Despite the threat from Hurricane Sandy, Pack Expo International 2012, hosted by the Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Institute (PMMI), topped 2010 numbers. The four-day event, which took place Oct. 28-31 in Chicago, covered more than 1.1 million net square feet in McCormick Place with 1,965 exhibiting companies and 45,300 attendees — an increase of more than 6 percent for space, 8 percent for exhibiting companies and 3 percent for attendees compared with Pack Expo International 2010. For the beverage industry, the event offered specialized pavilions and lounges including The Brand Zone, The Processing Zone and The Beverage Cooler Lounge. This was the first year for The Beverage Cooler Lounge, which was sponsored by the International Society of Beverage Technologists.
“The Beverage Cooler Lounge provided a great gathering place for beverage professionals,” says Larry Hobbs, executive director of ISBT. “The visibility of the lounge allowed us to easily connect with attendees who participated in the ISBT educational sessions as well as attendees who weren’t familiar with ISBT prior to attending Pack Expo. This show continues to be an excellent resource for the ISBT, as it connects our supplier members with their customers and also offers the technical education that is the foundation of our society. We’re looking forward to 2013 in Las Vegas.”