The packaging and processing community came together this week for perhaps the most important Pack Expo Las Vegas and Healthcare Packaging Expo in its history, according to show producer PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies. Over 23,000 attendees, eager to find solutions to current challenges, engaged with over 1,500 exhibitors across four expansive halls and more than 68,000 m2 of exhibit space at the Las Vegas Convention Center. It serves as the largest trade show in the U.S. in 2021 so far.

“In a word, Pack Expo Las Vegas and Healthcare Packaging Expo was a success,” said Jim Pittas, president and CEO, PMMI. “Exhibitors and attendees alike were energized by the number of people who attended and more importantly the business conducted from the moment we opened the doors on Monday.”

As PMMI’s State of the Industry report highlights, 2020 was a record year for packaging machinery, with the total size of the market in the U.S. increasing to USD 12.3 bn, growing 14.4 %. In the case of domestic shipments, 14.7 % growth reached USD 9.4 bn. This record year led to the industry’s readiness to come together to see the latest innovations in person.

The trade fair was more than just a packaging and processing equipment show, with over 80 free educational sessions. Hungry for new information, attendees took advantage of the opportunities at the Forum, Pack to the Future and Innovation Stages throughout the show floor. Many accessed digital showrooms and select show content online via Pack Expo Xpress, which debuted this year to extend the show’s reach beyond the convention centre’s walls. All registered show attendees can continue to access Pack Expo Xpress until 19 November 2021.