Pack Expo International attendees swarmed the aisles by late morning on Nov. 3.

CHICAGO – Although hundreds if not thousands of Chicago-area Pack Expo International attendees were forced to contend with gridlock on area highways Monday morning on their way to the McCormick Place due to heavier-than-normal morning rush-hour traffic, road construction and Sun delays, their frustration melted away as soon as they started crusing the aisles to review the many show exhibits. Equally important, many exhibitors Meat&Poultry spoke to throughout the day said they were more than pleased with the show’s turnout plus the strong interest shown in their exhibits these past two days.

On Nov. 2, the Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Institute (PMMI), Pack Expo International producer, announced it planned to debut the newest event in its portfolio of trade shows — Pack Expo East, which is scheduled for Feb. 16-18, 2015, at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, Philadelphia. PMMI is hopeful this new show will enjoy the same success as its other tradeshows.

“We learned through customer research that we have a great opportunity for both Pack Expo exhibitors and end-users in the Northeast,” said Jim Pittas, senior vice president, tradeshows, PMMI. Pack Expo East promises to bring world-class innovation and insights in packaging and processing for many markets, including, but not limited to, the food, pharmaceutical, medical device, baking and snack, beverage and personal-care sectors, he added.

This new show will be located within 200 miles of one-third of the nation’s major consumer-goods companies, he added, including meat and poultry companies. Attendees will find educational opportunities including Innovation Stage sessions, on-floor education at exhibitor booths and activities in conjunction with packaging and processing educators.

“Philadelphia is an accessible and affordable destination for manufacturing professionals on the East Coast,” Pittas said. “By hosting a Pack Expo event here, we’re creating an opportunity for manufacturers to bring more team members to the show so they can explore innovations on the line and new solutions that they’ve never considered before.”

Pack Expo East’s educational programming is being designed to address challenges in sustainability, food safety and automation, plus the event will provide networking opportunities to connect with suppliers and peers on important issues and trends.

For more information, visit packexpoeast.com. Normally $60, registration is discounted to $30 through Jan. 21, 2015.