"PACK EXPO Las Vegas has always been more than a trade show — it’s where the future of packaging and processing takes shape," says Jim Pittas, president and CEO, PMMI. "For 30 years, we’ve been proud to drive innovation, foster collaboration, and spotlight the technologies shaping tomorrow’s supply chains. As we look ahead, we remain focused on the forces transforming our industry: automation, AI, sustainability, and workforce development."

"As the industry accelerates toward smarter, more sustainable operations, PACK EXPO Las Vegas remains the one place where it all comes together — technology, insight, and community. This year’s show reflects the momentum we’re seeing across the market, with record participation and unmatched opportunities to learn, connect, and grow," says Laura Thompson, vice president, trade shows, PMMI.

Learn more about some of the exhibits attendees can expect to see at PACK EXPO Las Vegas below.

PAPACKS to Debut Fully Recyclable Plastic-Free Bottle Made of Molded Fiber

PAPACKS, an award-winning Germany-based manufacturer of sustainable, molded-fiber packaging solutions, will introduce its Fiber-Bottle to the North American marketplace at PACK EXPO Las Vegas. At Booth #N-5172, the company will be showcasing its new plastic-free, fully recyclable packaging solution, which is suitable for replacing traditional plastic containers in a wide variety of product applications.

Unlike hybrid fiber-plastic solutions, Fiber-Bottle does not require plastic linings, caps or closures, making it recyclable in common paper waste streams. The result is a full-lifespan CO₂ reduction of up to 90% compared with conventional PET or HDPE bottles.

Molded as one piece, PAPACKS’ new Fiber-Bottle is composed entirely from cellulose fibers — including an integrated screw-thread closure that eliminates the need for a plastic cap. To ensure product protection, Fiber-Bottle can be coated with the company’s plant-based barrier technology, which provides ample oxygen and water vapor resistance (OTR/WVTR) without sacrificing the bottle’s recyclability profile.

PAPACKS developed Fiber-Bottle to meet a trifecta of packaging sector priorities: impactful sustainability, exemplary performance, and simplified scalability. Per the former, Fiber-Bottle’s lightweight yet structurally sound design requires no supplementary plastic linings — a departure from most fiber-based containers.

Concerning performance, Fiber-Bottle is a practical, highly functional replacement option for plastic bottles across a broad array of applications, such as pharmaceuticals (nutritional and over-the-counter products), health/personal care products (powders, tablets and beauty aids), dry good foods, and non-carbonated beverages. In all cases, it provides robust hygiene, durability and branding flexibility.

Finally, Fiber-Bottle is readily adaptable to real-world, high-volume manufacturing requirements. Compared with the scalability concerns facing many sustainable packaging solutions, Fiber-Bottle’s single-piece molding technology ensures mass production feasibility without disrupting existing industrial systems.

"The Fiber-Bottle represents a significant advancement in sustainable packaging, delivering measurable environmental benefits across multiple impact areas," said Guido Schmitz, President PAPACKS AMERICA. "By eliminating plastic, integrating into circular recycling systems, and reducing CO₂ emissions, it provides a holistic solution aligned with global sustainability goals."

Antares Vision Group to Feature Quality Control Solutions for Pre-Filled Syringes

Antares Vision Group — a technological partner in the digitalization of products and supply chains for companies and institutions, and a leader in traceability and inspection for quality control — will offer live demonstrations of a high-speed system providing 100% inspection and leak detection for prefilled syringes at PACK EXPO Las Vegas.

Antares Vision Group will introduce its latest in a family of high-speed, 100% visual rotating inspection and leak detection systems. For the rapidly growing prefilled syringe landscape, the company’s VRI VI-060S machine utilizes advanced high voltage technology to achieve unsurpassed quality control standards. The unit’s main carousel provides single-point product handling for constraint-free optical setup and exemplary upper area detection, while a secondary carousel ensures the remainder of a prefilled syringe’s complex surface is intricately examined for container damage, foreign particles and leaks.

Antares Vision Group’s VRI VI-060S system can inspect up to 400 glass or plastic prefilled syringes per minute and can handle syringes up to 24 mm in diameter. In addition to detecting a wide array of internal particles — from reflecting to nonreflecting, and from light floating fibers to heavy particles — the module also inspects prefilled syringes for fill level accuracy and potential cosmetic defects for various components (flange, needle shield, plunger, etc.).

A split-infeed screw setup provides smooth and reliable operation, preventing undesired stops and restarts. Guideless conveying, based on vacuum operated star wheels, minimizes container breakage risks, and full changeover can be performed in just 30 minutes. Optional add-on features include code verification, optical character recognition (OCR)-optical character verification (OCR-OCV), and serialization incorporation.

SOMIC Packaging to Unveil 434 SuperFlex Case Packing Platform

Industry leader SOMIC Packaging, Inc. will unveil its most revolutionary end-of-line packaging machine ever at PACK Expo Las Vegas with the introduction of the 434 SuperFlex.

A next generation case packing platform, it’s designed to meet the challenges of modern end-of-line automation with unmatched versatility, precision, and compactness. The SuperFlex will be demonstrated daily from Sept. 29-Oct. 1 in booth SU-26023 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

"The retail business is ever-changing and always evolving. We live in a world today of packaging variability," acknowledged Peter Fox, SOMIC Packaging’s CEO. "SuperFlex isn’t just a new case packer, it’s a new way of thinking how case packing systems are designed, built and delivered. Our most versatile and flexible machine is ready for anything and built for everything."

Keeping up with today’s consumer demands requires more than a crystal ball. As retailers push more complexity downstream, CPG manufacturers are tasked with meeting a wide range of case configurations, retail ready standards, and SKU-specific demands with short timelines that leave little room for inflexible automation.

Industry reports indicate this rising SKU proliferation and shifting product mixes are driving shorter manufacturing runs and faster product changeovers across the consumer goods industry. In this climate, Fox says packaging agility isn’t a luxury but a prerequisite for growth.

"We’ve been listening closely to these pressures from across the packaging value chain," explained Fox, a 35-year industry veteran who began SOMIC Packaging as a North American subsidiary in 2014. Parent company SOMIC is based in Amerang, Germany, and celebrated its golden anniversary in 2024.

"There are times when a case specification changes completely, whether it’s a tray with a cover, an open-front display, or maybe a flat-pack orientation that requires alternating layers," continued Fox. "In many plants, this kind of change means new tooling and machinery or worse, such as an entirely new line.

"The SuperFlex changes this equation. Built on a single integrated platform, it is capable of producing virtually every major packaging configuration today’s retailers can think of. From upright, stand-up pouch displays and wraparound cases to two-piece tray-and-cover formats, flat nested orientations and more, we have it all covered. Think of it as one machine with infinite possibilities."

To learn more and register for PACK EXPO Las Vegas at packexpolasvegas.com.