packaging and processing a chance to build new relationships with their peers.
 
“There is so much to take from the show. I have had many valuable conversations with suppliers and been inspired by events at Pack Expo International such as the Packaging and Processing Women’s Leadership Network breakfast,” said Grace Dover Hoffman, director of procurement at Little Spoon. “It’s a great place to be for networking and new ideas.”
 
Pack Expo International featured other activities for local students to encourage interest in the industry, such as the Pack Challenge and the Amazing Packaging Race, which had students use their creativity and ingenuity to conquer real-life manufacturing challenges.
 
The next Pack Expo event will be the first-time Pack Expo Southeast, scheduled for March 10-12, 2025, at Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta. It will offer the depth and breadth of solutions for more than 40 vertical markets and allow attendees to access crossover innovations from other industries that can address packaging and processing challenges.