Issuu

OCTOBER 19, 2026

MONDAY

SHOW DAILY

PAVILIONS P. 12 • EDUCATION P. 20 • SUSTAINABILITY P. 44 • NEW PRODUCTS P. 49

NEWS BRIEF Recycle at PACK EXPO International 2026 Dow is the Official Sustainability Sponsor and Sponsor of Show Floor Recycling at PACK EXPO International 2026. Use the bins throughout the show to properly dispose of waste and recyclable materials.

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So Much More to Explore Good morning, and welcome to Day Two of PACK EXPO International! What a tremendous opening day. From packed exhibit halls and education sessions to conversations happening throughout McCormick Place, Sunday demonstrated what makes this event so valuable: bringing the entire packaging and processing community together in one place. I hope all emerging leaders also enjoyed last night’s Young Professionals Networking Reception, sponsored by Beckhoff Automation LLC (Booth S-3682). Creating opportunities for the next generation of industry leaders to build relationships is an important part of strengthening our industry for the future. As you head back to the show floor today, I

encourage you to continue Jim Pittas, President & CEO, PMMI exploring — not only the technologies that can transform your operations, but also the resources that can help address one of our industry’s biggest challenges: workforce development. Visit the Workforce Development Pavilion in the West Building to connect with colleges and universities preparing students for careers in mechatronics, automation, packaging, and processing. You can also learn about PMMI U training, certifications, and programs designed —Continued on page 4

Syntegon (Booths S-3514, W-26038) welcomes attendees to Chicago’s McCormick Place for the opening of PACK EXPO International 2026.

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The first woman pilot to fly with the Air Force Nicole Malachowski Thunderbirds shares her perspective on resilience and adaptability.

PMMI Vice President Andrew Dougherty congratulates Jay Nerenhausen of Nercon Conveyor Systems (Booth S-2138) as the company celebrates 60 years.

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DOWNLOAD THE MOBILE APP

And Navigate the Show with Ease

Malachowski Headlines PPWLN Breakfast

Scan to Get the App Mobile App Sponsored by:

Women from across the packaging and processing industry will come together Tuesday morning to share ideas, experiences, and connections at the Packaging & Processing Women’s Leadership Network (PPWLN) Networking Breakfast. Scheduled to take place on Oct. 20, from 7:30–9:00 a.m. in Room W-375AB, this year’s breakfast will feature keynote speaker Nicole Malachowski, a retired U.S. Air

ADCO Reveals New High-Performance Carton Former New machine is engineered to increase uptime by simplifying operation, changeovers, and maintenance. Representing a major evolution of ADCO Manufacturing’s (Booth S-1730) top-load forming platform, the ADCO FLX Top-Load Carton Former combines a compact footprint and high-speed performance with improved operator access, simplified maintenance and more userfriendly changeover protocols. The introduction of the new platform builds on momentum established at last year’s Pack Expo, where ADCO’s JET-BC Horizontal End-Load Cartoner ran in line with a Massman Automation —Continued on page 8

—Continued on page 4

Your southeast hub for packaging and processing

april 12-14, 2027 / Atlanta, GA Georgia World Congress Center Registration Now Open packexposoutheast.com

Visit Us N-6106

PACKAGING & FOOD TECHNOLOGY

Sauce/Jam Processing Line

INGREDIENT PREPARATION. MIXING & COOKING. STERILIZATION. FILLING. SEAMING. END-OF-LINE. Sauce/Jam Packaging Line

Processing

Weighing

Filling

Bagging

Wrapping

Capping

Labeling

Cartoning

Forming

Packing

Palletizing

Tube Filling

Canning & Kegging

Bottle Filling

Blow Moulding

Conveying

Inspection

Optical Sorting

X-Ray

TurnKey

foodtech.atsautomation.com

NEWS BRIEF

MON SHOW DAILY

PACK EXPO Scavenger Hunt The PACK EXPO Scavenger Hunt transforms the show into a dynamic, interactive journey and offers the chance to win $1,000. To participate, attendees will need to download the PACK EXPO International Mobile App, sponsored by ProMach (Booth S-3630), and enter the unique codes found at each of the 10 show specialty areas located within the four buildings of McCormick Place. Once attendees complete all 10 stops, they will be entered to win $1,000. Three winners will be selected.

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LabelPack Automation, Inc. (Booth S-4056) hits the 25-year mark, and PMMI Vice President Andrew Dougherty was on hand to congratulate David Ferguson, Buddy Crappio, Sharon Zampogna, Tristyn Dennis, and Olindo Eger.

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OCTOBER 19, 2026

—So Much More to Explore, Continued from page 1

to help companies strengthen the skills of their current workforce. Investing in people is every bit as important as investing in technology, and you’ll find resources here to help you do both. Today is also another full day of free show-floor education, demonstrations, Discovery Tours, and opportunities to connect with exhibitors and peers. If you haven’t already, spend some time exploring the Association Partner Pavilion in the North Hall, where organizations representing many segments of our industry are sharing expertise and resources. Then tonight, the industry comes together for a sold-out PACK gives BACK™, sponsored by Rockwell Automation (Booth S-2450), at the House of Blues Chicago. Celebrate the inaugural CPG NexGen Award winners before enjoying an exclusive performance by Third Eye Blind. Most importantly, proceeds from the evening benefit the PMMI Foundation and its work supporting packaging and processing education and workforce development.

Force colonel, combat veteran, and the first woman pilot to fly with the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds. Drawing on a career built on breaking barriers and leading through uncertainty, Malachowski will share a practical and inspiring perspective on resilience, adaptability, and succeeding in the face of challenges.

The PPWLN Networking Breakfast gives women throughout the packaging and processing community an opportunity to connect with peers, strengthen professional relationships, and hear from accomplished leaders whose experiences offer new perspectives on navigating change and pursuing opportunity. PPWLN, an organization committed to advancing women in packaging and processing, presents the breakfast and provides opportunities to connect, learn, and grow throughout their careers.

PMMI Vice President Andrew Dougherty (center) congratulates ROBOPAC/OCME/TopTier Palletizers (Booth S-3766) on its 25th year in business. Joining him from left are Filippo Gremese, Enrico Aureli, Alfredo Aureli, and John Gangone.

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— Malachowski Headlines PPWLN Breakfast, Continued from page 1

Fortress Technology Inc.’s (Booth S-1752) Steve Gidman and Eric Garr are recognized by PMMI Vice President Andrew Dougherty on the company’s 30th year in business.

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That mission continues tomorrow morning with the Packaging & Processing Women’s Leadership Network Breakfast (Room W-375AB), featuring retired U.S. Air Force Col. Nicole Malachowski, the first woman Thunderbird pilot. Her story of leadership, resilience, and professional growth promises to be a powerful way to begin Tuesday. Gold sponsors include Morrison Container Handling Solutions (Booth N-4906) and ProMach (Booth S-3630), and their PowHER Women’s Resource Group. Silver sponsors include BW Packaging (Booth S-2100), Dassault Systèmes (Booth N-5972), Duravant (Booth S-3714), Plexpack Corp. (Booth S-2004), Ryson International Inc. (Booth S-3920), and Septimatech Group Inc. (Booth N-5945). There is still a lot to see, learn, and experience. Keep asking questions, making connections, and discovering what’s possible. Have a great second day at PACK EXPO International!

Breaking Barriers and Leading Through Change

Malachowski knows firsthand what it means to perform under pressure, adapt when circumstances change, and move forward when the path ahead is uncertain. Her career includes commanding a fighter

squadron, serving as a White House adviser, and becoming the first woman pilot selected to fly as part of the Air Force Thunderbirds. Her resilience was tested in a different way when a life-altering illness forced her to medically retire from the Air Force. Drawing from those experiences, Malachowski brings a powerful perspective on how to navigate challenges, embrace opportunity, and thrive when it matters most. PPWLN was established in 2016 to support the recruitment, retention, and advancement of women in the packaging and processing workforce. Through ongoing programming, in-person events, and industry partnerships, the network works to foster leadership and build community across all career levels. The PPWLN Breakfast is proudly supported by PPWLN Gold Sponsors: Morrison Container Handling Solutions (Booth N-4906) and ProMach (Booth S-3630), and their PowHER Women’s Resource Group; Silver Sponsors: BW Packaging (Booth S-2100), Dassault Systèmes (Booth N-5972), Duravant (Booth S-3714), Plexpack Corp. (Booth S-2004), Ryson International Inc. (Booth S-3920), and Septimatech Group Inc. (Booth N-5945); and Benefactor Sponsor: Schneider Electric.

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Reserve your plate for the PPWLN Networking Breakfast at: www.packexpointernational.com/ the-show/ppwln-networking-event

Visit Us N-6106

PACKAGING & FOOD TECHNOLOGY

Vertical Bagging

High-Performance Pouch Filling

Combination Weighing

Takeaway Scale

Tray Forming with Glue

Pallet Handling

Spiral Conveying

TableTop Scale

Flow Wrapping

Bag Uncuﬀer (Vacuum)

Tube Filling

Fold & Tuck Tray Forming

Robotic Pick & Place Packing

Vertical Transfer

Optical Sorting

foodtech.atsautomation.com

NEWS BRIEF

MON SHOW DAILY 6

Ask the Experts Stations Take advantage of personalized assistance from industry experts ready to help you find answers to your toughest challenges. Located in Lakeside Upper Hall, Booth LU-6000, at the PMMI Booth in the North Hall (Booth N-4550), and in the West Hall Lobby.

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FOX IV Technologies, Inc. (Booth N-4936) hits the 30-year mark. From left: PMMI President Jim Pittas, Rick Fox, and PMMI Vice President Andrew Dougherty.

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PMMI Vice President Andrew Dougherty (right) presents an anniversary plaque to Jay Bachman of Wayne Automation Corporation (Booth N-5020) as the company celebrates 50 years.

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OCTOBER 19, 2026

Food transport and elevation system Snack food travels half a football field from salter to hopper. Multi-Conveyor (Booth S-3400) recently built a sanitary raw snack food transport and elevation system consisting of five conveyor sections, totaling over 50 yards (150 ft.) of top-cover-protected popcorn transport from the salting tumbler to the hopper. That equates to conveying product from the 50-yard line into the end zone. The salting tumblers feed bulk popcorn through a cleated incline to bring the product up to 32” top of belt for top-protected transport. The 2” flight cleated belting and transport belting are sanitary blue urethane on mid-level sanitary stainless-steel construction. The corn then waterfalls and travels through 135’ of flat conveyor while slightly elevating in the process. The corn falls again, then proceeds to a second cleated urethane belt flighted incline, ensuring the popped corn drops through the end-of-conveyor chute at the customer’s requested height to clear the feed into their existing hopper. The snack food product is food-safe protected with 16 ga. SS top covers throughout the entire process. The covers are NTR (no tools required), designed for operators to easily and manually lift the tops off incrementally at key entrance points they need to access throughout the entire system. The top cover-supported, hinged stainless-steel guide rails pivot open. Manual removal of covers allows them to rest on their ends, permitting

operators to easily access critical production areas for cleaning and maintenance and facilitating simple, safe belt changeovers. In total, the popcorn travels through three flat conveyors, two waterfall sections, and two cleated inclines to get from initial salter infeed to the desired end-chute elevation for the hopper ahead (not shown). This entire system meets FDA standards, including washdown bolted design, continuous welds, welded stand-offs for guide rail brackets, bearing and floor supports (both stationary and pivoting), bolted frame spacers, and wear strips, cleaned and passivated with hygienic 7 ga. stainless-steel frames.

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CONTENT Sean Riley | Senior News Director David Bacho | Creative Director

ADVERTISING sales@pmmimediagroup.com Reggie Lawrence | Director, Vice President, Sales, rlawrence@pmmimediagroup.com Lara Krieger | Senior Manager, Print Operations, lkrieger@pmmimediagroup.com Janet Fabiano | Financial Services Manager, jfabiano@pmmimediagroup.com

PMMI Media Group

500 W. Madison, Suite 1000, Chicago, IL 60661 • Web: www.pmmimediagroup.com

Kice Industries, Inc. (Booth N-6271) celebrates eight decades in business. From left: PMMI President Jim Pittas, Ben Kice, and PMMI Vice President Andrew Dougherty.

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PMMI The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies

12930 Worldgate Dr., Suite 200, Herndon VA, 20170 • Phone: 571/612-3200 • Fax: 703/243-8556 • Web: www.pmmi.org

MON SHOW DAILY 8

OCTOBER 19, 2026

—ADCO Reveals New High-Performance Carton Former, Continued from page 1

Case Packer. That combined line gave customers an early look at the expanded capabilities possible following Massman Companies’ acquisition of ADCO. “Customers told us they wanted a machine that was easier to operate and maintain, without giving up the performance and durable mechanical design they expect from ADCO,” said Nathan Shears, lead engineer at ADCO Manufacturing. “The design of the FLX was driven by that feedback.”

Guided Verified Changeovers

One of the machine’s most notable innovations is its Guided Verified Changeover system, designed to reduce reliance on operator experience and simplify the changeover process. After the operator selects the appropriate carton recipe, flashing amber lights identify each required changeover point in sequence. Once the correct RFID-tagged change part is installed, the system verifies the component and the light turns green. The operator is then directed to the next changeover point by another flashing amber light. The system allows changeovers to be completed in minutes without the complexity and expense associated with fully automated changeover systems.

The new Top-Load Carton Former retains the standard, compact footprint of ADCO’s previous carton formers, allowing existing customers to replace older machines in the same production space. An optional ergonomic magazine increases the machine’s length but does not add to its width.

High-Speed Productivity

“The goal was to greatly simplify changeovers,” said Will Foreman, engineering manager at ADCO Manufacturing. “Instead of having operators move back and forth to the HMI, the machine guides them through the entire process. It verifies that the correct part is in the proper location and then moves them to the next step.”

The ADCO FLX Top-Load Carton Former features a direct-drive main forming system utilizing a hollowbore gearmotor with a solid cross-shaft and crank arms to eliminate belts and chains from the heavy-duty plunging drive. It is rated for speeds up to 120 cartons per minute in the dual-head configuration being exhibited in the Massman Companies booth. The machine can support up to three forming heads, depending on carton size. The new carton former can form lock-style trays and tri-seal cartons for snacks, bakery products, frozen foods, dairy, household products and many other top-load packaging applications.

Improved Operator Access

Customer-Focused Design

The new carton former provides easy front access to change parts and maintenance areas. Machines with similar configurations may require operators to use a ladder or platform to access the carton magazine. The ADCO FLX Top-Load Carton Former allows carton blanks to be loaded at waist level. Each identified change part weighs less than 25 pounds, allowing it to be handled by a single operator. The machine also uses components backed by ADCO’s responsive parts and service support team.

The new platform expands ADCO’s machinery portfolio, pairing the company’s long-established mechanical expertise with modern controls and a stronger focus on the daily needs of operators and maintenance teams. “We’ve been building this machine with the customer in mind from the beginning,” Foreman said. “It’s about making a machine that gives customers the performance they need while making everyday operation easier.”

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INTRODUCING THE NEXT GENERATION OF ADCO TOP LOAD CARTON FORMING. Designed to help meet today’s packaging challenges while supporting tomorrow’s production demands, ADCO’s newest top load carton former represents the next evolution in top load carton forming. This new carton former design combines almost 70 years of carton forming expertise with advanced engineering to deliver reliable performance, simplified operation, and the rugged dependability packaging professionals have come to expect from ADCO. See the next generation of ADCO top load carton forming in action at booth S-1730 and discover what’s next in top load carton forming.

Scan Here to Learn More Explore ADCO’s complete line of top-load carton forming, loading, and closing solutions.

MON SHOW DAILY OCTOBER 19, 2026

Maximize Your First-Time Experience

PACK EXPO International newcomers benefit from the First-Time Attendee Lounge (Room S-102), sponsored by ProMach (Booth S-3630), a dedicated space offering guidance and networking. The First-Time Attendee Lounge is a hub for starting the day right and maximizing the PACK EXPO experience. Holders of a First-Time Attendee badge can access this exclusive lounge and receive: • Personalized guidance: Knowledgeable show staff are on hand to help locate exhibitors, recommend sessions, and create a plan to tackle the show floor. • Search the Show kiosks: Quickly find the solutions and suppliers that align with your goals. • Comfortable seating and refreshments: Enjoy free coffee, tea, and charging stations to recharge yourself and your devices. • Special Session:

How to Navigate the Show Like a Pro (Sunday - Tuesday, 8:30 to 9:00 a.m.) Kickstart the day with helpful insider tips and strategies to help navigate the exhibit halls and make the most of the show experience. Plus, plenty of Q&A opportunities with show staff. Speaker: Sean Riley, Senior News Director, PMMI Media Group

First Time Attendee Breakfast, Sponsored by ProMach (Monday, 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.) Connect with peers and talk shop with fellow first-timer attendees while enjoying a complimentary breakfast. It’s a great way to kick-start the day. Your First-Time Attendee badge is your ticket. Spaces are limited; first-come, first-served.

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Accelerate Your Growth with the New SMB FastTrack To support small and medium-sized businesses, the program highlights exhibitors and educational sessions tailored to their needs.

Small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) now have a powerful new way to connect, learn, and grow. At PACK EXPO International 2026, SMB FastTrack connects you with suppliers offering special financing, discounts, and services that make it easier to adopt the latest packaging and processing technologies. Exhibitors will display SMB Friendly icons on their online exhibitor listing and as a physical sign in their booth onsite. The show floor education will feature an SMB track. Sessions will cover topics like AI, automation, digital manufacturing, food safety, robotics, supply chain, sustainability, tariffs, and workforce. These SMB-friendly educational sessions will be available throughout the show, designed to help small businesses navigate growth, funding, and operational excellence in the packaging and processing industries. Scan the QR Code to find educational sessions that are SMB Friendly.

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Maintenance-Free Conveyor Belt Drives VDG Drum Motors

Visit us at Booth LU-7513

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MON SHOW DAILY 12

OCTOBER 19, 2026

Targeted Innovation One Pavilion at a Time These dedicated spaces make it easy to navigate the show floor, zero in on targeted solutions and compare options side by side.

PACK EXPO International is a complete showcase of cutting-edge technology and solutions, but finding exactly what you need is simple in distinct pavilions. These “shows within a show” feature solutions that address many industry challenges, making it easy to navigate the show floor, zero in on targeted solutions, and compare your options side by side. All of the pavilions have expanded, reflecting the tremendous market growth in packaging and processing.

The Food and Beverage Processing Zone (Upper Lakeside Center): Step into the heart of front-end production—a pavilion so big, it’s like a show within the show. Discover the latest in mixing, batching, forming, hygienic design, inspection, thermal processing, and plant engineering solutions. See processing equipment in action and compare technologies shaping the next generation of food and beverage manufacturing. Take in a session at the Food and Beverage Processing Innovation Stage to stay ahead of the trends affecting your industry.

The Healthcare Packaging Pavilion (West Hall): Envision a pavilion so large it’s practically a life sciences packaging show within PACK EXPO International. For companies that are manufacturing pharmaceuticals, biologics, nutraceuticals, and medical devices, the Healthcare Packaging Pavilion delivers solutions that support your compliance with strict global regulatory standards.

The Containers and Materials Pavilion (West Hall): From paperboard to films and foils, right-sized containers and all kinds of consumables, this pavilion houses solutions to increase sustainability, enhance usability, and improve convenience. The Containers and Materials Pavilion is also home to The Showcase of Packaging Innovations (Booth W-42004),

sponsored by Smurfit Westrock (Booth S-2820). Get inspired by standout designs from around the globe— each one a benchmark in creativity, sustainability, and shelf appeal. See what’s setting new standards and leave with big ideas for your brand.

The Logistics Pavilion (North Hall): Whether you’re focused on optimizing fulfillment, distribution, or e-commerce operations, the Logistics Pavilion is your go-to destination. Explore end-to-end supply chain solutions that keep your products moving safely and efficiently through the supply chain. From robotics to storage systems to last-mile automation, this pavilion offers a clear look at how logistics innovation can reduce costs, speed up operations, and improve agility.

The Reusable Packaging Pavilion (Upper Lakeside Center): Sponsored by the Reusable Packaging Association (Booth LU-6645), this area brings together more than 75 suppliers, service providers, and industry experts showcasing the latest reusable packaging products, technologies, equipment, and services for supply chains across industries. • New for 2026 is the Next-Gen REUSE Corridor. See how scalable reuse systems for primary packaging are already working in the real world—and learn how they can support source-reduction goals and compliance with emerging packaging regulations. Explore the future of consumer reuse and refill in this dedicated pavilion section organized and sponsored by Upstream. Meet reuse-as-a-service providers, logistics innovators, smart packaging companies, and end-to-end solution providers serving brands, venues, foodservice operations, and more.

The PACKage Printing Pavilion (West Hall): Explore the technologies reshaping package printing—including digital printers, variable-data systems, coding, marking, labeling, and converting. Whether your goal is to speed up printing, improve accuracy or enable personalization, this pavilion will show you what modern printing efficiency looks like.

The Confectionery Pavilion (South Hall): Sponsored by the National Confectioners Association (NCA) (Booth S-2583), this pavilion delves into trends in candy, baking, and snack production. It is also home to the Candy Bar Lounge (Booth S-2583).

• Hosted by NCA and sponsored by Syntegon Packaging Technology (Booth S-3514), the Candy Bar Lounge offers a place for casual interaction and idea sharing where PACK EXPO International attendees can network with peers, gain specialized insights, and rest their feet. • The Confectionery Industry Networking Reception will take place on Tuesday, Oct. 20, at 4:00 p.m. in the Candy Bar Lounge. —Continued on page 14

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—Continued from page 13

The Association Partner Pavilion (North Hall): PACK EXPO International partner associations enhance the event and enrich the attendee’s experience with their resources, expertise, and connections. The Association Partner Pavilion

serves as a vibrant hub for industry collaboration, connecting attendees with the foremost organizations across the packaging and processing spectrum. Participating associations include: • 3-A Sanitary Standards, Inc. • ABRE - Brazilian Packaging Association • AIM, Inc. • American Society of Baking • Americas Printing Association Network • APPMA | Australian Packaging & Processing Machinery Association • Association for Roll-to-Roll Converters

SOLD OUT!

• Automate UK • Chicagoland Food & Beverage Network (CFBN) • Cold Pressure Council • Composite Can and Tube Institute (CCTI) • CPA, The Association for Contract Packagers & Manufacturers • Fispal Tecnologia • Flexible Packaging Association (FPA) • Foil & Specialty Effects Association • Glass Packaging Institute • In-Mold Decorating Association • Institute of Packaging Professionals (IoPP) • International Society of Beverage Technologists (ISBT) • Koelnmesse Inc. • National Association of Container Distributors • NSF • OMAC - The Organization for Machine Automation and Control • OPC Foundation • Plastics Industry Association • Recycled Materials Association • UCIMA - Italian Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Association • World Packaging Organisation (WPO)

The Workforce Development Pavilion (West Hall): Connect with representatives from PMMI Education Partners and meet the next generation of skilled professionals ready to contribute to packaging and processing operations. Students can also visit the PMMI U booth to explore industry-focused training, certifications, and workshops designed to prepare them for a successful career in this evolving field. Colleges and universities will showcase their mechatronics and packaging and processing programs, while companies will have the opportunity to engage with students interested in pursuing careers in the industry. Participating schools include: • Brigham Young University – Idaho • Cal Poly Packaging • Clemson University Packaging Science • Fresno State University • Hennepin Technical College • Illinois Tech – Food, Science and Nutrition Dept. • Indiana State University • Michigan State University School of Packaging • North Carolina State University • Northwood Technical College • Purdue University Northwest • Rochester Institute of Technology • Rutgers Packaging Engineering Program • San Jose State University • Toronto Metropolitan University • Tuskegee University • University of Florida • University of Wisconsin – Stout • Virginia Tech

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MON SHOW DAILY 16

OCTOBER 19, 2026

The Industry Comes Together at PACK EXPO International Tens of thousands of industry professionals will build relationships, exchange ideas, and connect with the people shaping the industry’s future. Produced by PMMI, the Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies (Booth N-4550), PACK EXPO International is the largest packaging and processing show in North America. Beyond the technologies and solutions on the show floor, a full lineup of special events brings the industry together for networking, thought leadership, and meaningful conversations. PACK gives BACK™, sponsored by Rockwell Automation (Booth S-2450), returns to Chicago on Monday, Oct. 19 at The House of Blues, featuring an exclusive performance by Third Eye Blind. Proceeds benefit the PMMI Foundation. Tickets for PACK gives BACK™ are Sold Out! The Packaging & Processing Women’s Leadership Network will host its annual networking breakfast, with special guest speaker, retired U.S. Air Force colonel, combat veteran, and the first woman pilot to fly with the Thunderbirds, Nicole Malachowski, on Tuesday, Oct. 20. She will discuss leadership and professional growth in traditionally male-dominated industries, share her inspiring story and practical tips, and motivate attendees to stand out in their careers. Gold Sponsors: Morrison Container Handling Solutions (Booth N-4906) and ProMach (Booth S-3630), and their PowHER Women’s Resource Group; Silver Sponsors: BW Packaging (Booth S-2100), Dassault Systèmes (Booth N-5972), Duravant (Booth S-3714), Plexpack Corp. (Booth S-2004), Ryson International Inc. (Booth S-3920), and Septimatech Group Inc. (Booth N-5945); and Benefactor Sponsor: Schneider Electric. Sign up for this free event in the app or scan the QR code. The Young Professionals Network will host an evening networking reception, sponsored by Beckhoff Automation LLC (Booth S-3682), on Sunday, Oct. 18. at the Chicago Athletic Association’s Game Room. Designed for rising leaders in packaging and processing, this reception creates a space to build networks, exchange ideas, and form relationships with peers. The Young Professionals Networking Reception is Sold Out! Confectionery professionals can connect throughout the day at the Candy Bar Lounge (Booth S-2583), a dedicated networking destination in the Confectionery Pavilion (South Hall), hosted by the National Confectioners Association and sponsored by Syntegon Packaging Technology (Booth S-3514). Attendees are also invited to a special Confectionery Industry Happy Hour Reception on Tuesday, Oct, 20 from 4-5:30 p.m, offering an informal opportunity to meet industry peers, exchange ideas, and make new connections. No RSVP is required.

17 Vision 2030, designed for industry leaders and decision-makers, the forum creates a unique opportunity for CPGs and PMMI members to exchange perspectives, share expertise, and collaborate on strategies that can advance operations and business performance. This year’s discussions will focus on: • From Specs to Success: Aligning OEMs and CPGs • From Stop to Strategy: Turning Downtime Data into Operational Improvement • Securing the Line: Managing Cybersecurity in Packaging and Processing Operations Vision 2030 is complimentary, but advanced registration is required and participation is limited to support focused, meaningful discussion. Scan the QR code to register for Vision 2030. PACK EXPO International also serves as a gathering place for the broader packaging and processing community, with partner associations hosting meetings and receptions that connect specialized industry groups under one roof through the Industry Meets at PACK EXPO program. “PACK EXPO International is where the packaging and processing community comes together, not only to discover what’s next on the show floor, but to build the relationships that move our industry forward,” says Laura Thompson, vice president, trade shows, PMMI. “With tens of thousands of professionals expected in Chicago, the conversations that happen at these events can be every bit as valuable as what attendees discover on the show floor.”

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common sense

design engineering increased productivity

www.multi-conveyor.com

MON SHOW DAILY 20

OCTOBER 19, 2026

Show Floor Education Offers Insight from Industry Insiders Scan the QR Codes below or visit the show app sponsored by ProMach (Booth S-3630) for descriptions, times, and locations.

Cutting-Edge Ideas in the Spotlight At the Innovation Stage (Booths N-4570, N-4580 and N-4585), leading suppliers and technical experts deliver fast-moving, 30-minute sessions that highlight important breakthroughs in packaging machinery, materials, automation, digital tools, and more. It’s your chance to learn what’s coming, how it works, and how other companies are putting these ideas into practice. Innovation Stage session topics include: • Key Trends in Inventory Management: Insights from 2026 Supply Chain Planning • The ROI Is Already There: How to Pay for End-of-Line Automation with Operational Gains • Beyond the Visible: Orchestrating the Digital Pulse of Packaging Manufacturing

• Empowering Every Engineer: AI-Driven Programming • The Future of Maintenance: What High-Performing Packaging Plants Are Doing • Building the Future of Industrial Operations, Today • Demystifying Sunrise 2027 • Award-Winning Sustainable Redesign

Strategies and Solutions for a More Sustainable Packaging Future At Sustainability Central (Booth W-52060), presented by Packaging World (N-4550) and sponsored by EFP, LLC (Booth W-45060), thought leaders and innovators share strategies to help you improve recyclability, advance circularity, reduce environmental impact, and stay ahead of customer and regulatory demands. Explore breakthrough ideas and practical solutions for achieving your company’s sustainability goals. Sustainability Central session topics include: • Design for Recyclability is Required by Law. Are You Ready? • Advancing the Circular Economy: How Collaboration Delivers Value • Protect the Product, Reduce the Footprint • 2026: The Year EPR Stopped Being Optional • Building Regulatory Confidence: Food-Grade PCR for Flexibles

Actionable Insights for Food and Beverage Manufacturers Food and beverage processing professionals can learn about new processing technologies, smarter line design, material handling improvements, and strategies for maximizing production efficiency at the Food and Beverage Processing Innovation Stage (Booth LU7764). Walk away with ideas you can apply immediately to streamline production, improve food safety, reduce waste, and integrate new tech. Food & Beverage Processing Innovation Stage session topics include: • Why Great Robotic Automation Begins with Great Vision • Resetting Performance in Packaging: Competing in a Lower-Growth, Higher-Volatility World • Implementing a Drainage Evaluation Program for Pathogen Control and Operational Excellence • Data Without the Downtime: The Value of Non-Invasive Sensors • Integrating AI into Your Plant Operations • Designing Packaging Lines for Change: Robotics That Adapt as Fast as Food and Beverage Markets • Clean Label Meets Food Safety with High Pressure Processing (HPP)

Thought Leadership for Packaging & Processing Decision-Makers Attendees of the Industry Speaks (Booth N-4544) stage will hear from experts representing every corner of the packaging and processing industry as they share insights to help you anticipate change and make better decisions. These 30-minute sessions examine timely topics such as equipment specifications, supply-chain resilience, sustainability mandates, and futureready manufacturing strategies. Gain compelling insights on market dynamics, regulatory shifts, emerging technologies, and evolving supply-chain demands. Industry Speaks session topics include: • Where Industry Meets Innovation: Sustainable Packaging in Practice • Label Ready: Navigating Ever-Evolving Food Label Regulations • The EPR Evolution & How IoPP EPR AI Is Helping Brands & Packaging Vendors Win • From Ambition to Action: Making Packaging Sustainability Progress Real • Top Packaging Policies Impacting Your Business • Amazon Transparency and GS1: Democratizing Unit-level Serialization for Every Brand and Printer

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Practical Guidance for Building a Reusable Packaging Program Be sure to visit the Reusable Packaging Learning Center (Booth LU-6645), a two-day education program featuring live presentations and panel discussions on reusable packaging. The Learning Center provides a stage for experts to introduce and demo new products, present research and case studies, and share insights on the most pressing topics facing the industry today, from navigating compliance and scaling reuse infrastructure to measuring ROI and overcoming adoption barriers. Reusable Packaging Learning Center topics include: • State of the Industry 2026 • RPA Panel: Technology, AI & Leveraging Data • RPA Panel: Public Policy • Upstream Next-Gen Reuse Corridor • RPA Panel: Technology-Enabled ROI Use Cases • RPA Panel: Retail Automation • 15th Annual Excellence in Reusable Packaging Awards

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Tree Nuts Free of Stray Metal How Eriez (Booth S-3954) metal detectors and magnetic separators keep products free of contaminants at Cache Creek Foods. Based in Woodland, CA, Cache Creek Foods has all of its processing centers located in a 60,000-square-foot production facility. The third-generation familyowned business churns out 50 million pounds of natural tree-nut-based products annually, requiring constant attention to detecting and eliminating any source of contamination, according to Carl Hartmangruber, plant manager. Over the last several years, Cache Creek has installed a variety of Eriez (Booth S-3954) metal detectors and magnetic separation equipment to maintain the highest level of product purity. The Cache Creek system now includes two Eriez Xtreme Metal Detectors, an Xtreme Liquid Line Metal Detector, and a series of ProGrade Grate Magnets, Plate Magnets, and Liquid Line Trap Magnets. “We have a continuous improvement program to meet our critical control points and all HACCP regulations; it’s all about providing the highest quality food products possible,” Hartmangruber says. “We installed the Xtreme Metal Detectors recently and have used the Eriez magnetic separation products for some time in many of our processing lines.” Cache Creek undergoes third-party audits to guarantee the safety of its products and the ability to trace each ingredient and packaging material, and their transportation to and from the plant. Cache Creek is SQF 2000 Certified and meets the requirements of the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI). The production facility processes more than 25 million pounds of tree nuts per year, according to Hartmangruber. The tree nuts—including almonds, cashews and hazelnuts—are conveyed through different processing lines depending upon their ultimate use. However, each processing line includes Eriez magnetic separation equipment to remove stray metal. The milling line, for example, processes tree nuts that eventually become ingredients in products such as Almond Milk, nutraceutical bars, nondairy yogurts, and fine desserts. The raw nuts are dispensed through a series of Eriez grate magnets which help draw out fine tramp metal. After dry roasting, the nuts are milled into a paste form. Then, they are conveyed through Eriez ProGrade Liquid Line Trap Magnets, which further remove weakly

fine ferrous contamination. The magnetic element, consisting of a group of magnetic tubes, is arranged to cause the material entering the body to impinge on the tubes and be filtered by the magnetic field, completely covering the open area. The magnetic circuit is designed so that the entrapped iron tends to work around and cling to the downstream side of the tubes. This action prevents iron particles from being washed off by the continuous flow of material. The viscous product is then sent through an Eriez Xtreme Liquid Line Metal Detector to remove ferrous metals not removed by the magnet, as well as non-ferrous and 300 stainless steel metals. When metal is detected in the product flow, a reject signal is channeled to one of the available output relays. The output relay can be used to activate a ball valve, control a visual or audio alarm, or send a signal to a programmable logic controller (PLC). “We were excited to get the Xtreme Metal Detector in our plant in the fall,” Hartmangruber says. “When you are dealing with health-style products, you utilize the best equipment to achieve the best quality food.”

Eriez Plate and Grate Magnets Help Maintain Product Purity

The other processing lines—including seasoning, confectionery, oil and dry roasting lines—use a series of Eriez Plate and Grate Magnets which provide basic tramp metal removal to help protect downstream equipment. “Eriez helped with positioning these magnets for optimum protection throughout these processing lines,” Hartmangruber says. “They also provided a pull testing service where they test all the magnets for pull strength to make sure the magnets are working at optimum efficiency.” The Plate and Grate Magnets serve multiple purposes by removing tramp iron, which, left unchecked, could cause significant damage to milling and grinding equipment, resulting in lost time and costly repairs. The magnetic separation equipment also prevents product contamination and improves product purity. “We are dealing with food products going from field to fork, so there are many processing steps involved,” Hartmangruber explains. “Our nuts are picked off trees and brought into our plant for further processing. Here, you have conveyors and grinders, milling operations, and all sorts of moving parts that can increase the chance of contamination.”

Orange University Demonstrates Products On-Site

Hartmangruber and his crew were able to see demonstrations firsthand on the Eriez Magnetic Separation and Metal Detection equipment before making their selections. This was made possible through the Eriez Orange University Mobile Training and Education Center, a 38-foot Winnebago® stuffed with equipment and resources to facilitate hands-on learning. The set-up is tailored to food and other light industry applications and includes an array of state-of-the-art magnetic separators, vibratory conveyors, screeners and metal detectors, as well as a high-tech multimedia system with mobile broadband and multiple monitors, including an interactive 42-in. touch screen. “The nice thing about the Mobile Training and Education Center is that it brought a wide variety of equipment right to our front door, giving us a convenient opportunity to see it, touch it and feel it,” recalls Hartmangruber. “It’s so much better than looking through a computer or at a line card.” “When the vehicle came to our plant, it was not structured as a sales visit and there was no pressure to buy. Instead, it was a chance for us to see some things we have not seen before, ask questions and engage in a good dialogue with Eriez training personnel,” he says. “I was able to get my quality control and maintenance people to talk with Eriez technicians to figure out how the equipment would work in our plant.” Eriez launched the Orange University Mobile Training and Education Center to provide customers with free access to on-site training and equipment demonstrations, helping them find solutions to their day-to-day material-handling and contamination challenges. “We personalize the Orange University experience to meet the needs of those who step aboard,” says Jayne Corey, Orange University Team Leader. “They bring us their toughest product purity and material handling processing challenges, and we work with them to determine the best and most economical solutions.”

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Vote Now for the 2026 Technology Excellence Awards Recognize PACK EXPO debuts by selecting winners in three categories. PACK EXPO International show producer PMMI would like to thank all exhibitors who submitted innovative and cutting-edge products for consideration for the 2026 Technology Excellence Awards. The Technology Excellence Awards recognize the best innovations in packaging and processing, being shown for the first time at a PACK EXPO event. There are two ways to vote—on the official show mobile app and online at packexpointernational.com/ vote. In-person attendees are encouraged to visit the finalists’ booths and vote via the official show mobile app or online. Voting closes Tuesday at noon, and

the winners will be announced via a press release on Tuesday afternoon. All attendees are encouraged to cast their vote for their favorite product in each category. This is a great way to have your opinion heard and to drive innovation for the future of the packaging and processing industry. Thank you to the Technology Excellence Awards reviewers who reviewed the submissions and narrowed them down to three finalists in each category: • Bob Larkin, Owner, BL.PKG LLC • David Smith, Principal, David S Smith & Associates • Robert Champion, President, InnoFlex Solutions, LLC

General Packaging & Processing OneLock™ All‑in‑One Closure

Colorcon (Booth W-23070) For decades, pharmaceutical packaging has relied on multi-component systems including bottle, desiccant, induction seal, and closure. OneLock consolidates these four essential packaging functions into one smart, ready-to-use closure. An integrated desiccant delivers reliable moisture protection for sensitive solid oral dose products. A child-resistant, senior-friendly push-and-turn design ensures safe and accessible use. A tamperevident disk provides clear, visual confirmation of first opening. Compatibility with standard SP 33/400 bottles eliminates the need for dedicated containers, enabling seamless adoption across global markets. The result is a streamlined packaging process with no desiccant insertion, no induction sealing, fewer components, and reduced chance for error. Manufacturers benefit from simplified operations, faster line efficiency, and easier scale-up, while supporting global harmonization strategies. It also reduces packaging variability across regions, helping teams standardize formats and accelerate product launches worldwide.

OneLock™ also enhances the patient experience. Intuitive usability and visible tamper evidence reinforce confidence in product integrity from production through first use. At the same time, reducing components and process steps supports a lower material and environmental footprint. Fewer materials, fewer steps, and simplified logistics contribute to a more efficient and sustainable packaging approach without compromising performance.

PMG RFID FlagTag

PMG Labels (Booth LU-6622) The PMG RFID FlagTag is innovative because it redefines antenna architecture to overcome electromagnetic interference, the primary barrier to conventional RFID tracking. Standard flat labels fail when applied directly to metal, glass, or liquid-filled containers because the underlying material disrupts signal transmission. PMG’s internal engineering team solved this by developing a unique, flag-shaped label design. Instead of laying flush against the product, the PMG RFID FlagTag extends the RFID antenna laterally away from the application point. This indirect positioning completely eliminates contact with disruptive materials, restoring reliable, flawless read performance on previously incompatible surfaces. The innovation also extends to its physical and functional design:

• High-Density Bulk Detection: The protruding antenna maintains consistent readability even when items are tightly stacked on shelves or in smart cabinets—environments where standard flat labels lose signal. • Dual-Zone Architecture: The white, adhesive-free upper zone allows for clean thermal transfer printing, while the highly transparent lower adhesive zone preserves product branding and packaging aesthetics. • Extreme Durability: Engineered to withstand extreme environments, it maintains full performance in temperatures ranging from -40°F to 185°F (-40°C to +85°C), making it ideal for cold chain logistics and industrial manufacturing. • Delivered on standard PET carriers, the PMG RFID FlagTag integrates seamlessly into existing printer and encoding infrastructure, requiring no new equipment investments while expanding RFID tracking into previously inaccessible verticals. —Continued on page 28

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General Packaging & Processing Be-Fill

ZACMI - ZANICHELLI MECCANICA SPA (Booth S-3847) Most manufacturers are forced to choose between flexibility and efficiency. Running oxygen-sensitive beverages, carbonated products, and hot-fill applications often requires separate systems, extensive changeovers, or compromises in production capabilities. The Zacmi BE-FILL eliminates those tradeoffs. Rather than relying on a single valve design, the BE-FILL uses three purpose-built valve families optimized for different beverage categories. This allows manufacturers to support a broader range of beverages from a single platform while maintaining

product quality and operational performance. The dual-channel flushing valve helps minimize dissolved oxygen and reduce CO2 consumption. The internal recirculation valve enables both hot-fill and carbonated production on the same platform,

helping manufacturers avoid the cost and complexity associated with separate filling lines. The platform also addresses downtime caused by compressed air interruptions. A mechanical emergency cam allows production to continue during these events, helping protect productivity. The bowless design eliminates the product bowl found on traditional fillers, directly minimizing the volume of product lost during recipe changes without relying on additional process steps or operator intervention. When paired with the Zacmi seamer, the BEFILL becomes a fully integrated fill-and-seal solution supported by a single supplier. Unified controls, one warranty, and one service organization simplify ownership and support across the entire system.

Food/Beverage CUBO with Click In Sealing Lid

DX-Series Digital Printing

Hinterkopf GmbH (Booth W-38056) The DX Series addresses a core limitation in the industrial decoration of cylindrical packaging: The economic constraints of producing highly customized containers in environments with increasing SKU variation, regional differentiation, and short-run demand. The system enables 360-degree digital printing at up to 1,500 dpi on cylindrical containers made of aluminum, steel, and plastic. It covers diameters from 9 to 165 mm and container lengths from 60 to 240 mm. A key technical differentiator is its formatindependent production approach. The system operates without format-specific tooling. All printheads run simultaneously regardless of container geometry, and automatic format adaptation supports

Greiner Packaging Corporation (Booth W-46052) The innovation of the combined CUBO and Click In sealing lid solution lies in its system-level approach, rethinking both packaging geometry and closure design to deliver tangible improvements across the value chain. CUBO introduces a fundamental shift from round to square cup design. While round cups are the established industry standard, they inherently create unused space when stacked or transported. CUBO eliminates this inefficiency by enabling tighter packing, allowing up to 35% more cups per pallet compared to a standard round cup of the same size and volume. This demonstrates that innovation in food packaging can be achieved not by adding complexity, but by optimizing geometry to improve system performance.

The Click In sealing lid complements this concept by simplifying conventional closure systems. Traditional packaging relies on three components—container, sealing foil, and lid—whereas Click In reduces this to just two. This redesign streamlines production, reduces handling steps, and minimizes potential sources of error. At the same time, the lid introduces a distinctive engagement mechanism: it sits inside the rim and provides a tactile and audible “click” when securely closed, ensuring reliable sealing and enabling repeated use without compromising performance. Instead of optimizing individual components, CUBO and Click In sealing lid create a unified system that integrates logistics efficiency, operational simplicity, and consumer functionality. This holistic approach sets a new benchmark for food packaging design, demonstrating how coordinated innovations can deliver measurable benefits across production, distribution, retail, and consumption.

rapid changeovers between different container sizes and designs. This architecture removes tooling-related setup steps and reduces downtime between production jobs. It enables economically viable short-run and variable-data production within an industrial packaging environment. The DX Series is designed for applications requiring high variability rather than maximum volume efficiency. These include personalized packaging, limited editions, regional campaigns, product launches, and test market executions. It enables can makers, tube producers, fillers, and brand owners to execute frequent design changes and market-specific packaging strategies within existing production workflows. The system supports a shift toward demand-driven packaging production, where output is defined by

market requirements rather than tooling constraints or long-run economics. In addition, the fully digital workflow changes operational requirements from process-specific printing expertise toward digital skills, data management, and workflow control, supporting the next generation of manufacturing talent. —Continued on page 30

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Food/Beverage TAKELAC™ WPB 341: Advanced Water-Based Barrier Coating Technology

Mitsui Chemicals America (Booth W-15107) TAKELAC™ WPB 341 is innovative because it transforms barrier packaging from a conventional multilayer approach into a flexible platform technology that enables new food and beverage packaging designs focused on safety, freshness, consumer experience, and sustainability. Traditional high-barrier packaging often requires multiple incompatible materials to achieve oxygen and moisture protection. While effective, these structures can limit recycling options and restrict the development of simpler packaging formats. TAKELAC™ WPB 341 introduces a water-based polyurethane barrier coating that enables high-performance packaging with design flexibility. A key innovation is its ability to support transparent retort packaging. By enabling clear high-barrier structures, TAKELAC™ WPB 341 allows consumers to visually inspect the product while maintaining the protection required for ready-to-eat meals, sauces, and other shelf-stable foods. The technology also supports the transition toward recyclable mono-material packaging by enabling PEbased barrier laminates designed to replace more complex structures. This helps brands develop packaging that protects food quality while addressing evolving sustainability requirements. Beyond plastic packaging, TAKELAC™ WPB 341 expands possibilities for paper-based food and beverage packaging by providing barrier functionality needed to improve resistance to moisture and oxygen exposure, supporting longer shelf life and new sustainable formats. By combining advanced polymer chemistry, packaging innovation, and sustainability benefits, TAKELAC™ WPB 341 provides a new generation of barrier technology that improves product protection, enhances consumer experience, reduces waste, and enables the future of food and beverage packaging.

Sustainability DecoFusion™ 100% PCR Tube

Amcor Rigid Packaging Solutions (Booth S-3500) DecoFusion™ tube technology offers a new approach to packaging design, helping brands achieve premium aesthetics while advancing sustainability goals. By fusing a decorated film layer directly onto an extruded polyethylene tube, the decorative layer becomes part of the tube structure during manufacturing—enabling highend graphics, material reduction and streamlined production without added layers or secondary processes. The impact is clear and measurable. With potential to reduce sidewall thickness by more than 30%, DecoFusion™ achieves up to 27% weight savings compared to standard tubes. In a typical 6” polyethylene tube, this could equate to a 4.4-gram reduction per unit. At scale—20 million units—this translates to an annual reduction of up to 167 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions, demonstrating meaningful lifecycle impact through lower material usage and transportation emissions. DecoFusion™ also supports circularity by enabling up to 100% post-consumer recycled (PCR) content while maintaining a premium appearance. The fused decorative layer helps conceal visual variation associated with recycled materials, allowing brands to increase PCR usage without compromising shelf appeal. When paired with an HDPE closure, DecoFusion™ creates an all-polyethylene package that improves compatibility with existing recycling streams, reduces contamination and supports higher-quality recycled outputs. The technology preserves the tactile feel, durability and resilience expected from extruded polyethylene tubes while enabling advanced decoration, including high-end flexography, foiling and specialty finishes. DecoFusion™ gives brands one solution to reduce material, increase circularity and maintain premium design—delivering environmental impact at scale without sacrificing performance, efficiency or visual quality. —Continued on page 32

Vi it W 4010

INTROD CING

Bronco® 4 Labeler Flexible for every format. Smart, imple t operation. Future-proof and reliable.

EMAIL info@NJMPackaging.com

WEB NJMPackaging.com

5600 K era Mo treal, QC H4S 2B5

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Sustainability

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ECO LITE Drums

CurTec USA, LLC (Booth W-25056) The innovation behind ECO LITE drums lies in solving a long-standing engineering challenge: how to significantly reduce the environmental impact of industrial packaging without compromising the mechanical performance required for pharmaceutical and specialty chemical applications. Instead of simply reducing wall thickness, CurTec completely redesigned the drum architecture using Design for Sustainability principles. Two major technical breakthroughs made this possible. The first was replacing the conventional EPDM gasket with a newly developed integrated HDPE gasket produced during the injection molding process. Using in-house finite element analysis (FEA) and extensive prototyping, CurTec developed a sealing geometry that maintains acceptable closing forces, sealing performance and moisture protection while enabling a 100% mono-material construction. The second breakthrough was achieving a 25% weight reduction while maintaining UN-certified stacking and drop-test performance. This was accomplished through FEA-driven geometry optimization and the introduction of PWDS blow-molding technology, enabling a much more uniform wall thickness distribution and eliminating unnecessary material without reducing strength. Together, these innovations created a new platform for sustainable industrial packaging. ECO LITE drums combine 30% biobased material, 25% weight reduction and improved pallet efficiency, leading to a 30% lower CO₂ footprint, while maintaining the performance, reliability and regulatory compliance required in pharmaceutical supply chains. The integrated gasket design also provides a technology platform for future CurTec product developments.

Intelligent Sustainable Fish Transport System with PetriTag®

Embalagem do Futuro® (Booth LL-9304) This solution is innovative because it integrates sustainability, intelligent monitoring, and biological sensing into a single packaging system, something not currently achieved in conventional cold chain logistics. First, it replaces single-use packaging with a reusable isothermal EPP box made partially from recycled fishing industry waste, transforming by-products into highvalue insulation while significantly reducing environmental impact. Second, it introduces PetriTag®, a breakthrough in smart packaging: a paper-based, biodegradable label that detects bacterial contamination in real time through visible color changes. Unlike traditional expiration dates or digital sensors, it provides direct biological insight, enabling detection of spoilage up to two days in advance and allowing better decision-making on product usability. Third, the system combines this biological layer with IoT-enabled traceability, capturing temperature, geolocation, and logistics data. This creates a multi-dimensional monitoring approach where physical, digital, and biological parameters are tracked simultaneously. The innovation lies not only in each component but in their seamless integration into a circular, scalable system. By merging reusable materials, waste valorization, realtime sensing, and digital traceability, it enables a smarter, safer, and more sustainable seafood supply chain.

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WEIGH. BAG. KEEP MOVING. HIGH TEK COMBO SCALE + BAGGER COMPLETE SYSTEM Bring weighing and bagging together in one integrated solution. High Tek combination systems are engineered for accuracy, efficiency, and dependable production—from product infeed to finished package.

Visit Us Booth N-6149 SCAN TO CONNECT WITH SALES

PECHI_ShowDaily_T4.indd 2

8/21/26 10:48 AM

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Fernway Cannabis Scales Automated Labeling

Faced with fragmented cannabis packaging regulations and manual labeling inefficiencies, Fernway turned to Paxiom’s (Booth N-6106) dual-head carton labeler to maintain speed, precision, and premium quality across four states and counting. For Fernway, packaging isn’t just a vessel for cannabis products—it’s a reflection of the brand’s identity and its promise of quality and care. Founded in 2019 by four friends in Massachusetts, Fernway has grown rapidly, expanding into New Jersey, New York, and Illinois. But with each new market comes a new set of labeling and regulatory hurdles. “Every time we enter a new market, we do a regulatory analysis under the lens of packaging,” says Kevin Hu, Fernway’s COO and co-founder. “The goal is to make one carton or pack fit as many states’ regulations as possible.” Each state dictates its own rules for THC potency data, batch labeling, expiration dates, and even illustrations. “For example, Illinois doesn’t allow images of fruit on cannabis packaging [to avoid being mistaken for candy by children], so we replaced our strawberry illustrations with drawings of ferns.” Navigating that patchwork of rules became a logistical and operational challenge. But the bigger strain came from the labeling process itself.

From hand application to automated precision

Before automation, Fernway’s operators printed regulatory labels on Epson printers, loaded them onto manual dispensers, and applied each one by hand. That meant roughly one carton per minute—far too slow for a company scaling into multiple states.

Fernway’s premium rigid cartons, used for edibles and vaporizer products, now carry consistent, compliant labeling in Massachusetts, New Jersey, Illinois, and New York. “Human hands can only work so fast,” says Hu. “It wasn’t a big deal when we were selling a few thousand units a month, but once that turned into tens of thousands, it became unsustainable.” Label accuracy was another pain point. “Having a premium brand means the product has to look the part,” Hu adds. “It’s hard to pull that off when the label is crooked or hanging off the edge of the box.” That’s when Fernway turned to Paxiom (Booth N-6106) for a more scalable solution. The company purchased its first dual-head carton labeler in 2022 for Massachusetts, then followed with additional units for New Jersey, Illinois, and New York as new facilities came online. A fifth system is planned for early 2026. Paxiom’s two-headed carton labeler applies labels to two sides of a carton at up to 30 to 40 cartons per minute, a roughly 30x improvement over hand labeling. Operators feed cartons onto a conveyor manually, and as they move through the machine, each label head applies one of two labels in sequence—typically a frontfacing regulatory label and a secondary back label for marketing copy, QR codes, or batch details. The system features a stainless-steel frame, a split-belt conveyor with product guides, and a photo cell start/stop sensor to ensure precise timing and label placement. “It’s accurate, fast, and flexible,” says Hu. “We even reduced the footprint of our packaging by 30% without having to modify the equipment. We just created new programs and recipes.” Hu also praised the ease of training and changeover. “After a few weeks, someone can go from zero to fully understanding not just how to use the machine but also how to troubleshoot and reprogram it for different box sizes,” he says. “That’s critical for us because we’re constantly changing over—sometimes every thousand or two thousand cartons.”

Managing the data behind the label

Fernway’s Paxiom dual-head labeler applies regulatory and branding labels to opposite sides of premium cartons at up to 40 per minute.

The variable data printed on each Fernway label is drawn from test results uploaded by independent labs to a platform called Confident Cannabis, then integrated into the company’s Acumatica ERP system. That ensures the correct batch data—THC content, potency, lot number, and expiration date—flows seamlessly to each label. “Having the right software to manage all that data has been huge,” Hu says. “It’s what keeps us compliant across states.” With automation, that data integrity now extends to the physical label application. The Paxiom equipment provides not just speed and precision, but consistency that human operators couldn’t match. “Occasionally we’d find a missing label or one upside down,” Hu says. “Those were experiences we just couldn’t afford to have.”

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PHOENIX 2.0 Extended-Range Ionizing Air Blower

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The stainless steel, split-belt conveyor system provides precise control for consistent label placement.

Training and support

Each new machine installation is supported by an on-site Paxiom technician, who commissions the equipment and provides hands-on training. “They stay a couple of days to work with our team and make sure we’re comfortable running changeovers, handling maintenance, and troubleshooting,” Hu says. “By the time we got to our third and fourth machines, the process was seamless. Our technicians were already familiar with the workflows.” Fernway’s labeling cells are currently semi-automated—the cartons are hand-fed into the machine and case-packed manually after labeling—but Hu says the company is now exploring downstream automation with Paxiom to extend those gains further. “We’d love to fully automate everything,” he says, “but because every state requires its own facility, each investment gets multiplied across multiple locations.” Even with those constraints, the investment in automation has paid off. “The payback has been roughly a year,” says Hu. “That’s equivalent to about two technicians’ worth of labor. It allows us to stay lean, give our team job security, and let them focus on higher-value work.”

Thinking beyond the consumer

Hu offers a piece of advice that applies to cannabis brands and CPGs alike: when designing packaging, think about the entire supply chain, not just the consumer experience. “When we first designed our box, we were thinking only about our brand and the end consumer,” he says. “What we didn’t do was talk to our dispensary partners, and that was a mistake.” Dispensaries in Massachusetts and New Jersey, for example, urged Fernway to reduce its package size to fit more inventory in limited vault space. “That feedback led us to cut our carton footprint by 30%,” Hu says. “It was a lesson in remembering that our ‘customer’ isn’t just the person who opens the box—it’s everyone who touches it along the way: transporters, dispensary staff, budtenders, and finally the consumer.” For Fernway, packaging is both a brand expression and an operational necessity. And by investing in automation, the company is proving that even in a fragmented, heavily regulated market, consistency and quality can still scale.

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Let’s Talk About Sustainable Packaging Your Hub for Practical, Actionable Sustainability Education

Sustainability is no longer optional—it’s mission-critical. At Sustainability Central (Booth W-52060), you’ll find free, expert-led education that empowers you to meet evolving regulatory, environmental, and consumer demands head-on. Across four days of programming, discover the latest in: • Design for Recyclability is Required by Law. Are You Ready? • Advancing the Circular Economy: How Collaboration Delivers Value • Protect the Product, Reduce the Footprint • 2026: The Year EPR Stopped Being Optional • Building Regulatory Confidence: Food-Grade PCR for Flexibles Each session is designed to help brands and suppliers alike align sustainability goals with business outcomes, efficiency improvements, and customer expectations. Whether you’re leading your company’s sustainability strategy or looking for new ideas to get started, this is your destination to engage, learn, and take action.

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Free education. Real impact. A more sustainable future starts here. LOCATION West Building | Booth W-52060

DATES Sunday–Wednesday October 18 - 21

Explore the full schedule and learn more at pwgo.to/9271

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The Future of Manufacturing Takes the Stage at PACK EXPO International 2026 Hands-on competitions, robotics demonstrations, career connections, and show-floor experiences introduce students to the possibilities of packaging and processing careers.

The next generation of packaging and processing professionals aren’t just watching from the sidelines at PACK EXPO International 2026—they’re building machines, demonstrating robots, racing across the show floor, meeting potential employers, and exploring careers in one of manufacturing’s most dynamic industries. PACK EXPO International brings students face-toface with the technologies, companies, and professionals shaping the future of packaging and processing. Through hands-on competitions, demonstrations, tours, career development opportunities, and networking, students experience the industry in action while building connections for their own futures. Educational opportunities for students include:

• PACK Challenge: Six high school teams face off in a machine-building showdown. These teams earned their spot in the qualifiers with inventive designs and are now ready to compete in tasks such as a Factory Acceptance Test, sales and marketing, and operator training. Teams may win up to $20,000. Teams include: ◉ Alexandria Area High School ◉ Legacy Christian Academy and Becker High School Coalition ◉ Rich Township High School ◉ Sartell High School ◉ South Shore Technical High School ◉ Waterford Union High School

• Future Innovators Robotics Showcase, sponsored by Schneider Electric: See high school robotics teams showcase their design, engineering, and troubleshooting skills with live demonstrations. Participating teams include: ◉ Armada Robotics (FRC 2508) ◉ Charger Robotics (FRC 5348) ◉ First Starforce (FRC 11173) ◉ Gear Wizards (FTC 16917) ◉ Golden Ratio Robotics (FTC 12882) ◉ Monty Pythons (FRC 2151) ◉ Random Engineers (FTC 23802) ◉ Sartell Robotics (FRC 6045) ◉ Sensory Overload (FTC 25956) ◉ That ONE Team - Our Next Engineers (FRC 4967)

• Students PACK the EXPO: Students from local Chicago-area schools will take to the show floor to experience PACK EXPO International through a virtual scavenger hunt, student tours, and a lunch-and-learn session.

—Continued on page 40

• Amazing Packaging Race, sponsored by SICK, Inc. (Booth N-5913): In this fun and educational event, teams from colleges and universities across North America race around the show floor to complete a series of tasks at participating exhibitor booths in a thrilling race. Participating exhibitors include: ◉ All-Fill Inc. (Booth S-1706) ◉ B&R Industrial Automation (Booth S-2451) ◉ Beckhoff Automation (Booth S-3682) ◉B W Packaging (Booth S-2100) ◉ Carleton Helical Technologies (Booth N-5213) ◉C MCO Conveyance Solutions (Booth N-5321) ◉C old Pressure Council (CPC) (Booth N-4565) ◉ Delta Modtech (Booth W-27006) ◉ Duravant (Booth S-3714) ◉E conocorp Inc. (Booth S-1502) ◉ Fallas Automation Inc. (Booth S-2158) ◉ FOX IV Technologies, Inc. (Booth N-4936) ◉F resh-Lock By Presto Products (Booth S-3907) ◉ HARPAK-ULMA Packaging, LLC (Booth S-2939, W-20098) ◉ HEISLER Industries, Inc. (Booth S-3866) ◉ Hoosier Feeder (Booth N-5143) ◉ I nstitute of Packaging Professionals, IoPP (Booth N-4560) ◉ LinMot USA (Booth S-1507) ◉M orrison Container Handling Solutions (Booth N-4906) ◉ OMAC (Booth N-4562) ◉ PAC Machinery (Booth S-2147) ◉ Pacteon Group (Booth S-3314) ◉P epperl+Fuchs (Booth LU-8147) ◉ Rinco Ultrasonics USA, Inc. (Booth S-1403) ◉ Shurtape Technologies (Booth N-6030) ◉S ICK (Booth N-5913) ◉ Siemens Digital Industries (Booth S-4266) ◉ Starview Packaging Machinery (Booth N-5535) ◉T riangle Package Machinery Company (Booth S-1714)

We’re the Original Kemi Liner ®

Kemi® liners, Metsä Board’s premium white top kraftliners, have played a significant role in the evolution of corrugated packaging in the Americas. Known for their superior printing surface and high performance, Kemi® liners are a coated white top kraftliner that revolutionized the corrugated packaging industry by combining performance with visual branding. Kemi® liners, then known as Kemiart, were launched in the American market in 1991. Innovation continued introducing double coated white kraftliner in 2011. Most recently, in 2023, the Kemi mill underwent further developments to increase its capacity to 465,000 tons, while enhancing energy and water efficiency. At 465,000 tons, our facility is now the world's largest production plant for coated white-top kraftliner. Customers worldwide specifically request "Kemi" when they mean our first-class white kraftliners such as MetsäBoard Classic WKL, MetsäBoard Pro WKL and MetsäBoard Prime WKL. With a legacy spanning over five decades, Metsä Board will continue to help set the standard for excellence in packaging, allowing every box to tell a story of quality and sustainability.

From the forest, for life

MON SHOW DAILY 40

OCTOBER 19, 2026 Scan the QR code for more details on student opportunities at the show.

—Continued from page 39

• The Workforce Development Pavilion (West Hall) serves as the ultimate resource hub for strengthening the existing workforce and nurturing the future workforce. Attendees can explore PMMI U’s array of offerings, including sought-after training workshops. Colleges and universities will showcase their mechatronics, packaging, and processing programs, while companies will have the opportunity to engage with students interested in pursuing careers in the industry. Participating schools include: ◉ Brigham Young University - Idaho ◉ Cal Poly Packaging ◉ Clemson University Packaging Science ◉ Fresno State University ◉ Hennepin Tech College ◉ Illinois Tech – Food Science and Nutrition Department ◉ Indiana State University ◉ Michigan State University School of Packaging ◉ North Carolina State University ◉ Northwood Technical College ◉ Purdue University Northwest ◉ Rochester Institute of Technology ◉ Rutgers Packaging Engineering Program ◉ San Jose State University ◉ Toronto Metropolitan University ◉ Tuskegee University ◉ University of Florida ◉ University of Wisconsin – Stout ◉ Virginia Tech Additional networking opportunities for students include: •S tudent Tours: PMMI staff will conduct tours of the show floor on Monday at 3:30 p.m. Tours start at the PMMI U and PMMI Foundation Booth. • Student Lounge: Open for students to meet with HR professionals to discuss career opportunities, receive resume-writing tips, and attend interview workshops. Interview Workshops will be conducted on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. and on Tuesday and Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. • Packaging & Processing Women’s Leadership Network (PPWLN) Breakfast: Students attending PACK EXPO International are invited to attend the PPWLN Breakfast on Tuesday, Oct. 20. • Tour with PPWLN Executive Council: Following the PPWLN Breakfast, members of the PPWLN Executive Council will provide a guided tour for the students. “PACK EXPO International is a place where students can connect with future employers and glimpse the real-world machinery, challenges, and solutions they may encounter in a career,” says Kate Torrence, director, workforce development, PMMI. “By bringing these opportunities to students, we are investing in the future of our industries and preparing a skilled next-generation workforce.”

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OCTOBER 19, 2026

Slideways Inc. Launches New High-Temperature Guide Rail and Installation Services Slideways Inc. (Booth N-5127), a specialist in standard and custom plastic components for conveyor systems, introduces a new hightemperature guide rail and installation services.

High Temp Guide Rail

Engineered for demanding conveyor and processing environments, the new High Temp Guide Rail expands Slideways’ ability to support applications for elevated operating temperatures up to 500-degree F where wear, friction, and reliability are key considerations. Visitors will be able to learn how the solution fits both original equipment and existing production lines.

Installation Services Special Event

Industry expert Matthew Childress will be available, Monday, October 19th from 9 am – 12 pm in the Slideways booth to discuss retrofit and new-installation opportunities. He will work with attendees to identify practical ways to upgrade conveyor and machine systems, address installation challenges, reduce downtime, and extend the useful life of existing equipment. “The new high temperature guide rail fills an important gap in the market for bakery and heat tunnel applications, while installation services provide capacity and expertise for CPGs to maintain peak line performance,” says Tom Sioui, CEO of Slideways, Slideways manufactures components including guide rails, conveyor components, belt guides, SlideTrax chain guides, extruded profiles, bearings, and complex customdesigned plastic parts. Its engineered plastic solutions can offer lower friction, reduced weight, corrosion resistance, and longer service life than many conventional metal alternatives, depending on the application.

Key customer benefits include:

• Fast access to standard and custom plastic conveyor components • Bolt-on-ready parts that support efficient OEM assembly • Reverse engineering from drawings or physical samples • Material and application guidance for challenging environments • Rapid delivery that helps reduce downtime and production disruption

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OCTOBER 19, 2026

PACK EXPO International 2026 Connects Manufacturers with Practical Sustainability Solutions New PMMI research finds more than 82% of end users are actively pursuing sustainability as the show brings together technologies, education, and expertise to support measurable progress. With sustainability now shaping equipment specifications, material selection, and operational decisions across packaging and processing, PACK EXPO International 2026 will give manufacturers a one-stop destination to compare sustainable packaging technologies, learn from experts, and find solutions that support measurable environmental and business goals. The need is clear: more than 82% of end users say they are actively engaged in sustainability adoption, according to 2026 The Ripple Effect: CPG Sustainability and the New OEM Spec Sheet, a new report from PACK EXPO International show producer PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies (Booth N-4550). “Manufacturers have moved beyond asking whether sustainability matters; they are now determining which investments can deliver measurable environmental and operational results,”

says Jim Pittas, president and CEO of PMMI. “That’s why PACK EXPO International 2026 gives them one place to compare technologies in operation, learn from experts, and identify practical solutions for their businesses.” PACK EXPO International 2026 features 2,700-

plus exhibitors and tens of thousands attendees from 40+ vertical markets. As the largest and most influential packaging and processing trade show in North America, the event gives attendees unmatched access to machinery, materials, automation, and sustainability-focused solutions in action. Key sustainability-focused destinations and tools at PACK EXPO International 2026 include: Innovation Stages (Booths N-4570, N-4580 and N-4585) — Three stages will feature fast-paced, 30-minute sessions fromled by top suppliers and technical experts, offering practical insights into the latest advances in packaging machinery, materials, automation, digital tools, and real-world applications. Sustainability-focused sessions include: • Sustainable Load Stability: Reducing Plastic Without Sacrificing Performance • Packaging Sustainability Myth Busters: Beliefs that Brands Still Get Wrong

I want to package a unique pharmaceutical product.

Thisis our answer : Come and visitus at: PACK EXPO 2026 Booth W-24020

45 • Navigating EPR: Source Reduction Strategies and the Levers Brand Owners Can Pull in Flexible Packaging • Flexible Packaging That WOWs Consumers: Material That Excites, Surprises, and Delights Sustainability Central (Booth W-52060) — Presented by Packaging World (N-4550) and sponsored by EFP, LLC (Booth W-45060), this dedicated education hub will feature expert-led presentations, case studies, and trends shaping sustainable packaging. Attendees will learn how material choices, system design, and operational changes can reduce environmental impact while supporting business goals.

Thought leaders and innovators will share strategies to help attendees improve recyclability, advance circularity, reduce environmental impact, and stay ahead of customer and regulatory demands. Sessions include: • Design for Recyclability is Required by Law. Are You Ready? • Advancing the Circular Economy: How Collaboration Delivers Value • Protect the Product, Reduce the Footprint • 2026: The Year EPR Stopped Being Optional Reusable Packaging Learning Center (Booth LU-6645), sponsored by the Reusable Packaging Association — This educational stage gives attendees a practical look at how reusable packaging systems are being implemented across supply chains. Session topics include the State of the Industry 2026, technology AI & leveraging Data, public policy and retail automation. Reusable Packaging Pavilion (Upper Lakeside Center), sponsored by the Reusable Packaging Association — Here, show attendees can explore reusable packaging systems from members of RPA and uncover solutions designed to reduce waste, improve durability, streamline logistics, and deliver measurable supply chain cost savings. Sustainability Solutions Finder — This online tool helps attendees locate vetted PACK EXPO Green Exhibitors that offer eco-friendly materials, components, machinery, and services. Attendees can search by sustainability attribute, package type, or solution category. Showcase of Packaging Innovations® (Booth W-42004), sponsored by Smurfit Westrock (Booth S-2820) — This special show-floor display features award-winning packaging designs from around the world, including formats that push the boundaries of sustainability, recyclability, and material efficiency.

In addition, Dow is the official sustainability partner and sponsor of show-floor recycling. Dualstream recycling and trash bins will be placed throughout every exhibit hall. “Achieving sustainability goals requires more than a single material or technology; it takes a systems-level approach,” Pittas says. “PACK EXPO International gives manufacturers the opportunity to see how packaging design, equipment, reusable

systems, and operational improvements can work together to reduce environmental impact while strengthening performance and long-term competitiveness.” No other event delivers hands-on experience on this scale—with more technology, machines in motion, suppliers on-site, and access to expertise than anywhere else. PACK EXPO International is the industry’s most efficient platform to evaluate equipment, identify emerging trends, and make informed investment decisions—all in one place.

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OCTOBER 19, 2026

PMMI Honors 10 NextGeneration CPG Innovators

Inaugural CPG NexGen Award winners are delivering measurable advances in automation, productivity, sustainability and packaging to transform how CPG products are made. From deploying automation that dramatically increases production capacity to developing sustainable packaging systems and AI-powered tools that deliver significant cost savings, a new generation of consumer-packaged goods (CPG) professionals are changing how products are made and packaged. Show producer PMMI, the Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies (Booth N-4550), is recognizing 10 of these rising innovators as the inaugural winners of its CPG NexGen Awards at PACK EXPO International.

“CPG manufacturers are navigating enormous change; from automation and workforce pressures to sustainability, digitalization, and evolving consumer expectations,” says Jim Pittas, president and CEO, PMMI. “These 10 professionals aren’t simply preparing for that future; they’re helping create it through solutions that are delivering measurable results today.” The CPG NexGen Awards recognize emerging leaders at CPG and end-user companies for leadership, innovation, and technical expertise.

47 The 2026 CPG NexGen Award winners are:

•C harlotte Ashcraft

Senior manager, packaging & graphics development, Just Born Quality Confections — Led a packaging redesign that helped drive a multi-million-dollar investment in new technology.

RC20 Collaborative Palletizer for heavier loads.

•H ayden Bivens

Packaging engineer, PepsiCo — Is modernizing a weight-verification system across 1,400+ machines and 34 facilities, with an estimated $800,000 in annual productivity savings.

•M att J. Fitzpatrick

Packaging engineering manager, Saint-Gobain — Advanced digital packaging systems supporting sustainability, carbon tracking, and regulatory reporting.

•A llie Helton

Director of operations, Wyandot Snacks — Led automation that tripled weekly production capacity to more than 1 million pounds while achieving 98% uptime.

•R aianna O’Toole

Global packaging innovation lead, Kenvue — Advances sustainable refill systems and innovative packaging across multiple consumer categories.

•C had Sienknecht

Production manager, Trisco Foods LLC — Increased production output 75% while reducing labor requirements 50% and material costs 44%.

•H annah Swilling

Engineer III, Tyson Foods — Has managed multi-million-dollar capital projects, including a processing project completed in approximately 100 days.

• Scott Turner

Senior engineer, packaging, Edwards Lifesciences — Delivered packaging innovations generating approximately $1 million in savings while reducing material use and package size.

• Supradeep Vankayala

Lead design engineer, R&D, Becton Dickinson — Developed a PFAS-free, recyclable, and sterilizable packaging solution and helped prevent the rejection of approximately 2 million products.

The RC20 extends collaborative palletizing to heavier loads and higher throughput applications while maintaining a compact operational footprint. With payloads of up to 17 kg and throughput of up to 12 boxes per minute with double pick, the RC20 combines high performance and compact design. It helps manufacturers automate end-of-line palletizing in a safe, flexible, and scalable way. Its unique safety concept supports side-byside operation with workers while helping avoid unnecessary stoppages. The intuitive RobotConfig software makes pallet pattern setup and operation fast and easy. SEE YOU AT:

• Ann-Marie Willis

Senior engineer, NPD operations, Mary Kay Global — Created an AI-powered NPD tool that contributed to more than $1.4 million in documented cost avoidance.

As part of their recognition, the winners each received a fully hosted VIP experience at PACK EXPO International 2026. The experience includes show registration, round-trip airfare, hotel accommodations, networking and professional development opportunities, and a private show-floor tour with fellow winners. “PACK EXPO International is all about bringing together the people, ideas and technologies that are moving our industry forward, so it’s an exciting place to celebrate the inaugural CPG NexGen Award winners,” says Laura Thompson, vice president, trade shows, PMMI. “These rising professionals are already delivering impressive results within their organizations, and we’re thrilled to recognize their accomplishments while giving them the opportunity to experience the innovation, connections, and possibilities PACK EXPO International has to offer.”

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BOOTH S-2501

Visit FlexLink to discover more!

MON SHOW DAILY OCTOBER 19, 2026

PRODUCTS

IR-3000 Moisture Sensor MoistTech highlights the IR-3000 Series Moisture Sensors IR-3000 designed to improve quality, productivity, and energy efficiency in food and corrugated production lines. Unit features NIR (Near Infrared) technology for accurate and reliable moisture analysis of most products or raw materials. Applications include snack foods, baked goods, paperboard, and corrugated box manufacturing.

Automated Packaging and Food Machinery KUKA Robotics exhibits automated case erecting, palletizing, depalletizing, case blank loading, and collaborative robot solutions. Featured will be live demonstration cells that represent real-world applications in collaboration with its partners: the Compendium Group, FOCUS Integration, and Acieta.

Solutions for Club Stores PakTech exhibits its 100% recycled HDPE multipack handles and robotic MPA30i flex MultiPak applicator designed to process up to 30 cases/min. Its flexible configuration enables manufacturers and co-packers to run multiple products through a single applicator, supporting faster changeovers and reducing downtime. PakTech Booth S-4209 www.paktech-opi.com

MoistTech Booth LU-7735 www.moisttech.com

KUKA Robotics Booth N-5530 www.kuka.com

Foldable Stack Only (FSO) Container

Robotic Cable Management System

Autonomous Magnetic Platform

Monoflo International debuts the Foldable Stack Only (FSO) collapsible container designed for automated warehouse operations to meet the rigorous demands of automated systems. The new design is engineered to maintain structural integrity and to work interchangeably with fixed-wall containers, improving system flexibility while reclaiming warehouse space and reducing freight costs.

igus® showcases the self-supporting twisterchain energy chain designed to deliver reliable cable management through rotation angles of more than 600° on compact industrial robots. This rotary module sits in a sag around the robot base; as the robot rotates, it lifts step by step to a new level, enabling full 360° rotation without colliding with the connector plate.

enVista demonstrates its radiant robotics autonomous magnetic platform, powered by physical AI and enVista’s enMotion WES+. It is designed to replace autonomous mobile robots and automated guided vehicles across several high-value use cases, such as unit sortation, pallet movement, and rack-to-person as well as replace fixed conveyors with flexible, software-directed material movement.

Monoflo International Booth LU-6640 www.miworldwide.com

igus Booth N-6142 www.igus.com

enVista Booth N-5783 www.envistacorp.com

MON SHOW DAILY 50

OCTOBER 19, 2026

PRODUCTS

Heat Exchanger Solutions HRS Heat Exchangers showcase its heating and cooling solutions for every scale of project, from trial units to bespoke skid-based systems for easy installation, to turnkey systems for pasteurization, evaporation, and complete process lines. Featured are the HRS MI Series, Unicus Series of reciprocating scraped surface heat exchangers, and the rotating R Series.

High-speed Small Bag Snack Packaging Ishida exhibits Ishida CCW-AS Series weigher with an Inspira Series vf/f/s Snack Bagmaker, a high-speed, small bag snack packaging solution for small-bag snack applications and multi-pack formats. For products, such as pretzels, the system can run up to 220 bags/min, while maintaining precision across a wide range of snack foods.

Smart Sorting Conveyors D&F Equipment Sales, Inc. exhibits turnkey conveyor solutions, featuring advanced sorting, merging, and optimized space-saving designs. Also featured is a specialty conveying system built for intelligent sorting. D&F Equipment Sales, Inc. Booth LU-7207 www.dfequip.com

HRS Heat Exchangers Booth LU-7633 www.hrs-heatexchangers.com/us/

Ishida Booth N-4706 www.ishida.com/ww/en/

Label Dispenser

Adaptive Automation For Packaging

Packaging Solutions

AT Information Products launches the X1 DispenseJet that combines label dispensing with thermal inkjet printing to add variable data to labels on demand. As each label is dispensed, the system can print critical information, including Best-By dates, lot and batch numbers, linear barcodes, and 2D barcodes.

ABB’s Machine Automation division (B&R) showcases innovative automation solutions for intelligent product handling, digital engineering, and machine flexibility. Also featured is a new compact conveyor demonstration with an integrated diversion system, showing how manufacturers can achieve efficient product handling and routing within a smaller machine footprint.

Emerson highlights its AVENTICS™ Series XV pneumatic valves designed to provide machine builders in the food and packaging industry with a flexible and cost-effective valve platform. Valves provide higher flow rates in a compact valve package that enables more efficient and flexible pneumatic system performance for factory automation and food and packaging applications.

B&R Industrial Automation Corp. Booth S-2451 www.br-automation.com

Emerson Booth N-5449 www.emerson.com

AT Information Products Booth S-3014 www.atip-usa.com

Programmable Product-Handling Platform

Provisur Technologies Booth LU-7807 www.provisur.com

Servo Gears SEW-EURODRIVE showcases the PxG economy series available in three performance classes, five sizes, peak torque from 11 to 500 Nm, and a service life exceeding 20,000 hr. Typical applications include packaging equipment, assembly machinery, material handling systems, carton erectors, gantry robots, and machine tool portals. SEW-EURODRIVE Booth S-3783 www.seweurodrive.com

Automated Magazine Loader Engenesys demonstrates its automated magazine loader (AML), a patented system engineered to automate the repetitive task of loading cartons into horizontal cartoner magazines. A key feature is the system’s ability to work with new or existing cartoning equipment. It can operate at speeds of up to 3 cases/min and can handle case weights up to 50 lb. Engenesys Booth S-3292 www.engenesys.com

Provisur Technologies demonstrates its Formax Free Movement System, an electromagnetic, programmable product-handling platform integrated with a Formax SX550 slicer. Machine features free-floating movers that travel on an electromagnetic surface in configurations that users can program.

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OCTOBER 19, 2026

PRODUCTS

Thermal Processing Solutions Heat and Control exhibits Tek-Dry french fry dryers featuring a single-pass design to deliver consistent drying within a compact footprint, supporting high evaporation rates and precise moisture control while reducing product agitation and fines. Heat and Control Booths N-4706, N-4721 www.heatandcontrol.com

Automatic Shrink Wrapper Garrido USA debuts the Advantage Machinery Automatic Luxury shrink wrapper designed to produce retail-ready seals for high-end cosmetics, electronics, and collectibles while introducing advanced return-fraud prevention. Garrido USA Booth S-3800 www.garridousa.com

Filling Solutions ProSys Fill, LLC exhibits its filling solutions, including the Custom Mix System (CMX); the new LB60 lip balm filler, designed to fill, cool, and cap lip balm sticks at a machine cycle rate of up to 60 ppm paired with the HL-60 labeler; the VCF chub filler, the RM110 cartridge filler; and the new RT110 tube filler. ProSys Fill, LLC Booth S-2454 www.prosysfill.com

Next-gen Dosing Technology

FP-2265 Friction/Peel Tester

Vacuum Barrier Corp. demonstrates its NITRODOSE G3 SERVODOSER and NITRODOSE Aseptic LN2 dosing systems designed to meet the speed, precision, flexibility, and reliability demands of modern beverage and aseptic packaging lines.

Thwing-Albert showcases the FP-2265 friction/peel tester designed to measure friction, peel adhesion, seal strength, and tensile properties of films, paper, labels, and flexible packaging. Built-in pneumatic controls eliminate the need for a separate pneumatic controller, simplifying setup and improving repeatability for pneumatic grip and fixture applications.

Vacuum Barrier Corp. Booth S-4243 www.vacuumbarrier.com

Thwing-Albert Booth LU-8506 www.thwingalbert.com

Continuous Inkjet Printer for Pigmented Inkjet Coding Videojet Technologies debuts the Videojet 1880 C continuous inkjet printer designed to help reduce cleaning, service calls, and unpredictable downtime associated with pigmented CIJ printing. Built for hard and soft pigmented applications, the unit delivers bold, high-contrast codes while offering operation and maintenance similar to a dye-based printer. Videojet Technologies Booth S-2042 www.videojet.com

“An OEM that our company has “Always been great to work come to respect and rely on to meet with and very responsive.” TEVA ever more stringent regulations and customer expectations.” “We’ve been a customer for over CATALENT 20 years and never once have we been disappointed.” “Accommodating, ADARE professional and proactive.” APOTEX “They understand the importance of keeping the “Phenomenal to work with. equipment running. Their team is prompt, Highly recommend.” professional and reliable.” MYLAN

CHEWY

“Highly recommend their entire team as well as their equipment.”

“MG America has provided excellent customer service and consistently met needs over the past six years of using their capsule-filling equipment.”

BEND BIOSCIENCE

GRANULES PHARMACEUTICALS

“Exceptional service and support.” AMNEAL PHARMACEUTICALS

Offering a range of premium equipment for capsule filling, packaging, and material handling.

Scan to see our full line.

Fairfield, New Jersey • 866-962-3090 • mgamerica.com

Booth W-26056