Countdown to PackExpo

How a Little Advance Planning Can Optimize Your Attendance At Pack Expo 2004 in Chicago

Package designers have an excellent opportunity to explore new packaging materials and trends, learn ways to streamline operations, and gain further insight into the marketplace at Pack Expo International 2004, to be held November 7-11 at Chicago's McCormick Place.

As one of the year's largest packaging technology showcases, Pack Expo will feature more than 1,900 exhibitors occupying 1.3 million net square feet of space. With so much ground to cover, attendees will be challenged to see everything in five days.

To maximize the value of the show, the Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Institute (PMMI), Pack Expo's sponsor and producer, recommends attendees pre-plan as much of their trip as possible, saving time, energy, and resources. Here are some helpful tips to ensure a successful trip to Chicago:

1. Register early to save time and money. Avoid long on-site registration lines with an easy, one-step registration process on the show's official Web site, www.packexpo.com. Visitors registering on or before October 15 will save 50 percent on admission fees, paying just $25 rather than the full rate of $50.

Web site visitors can also pre-register for the Conference at Pack Expo, a series of informational and educational programs held in conjunction with the exhibition. The three-day conference, running from November 8-10, will provide package designers with greater insight into the latest packaging and processing trends, issues, and challenges. Attendees registering on or before October 15 will pay special discounted rates.

2. Use www.packexpo.com to preview new products and guide you through McCormick Place. In addition to offering show and conference program registration, www.packexpo.com is set up as a 24-7 information resource.

Attendees can get a sneak preview of technologies to be featured at the show by visiting the site's "Exhibitor Products" section. Designed to help attendees select exhibitors they want to visit when the show opens, this section will include detailed product descriptions and photos. Simply click on the Information button and scroll through Latest News to the Exhibitor Products section to find the most recent updates.

The site also features a complete exhibitor list and show floor plans so visitors can locate suppliers and map out a floor route through McCormick Place before arriving in Chicago. A versatile search engine ensures that even attendees without targeted supplier lists can get started; search options include company name, keyword, location, relationship interest, and export interest. Visitors can also determine which suppliers have Virtual Exhibits, allowing attendees to access product brochures, read news and announcements, request a quote or more information, and contact company personnel.

With information updated on a regular basis, repeat visits to www.packexpo.com are encouraged. By returning to the site often, attendees can view newly posted product previews and Virtual Exhibits and obtain details about the Conference at Pack Expo.

3. Visit the co-located Food Processing Machinery EXPO (FPM EXPO) and special technology pavilions. To gain even more value from Pack Expo, package designers should make time to visit the FPM EXPO and the new technology pavilions exhibits, which include the Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Pavilion, Packaging Security Resource Center, and Showcase of Packaging Innovation. All of these exhibits can be accessed with a single badge.

FPM EXPO, sponsored and produced by Food Processing Machinery Association (FPMA), focuses on the newest developments in processing technology for food and beverage manufacturers. Exhibits will include demonstrations of state-of-the-art equipment in the fruit and vegetable, beverage, canning/freezing, environmental, instrumentation, prepared foods, can making, meat, dairy, and snack food industries.

4. Form a buying team and set specific objectives. More consumer products companies are discovering that implementing a strategy of Total Quality Buying through an integrated team approach can speed project completion and maximize return on investment from purchases. Buying teams consist of professionals from a variety of disciplines, such as plant managers, packaging engineers, R&D specialists, production supervisors, package designers, brand marketers, and purchasing agents. Though the exact mix will vary from company to company, buying teams can thoroughly evaluate all of the variables involved with a product or machine—from potential application challenges to system integration—and make sound purchasing decisions.

Prior to the show, buying teams should establish expectations, set priorities, and outline goals, both for individuals and the team as a whole. Teams should pre-qualify potential suppliers and develop a "must-see" list. A realistic, daily schedule should be planned, with the first day dedicated to visiting targeted exhibitors, and leaving time for return visits later in the show.

5. Make appointments early. Pack Expo exhibitor booths are well-staffed, but with 50,000 attendees at the show, key personnel may be unavailable. Contact exhibitors early to arrange meetings and ensure quality time with targeted suppliers. Try scheduling four or five meetings a day, allowing time for product demonstrations and extended visits for "hot" leads.

To maximize meeting time, assign a buying team member the responsibility for investigating a category of products, such as labels, containers, or case packing equipment. Alternatively, individual team members can focus on specific characteristics of machinery, such as speed, adaptability, flexibility, or maintenance. Using this approach, buying teams can gather information from a larger number of exhibitors within Pack Expo's five-day time frame.

6. Evaluate objectives midway through the show. Arrange a buying team meeting during the show to review accomplishments and determine if additional information is needed. Pack Expo presents a unique chance to speak with a variety of suppliers in a single location and to get immediate responses to questions and concerns. Take advantage of the opportunity and don't leave the show unsatisfied.

In summary, Pack Expo International 2004 provides a great forum to observe the latest packaging technologies first-hand and generate fresh ideas to solve packaging challenges. Maximize your time in Chicago by registering early, pre-planning your route through McCormick Place, visiting FPM Expo and the new technology pavilions, and forming a buying team to cover more ground. You'll be glad you did.

To register or for more information about Pack Expo International 2004, visit www.packexpo.com or contact PMMI at 4350 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 600, Arlington, Va 22203. Tel: (703) 243-8555; Fax: (703) 243-8556; E-mail: expo@pmmi.org.