Back after four years, PACK EXPO International convened more than 44,000 attendees, surpassing the 2018 event. With 2,200 exhibitors and more than 1.2 million net square feet at McCormick Place in Chicago, PACK EXPO International took place Oct. 23-26, showcasing the latest innovations and trends impacting the packaging and processing markets.

When it comes to beverage manufacturing and packaging practices, OEMs are creating the machinery necessary to help beverage-makers conserve and reduce their energy output. For plastic bottle manufacturing, it’s not just the increasing adoption of rPET plastic bottles, but also reducing the amount of carbon dioxide that it takes to power these machines, experts note.

With consumers demanding more from their beverages, brand owners are employing a myriad of concepts to help the next generation of new products succeed. 

As consumer package companies are increasingly designing more products with sustainability in mind, experts note that within the label industry, more companies are recognizing the need for labeling equipment that also supports a circular economy.

Although marking and coding formats provide product-specific information, experts note that new technologies are further assisting beverage operations by improving supply chain traceability and product visibility.

Spoilage, leakage or packaging damage can impact a brand’s reputation and sales. Add consumer safety and quality concerns, and beverage and package integrity inspections are critical.

Great Lakes Label (GLL) offers several labeling systems that provide speed, versatility and dependability depending on needed applications that range from box closures to clamshells.

Agr International Inc. offers its Agr Process Pilot automated blowmolder control system to provide an extra layer of process management and quality assurance for a German juice maker shifting from 25% recycled PET (rPET) to 100% rPET bottles in response to a sustainability directive.