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 big has an agenda stocked full of latest additions and enlarged pavilions.

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

The 4Ps: Manufacturing, packaging, packing & palletizing

Put up-COVID, tradeshows have been slowly lumbering again into the worldwide occasion circuit this previous 12 months 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 latest seems, 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 likely 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. ft 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 12 months’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 total 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 newest breakthroughs reside and in-action.”

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

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

Analysis exhibits that purchaser reluctance to undertake automation gear facilities on 5 considerations: 1. Justifying Funding Value/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) characterize over 50 p.c of purchaser objections—that’s 5 of each ten potential patrons approaching an expo sales space. Each of those objections are primarily a operate of training and belief.

So then, simply what is going to PACK EXPO characteristic that addresses training and belief? From the seems of this 12 months’s agenda, lots!

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

PACK Match at PACK EXPO will debut for 2022, providing attendees complimentary, customized, one-on-one steering from PACK Match Advisors who will join attendees with the precise 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 Trade Speaks Stage, which provides professional periods from PACK EXPO Companion Program members, who will deal with the newest hot-button points and {industry} traits throughout a number of {industry} verticals. As talked about, there are over 40 {industry} verticals on the present to entry for the precise match for attendee wants.

This 12 months’s PACK to the Future Exhibit now comes with a brand new, instructional part of industry-expert displays, 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 might be present in The Processing Zone (see present information for location). In a world the place “processing and packaging” have gotten primarily built-in methods, the Processing Innovation Stage will talk about the latest processing breakthroughs which might be important for as we speak’s producers.

Additionally, one other beginner to hit the large present is the Rising Manufacturers Summit, which is particularly geared to “founders and leaders” of “startup manufacturing firms” who’re available in the market 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 might be devoted to specific 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 depends 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 prescribed drugs, biopharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, and medical units.

Containers and Supplies Pavilion: Need insider insights into what profitable firms are doing for progressive container and packaging supplies? This pavilion has award-winning samples to showcase…that simply would possibly spark an thought 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 traits and applied sciences; plus, you’ll be able to community in The Sweet Bar Lounge.

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

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

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

Since 2018, PACK EXPO has discovered a number of digital tips on the way in which to 2022. With the headline, You Can Nonetheless Join On-line if You Can’t Attend In Particular person, there’s the PACK EXPO Categorical for on-line attendees (at $30) that gives a discount basket of digital choices:

The “means 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 instructional 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 convincing bang. From the seems of the agenda, it seems just like the present goes to be a grand 4 days of eye-opening tech…and really drained ft.