Industry news
This year, a special dedicated Packaging Pavilion is home to renowned industry associations dedicated to the packaging community. Photo: PRINTING United Alliance.

In continued news of the PRINTING United Expo event taking place this year at the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) in Orlando, Florida. on Oct. 6-8, leading packaging companies and associations have signed on to gather with printing segments across the board to maximize diversification and convergence opportunities. This year, a special dedicated Packaging Pavilion is home to renowned industry associations dedicated to the packaging community.

Registration for PRINTING United Expo 2021, which includes access to Expo Preview, Expo Live, and Expo Wrap-Up, is now live.

One-Stop Shop: PRINTING United Expo welcomes all printing communities to maximize investment
Market segments across the industry are represented on the show floor at PRINTING United Expo 2021. Throughout the pandemic, companies have been forced to modify original plans for both technology coming to market and respective sales projections. PRINTING United Expo will be the launching point to refuel sales pipelines and new technology debuts in 2021 and beyond. Those registering for the Expo in this market segment can also join the special Community Welcome Reception taking place October 6.

“Packaging is such an incredibly important and highly anticipated market segment at the forefront of this year’s event,” says Mark J. Subers, president, PRINTING United Expo. “We are working with leading companies and associations in this space to help make the connection with the industry as a whole in identifying and embracing areas of business opportunities and diversification. No other event in printing this year will allow companies to connect with the industry in its entirety in one spot. PRINTING United Expo is really a ‘one-stop shop’ for the industry to reconnect.”

Education and Trends in Packaging
Educational sessions targeted specifically to those in the packaging community focus on the latest topics and technology. On 6 October the sessions “Preparing for Industry 4.0: Why Now is the Time to Automate”(presenter: David Zwang, Zwang & Co) and “Activating Print with Augmented Reality(presenter: Joe Marin, PRINTING United Alliance) take place. On 7 October the sessions “Keeping Color Consistent Across Technologies and Substrates (presenter Bill Pope, PRINTING United Alliance) and “Digital Printing Lowering Barriers to Entry in Packaging” (presenter: Lisa Cross, NAPCO Research) take place.

While education abounds, the major draw to PRINTING United Expo 2021 is the volume of exhibitors, with the biggest names in the industry signing on to join the more than one-million-square-foot show floor. Some of the companies in packaging on the show floor include Afinia Label, Agfa, Arjobex, DuPont, Durst, EFI, Eagle Systems, Epson, Fujifilm, Heidelberg, HiFlow, HP, INX, Kongsberg, Kurz, Matik/Sei Laser, Nazdar, Nobelus, Norwix, RMGT, Sakurai, Strata-Tec, Wausau Coated, Xeikon, and Zund.

Packaging Pavilion Association spotlight
With a dedicated Packaging Pavilion hosting PRINTING United Expo association partners, including AICC (The Independent Packaging Association), Flexible Packaging Association (FPA), and Paperboard Packaging Council (PPC),members and attendees alike can view the associations’ displays showcasing award winners; learn about membership and engagement; and more.

As buzz generates among the Packaging Pavilion association participants, here’s what some of them have to say:

“AICC, The Independent Packaging Association, is pleased to partner with our fellow associations in the Packaging Pavilion at PRINTING United Expo. It’s always great to have the opportunity to meet with leaders across the broad range of markets, processes, and expertise that make the packaging industries so vital, innovative, and indispensable to brands and consumers alike. We appreciate PRINTING United Alliance for staging the event that brings this great industry together.” says Mike D’Angelo, president, AICC, The Independent Packaging Association.

“The FPA is thrilled to be partnering with PRINTED United and showcasing the winners from our 2021 Flexible Packaging Achievement Awards Competition in the new Packaging Partner Pavilion. FPA is looking forward to helping advance the flexible packaging industry and the exchange of ideas and collaboration with fellow packaging associations with an invested interest in the future of printing and packaging.” says Dani Diehlmann, VP, communications, FPA.

“The PPC is thrilled to support PRINTING United Expo this fall. After more than a year of virtual events, we’re excited to attend in person, reconnect with colleagues, and most importantly, represent folding cartons and our industry’s powerful story of sustainability and design innovation.” says Ben Markens, president, PPC.