What’s New in Robotics? 14.10.2022

Information briefs for the week check out the return of PACK EXPO Worldwide after its 4-year COVID-caused hiatus from the tradeshow circuit. Promising a big-bang reentry with its 2022 Chicago present, the manufacturing, packaging and packing occasion large has an agenda stocked full of recent additions and enlarged pavilions.

PACK EXPO returns to showcase new tech, new appears & new staging

The 4Ps: Manufacturing, packaging, packing & palletizing

Put up-COVID, tradeshows have been slowly lumbering again into the worldwide occasion circuit this previous yr or so, most to extremely receptive audiences. One of many largest returnees, PACK EXPO Worldwide (Chicago, October 23-26), absent since 2018, is promising to return bigger than ever with a flurry of recent appears, staging, and attendee outreach.

Billed because the world’s “most complete packaging and processing” commerce present, here is a have a look at what to anticipate…particularly what’s new on the expo flooring.

Usually, the general PACK EXPO expertise leans to Packaging and Processing, with exhibitors providing options in automation, robotics, supplies and containers, digital printing, labeling, and supply-chain options.

There will probably be 4 years of pent-up PACK EXPO exuberance on show from each the two,000+ exhibitors and the anticipated 15,000+ attendees (40k attendees jammed the 2018 present in Las Vegas).

The venue, McCormick Place in Chicago, with its 1.2 million sq. toes of exhibition house, will want all of it to showcase an occasion that’s all about manufacturing, packaging, and packing of every thing from high-tech gear to confectionary (a/ok/a sweet!).

This yr’s theme: One Highly effective Present

Jim Pittas, president and CEO of the occasion host, the Affiliation for Packaging and Processing Applied sciences, guarantees an exhibition that features new applied sciences, supplies, equipment in motion, and even the showcasing of whole manufacturing traces.

“There was a lot innovation in our {industry} since this present’s final in-person installment in 2018,” says Pittas, “that finish customers can’t afford to overlook this chance to see the most recent breakthroughs reside and in-action.”

Nonetheless, provides the Affiliation, there are potential impediments that have to be overcome to ensure that the two,000 exhibitors to comprehend the complete potential of 15,000+ attendees looking out the expo halls for solutions to their manufacturing necessities.

Mainly, in an occasion infographic, 5 objections have been remoted from potential consumers that should be overcome, which PACK EXPO has promised to assist resolve.

Analysis reveals that purchaser reluctance to undertake automation gear facilities on 5 issues: 1. Justifying Funding Price/ROI; 2. Lack of Inside Experience; 3. Figuring out Purposes; 4. Time: Set up & Coaching; and 5. Overcoming Skepticism.

Apparently, “Lack of Inside Experience” and “Overcoming Skepticism” (circled in purple) symbolize over 50 p.c of purchaser objections—that’s 5 of each ten potential consumers approaching an expo sales space. Each of those objections are basically a perform of schooling and belief.

So then, simply what’s going to PACK EXPO function that addresses schooling and belief? From the appears of this yr’s agenda, loads!

PACK EXPO has divided up its expo house in order that attendees can simply hear from specialists and see machinery-in-action—together with whole manufacturing processes— providing options for over 40 vertical markets, and in addition to supply a discussion board for attendees to readily join with colleagues. There are over 100 free academic classes on the present flooring.

PACK Match at PACK EXPO will debut for 2022, providing attendees complimentary, personalised, one-on-one steering from PACK Match Advisors who will join attendees with the appropriate suppliers. Don’t know or undecided of what you want or need from the two,000+ exhibitors? Then hook up with a PACK Match Advisor for a guided tour focused to your wants. And, better of all, it’s free!

Additionally debuting, the Business Speaks Stage, which presents skilled classes from PACK EXPO Companion Program members, who will deal with the most recent hot-button points and {industry} developments throughout a number of {industry} verticals. As talked about, there are over 40 {industry} verticals on the present to entry for the appropriate match for attendee wants.

This yr’s PACK to the Future Exhibit now comes with a brand new, academic element of industry-expert shows, referred to as the PACK to the Future Stage, the place attendees can stand up to hurry on cutting-edge {industry} developments.

New as properly is the Processing Innovation Stage, which may be present in The Processing Zone (see present information for location). In a world the place “processing and packaging” have gotten basically built-in techniques, the Processing Innovation Stage will talk about the most recent processing breakthroughs which are crucial for right this moment’s producers.

Additionally, one other beginner to hit the massive present is the Rising Manufacturers Summit, which is particularly geared to “founders and leaders” of “startup manufacturing firms” who’re out there to scale their model to bigger manufacturing, both by including in-house experience or by outsourcing manufacturing by way of a contract producer and/or packager.

Don’t overlook the seven pavilions!

PACK EXPO Worldwide is well-known for its specialised “pavilions”, that are focused flooring locations which are devoted to explicit industries. Bowing to the life sciences and eCommerce, two new pavilions have been added for 2022: Logistics Pavilion and Healthcare Packaging Pavilion, each serving mega industries, now have their very own focused flooring locations as properly.

Logistics Pavilion: Each product’s journey from producer to buyer relies upon logistics. The Logistics Pavilion would be the gathering place for these tasked to seek out automation options for supply-chain must-haves, together with warehousing, success, distribution, and transportation suppliers.

Healthcare Packaging Pavilion: Usually specializing in life science industries. Specifically, improvements in packaging for prescription drugs, biopharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, and medical gadgets.

Containers and Supplies Pavilion: Need insider insights into what profitable firms are doing for revolutionary container and packaging supplies? This pavilion has award-winning samples to showcase…that simply would possibly spark an concept or two for you.

Confectionery Pavilion: Confectionary {industry} worldwide in 2022 is $1.3 trillion! That’s a significant candy tooth. The Nationwide Confectioner’s Affiliation, showcases sweet developments and applied sciences; plus, you possibly can community in The Sweet Bar Lounge.

Reusable Packaging Pavilion: Because the identify denotes, this pavilion “showcases reusable packaging options to assist cut back waste, lower prices, and acquire provide chain effectivity.”

PACKage Printing Pavilion: Packages all want some type of info marking, and this pavilion showcases digital printing, labeling, coding, and marking applied sciences.

Workforce Growth Pavilion: And with recruiting, hiring, and retaining staff such a troublesome chore today, PACK EXPO can have a “one-stop store for assets to strengthen one’s present workforce and develop the present workforce.”

Since 2018, PACK EXPO has realized just a few digital tips on the best way to 2022. With the headline, You Can Nonetheless Join On-line if You Can’t Attend In Individual, there’s the PACK EXPO Categorical for on-line attendees (at $30) that gives a cut price basket of digital choices:

The “skill to search merchandise and exhibitors, together with matchmaking capabilities and alternatives to attach with exhibitors of their on-line showrooms; and on-demand entry to some academic content material throughout and after the present, are only a few of many benefits of on-line attendance. 

4 years distant from its earlier present, PACK EXPO deliberate to return in 2022 with a powerful bang. From the appears of the agenda, it appears just like the present goes to be a grand 4 days of eye-opening tech…and really drained toes.