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PACK EXPO 2022: back to business in the Windy City

The international packaging and processing show returned to Chicago as an in-person event.

By Jenni Spinner

Musicians from the Chicago Police Department Pipes and Drums Band herald the opening of the PACK EXPO International 2022 exhibition halls on Sunday. Photo: Jenni Spinner

Syntegon RPP platform — Joe Larkin, product group sales manager – secondary packaging, Syntegon, showcases the RPP (robotic pick-and-place) platform, new to this year’s PACK EXPO. The unit can be configured individually to automate a variety of processes, such as feeding, handling, and loading. At the event, the RPP was shown with a Kliklok MEC endload cartoner. Photo: Jenni Spinner

Delkor bakery packaging solutions — Several packaging companies around the PACK EXPO exhibit halls showcased snack and bakery packaging designs and materials. Here, Delkor Systems showed off examples of bakery customers’ products in resealable flex pouches, cartons, and retail-ready trays. Photo: Jenni Spinner

Universal Robots UR20 cobot — Universal Robots debuted its UR20, a 20-kg payload cobot designed to offer high payloads, fast operating speeds, and a high degree of motion control in a lightweight, small-footprint system for optimal versatility within your existing production space. A single-phase standard power outlet is all that’s needed to power the machine. Photo: Jenni Spinner

Heat and Control integrated snack packaging line — Heat and Control showcased a range of solutions suitable to the snack and bakery industry, including an integrated snack food packaging line. The system consisted of a Lift & Tip vertical conveyor, Ishida CCW-AS Series multi-head weigher, CEIA Free-Fall metal detection, Ishida Inspira vertical form/fill/seal bagmaker, Ishida seal checker, and Ishida ACP-700 Series case packer. Photo: Jenni Spinner

Somic 424 W3 wraparound casepacker — SOMIC Packaging demonstrated its new 424 W3 wraparound casepacker at the show. The unit reportedly can produce up to 25 cases per minute in a compact design, handling cartons, open or covered trays, lid inserts, and more.

Dorner AquaGard LP conveyor — The new Dorner AquaGard LP (low profile) conveyor is designed to fit in tight spaces, making it a suitable sanitary conveyor for dry or wipedown applications in bakery and other packaged-food industries. It features a low-profile stainless steel frame with compact 1.25” diameter end-roller pulleys, enabling it to fit in tight spaces and safely operate in close proximity to staff. Courtesy of Dorner

Mettler-Toledo X34c x-ray inspection system — Mettler-Toledo demonstrated its X34c x-ray inspection system, connected to its C35 AdvancedLine checkweigher. The compact x-ray system is designed to deliver fast throughputs (up to 300 packages per minute) and a small size for operations with limited floor space. The checkweigher, with a weighing range of 25 g to 7 kg, features the company’s new FlashCell, which is designed to reduce product waste via high weighing precision. Courtesy of Mettler-Toledo

Signode Simplimatic Pallet Transformer AMR — Signode’s Simplimatic Pallet Transformer Autonomous Mobile Robot (AMR) is a fully integrated AMR with a transfer conveyor, designed to facilitate easy integration of autonomous transfer pallets and gaylords. It is constructed to dock to end of line roller or drag chain transfer conveyors and transfer loads automatically. It navigates throughout a facility without the aid of lines or magnetic strips and can reroute itself around obstructions in its path. Courtesy of Signode

Brenton M3000 case packer — New to this year’s PACK EXPO event is Brenton’s M3000 continuous motion side-load case packer aimed at CPQ customers looking to pack between 30 and 50 cases per minute. It is designed to meet the needs of mid-range manufacturers of packaged food products, handling up to 50 wrap-around or tray-style cases per minute. The machine features the company’s standard servo-driven changeover assist design for faster, more consistent changeovers in 15 minutes or less with minimal manual adjustments. Courtesy of Brenton

Unibloc QuickStrip FoodFirst pumps — Unibloc Hygienic Technologies displayed its newly expanded QuickStrip series of FoodFirst pumps. With the additional sizes, the range includes models from 1 inch to 6 inches in diameter, with flow rates from 28 gallons per minute up to 500 gallons per minute. The expanded line makes the pumps appropriate for a wider range of challenging sanitary applications. Courtesy of Unibloc

Markem-Imaje MiVista connected printer services — Markem-Imaje launched its MiVista connected printer services, aimed at streamlining coding across a packaging operation’s printer fleet. The product uses an IoT platform to provide continuous insight and support, with real-time visibility, predictive analytics, remote diagnostic capabilities, and other services. The MiVista services currently are available for the company’s 94XX and 9750 continuous inkjet series.

Matrix MVC-300 continuous box-motion bagger — Matrix Packaging Machinery showed off its newly designed MVC-300 continuous box-motion bagger with a high-performance servo system for precision motion control, enabling users to run various films at high speeds with accuracy. The continuous-motion, high-speed jaw system is different from other vertical form fill seal machines, because the film never stops. The jaw system cuts the film and provides just enough dwell time for the three bag seams to properly seal. Courtesy of Matrix

New Paxiom machines — Paxiom debuted a number of new machines at the show, including the VF 1200 high-speed continuous motion bagging machine, the WeightCheQ 0-250 high-accuracy check weigher, the PKR Delta top load pick & place robotic cell; and a bulk bagging system featuring the BI 600 automatic bag inserter and BU 600 automatic bag uncuffer. Courtesy of Paxiom

Gerard Daniel Compact vibratory sieve separator machine — Gerard Daniel’s new Compact vibratory sieve separator machine, at 18 inches in diameter, offers full functionality in a portable size. It runs on single-phase power, meaning it can be plugged straight into a standard outlet rather than requiring an industrial three-phase connection. Courtesy of Gerard Daniel

Tekniplex GeoPack sustainable packaging — TekniPlex Consumer Products announced at the show the expansion of GeoPack sustainable packaging and foodservice products. The line includes paper, fiber, and polylactic acid products such as fiber cartons and trays, wraps for food service, and more. Courtesy of TekniPlex

After a four-year absence, PACK EXPO International returned as an in-person event bigger than before. The packaging conference and exhibition welcomed more than 44,000 attendees, with 2,200 exhibitors showing their latest packaging and processing solutions across more than 1.2 million square feet at Chicago’s McCormick Place.

“The success of PACK EXPO is a testament to our industry’s continued growth as well as PMMI’s commitment to bringing the industry together to share cutting-edge innovations,” says Jim Pittas, president and CEO, PMMI. “No other event this year showcased so many end-to-end solutions, offering attendees everything they need to compete in a changing marketplace.

Exhibiting professionals like Jeff Kaplan, vice president of integrated systems, Hamrick Packaging Systems, noticed attendees came ready to make decisions about future purchases and to see the latest technology in action, which is a good sign.

“For our industry, the economy looks like it will be robust in 2023. Customers are acting on buying automation and not just talking about it,” Kaplan says.

Mark Navin, vice president of sales with exhibiting company Spee-Dee Packaging Machinery, says, “We’re very happy to be back after four years. Monday was the best day at a trade show event ever. Visitors at the booth had funded projects to discuss, and actual details for purchase.”

Like the attendees and exhibitors, Snack Food & Wholesale Bakery editors arrived at PACK EXPO eager to get a look at the new equipment, materials, and other sights at the event. Many exhibitors showed off compact machines, emphasized remote monitoring capabilities, and highlighted flexibility. Walk through the highlights of the event in our slideshow above.

KEYWORDS: conference PACK EXPO International

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Jenni Spinner is the chief editor of Snack Food and Wholesale with more than 25 years of experience in business-to-business communications. She has written extensively about food production, safety and packaging; pharmaceutical drug development; concrete and masonry construction; and more. She holds a Bachelor’s in Communications from the University of Illinois. Jenni can be reached at spinnerj@bnpmedia.com.