Preliminary data from last week’s PACK EXPO Las Vegas (Sept. 23–25, 2013; Las Vegas Convention Center) point to PACK EXPO’s largest Las Vegas event ever. Show owner and producer PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, reports significant increases in attendance (27,759; up 7.4 percent), exhibiting companies (1,788; up 15.5 percent) and net square footage (722,437 nsf; up 14.7 percent) over the 2011 edition, which also set event records.

Convening the packaging and processing supply chain

“PMMI’s mission is to convene the packaging and processing supply chain, and that’s exactly what PACK EXPO Las Vegas accomplished,” says Charles D. Yuska, president & CEO PMMI. He noted PACK EXPO Las Vegas drew attendees from more than 40 vertical markets by presenting a customer-centric vision that helped them navigate the show floor and the event as a whole.

“Our goal at any PACK EXPO show is to give the attendees an experience that feels personalized. We do that with market-specific exhibitor pavilions and lounges for networking, by providing tools, like My PACK EXPO and the PACK EXPO app, that allow them to plan their time on the floor and get down to business as soon as they get to the show,” Yuska says. “Customer-centric means focusing on the attendees’ goals and needs.”

Standing room only for show floor education

The newest addition to the customer-centric approach was education on the show floor, Yuska adds.

“The idea to move educational sessions from conference rooms to the exhibit hall came from a post-show attendee survey we conducted in 2012,” he says. “Attendees said they value education, and want to maximize their time on the show floor as well.”

The strategy played out well. The three stages of Innovation Stage presented exhibitor-led education to standing room only (SRO) crowds hourly in the Central Hall. The Food Safety Summit Resource Center (sponsored by GE Intelligent Platforms and the Food Safety Summit), The Center for Trends & Technology, sponsored by Rockwell Automation and its Partner Network™, and the Reusable Packaging Association’s Reusables Learning Center also reported healthy attendance at their educational sessions, with some sessions spilling into the aisles.

PACK gave BACK to the tune of more than $62,000

Singer/songwriter Kenny Loggins provided the soundtrack for the inaugural PACK gives BACK benefit event. With more than 2,300 tickets sold, plus nearly $4,000 in donations collected throughout PACK EXPO, the effort raised over $62,000 for K9s for Warriors. 

The Florida non-profit organization trains and provides service dogs — primarily obtained through rescue groups — to servicemen and servicewomen who suffer from post-traumatic stress stemming from their military service since 9/11. 

“When PACK gives BACK, they do it in a big way! K9s for Warriors is so grateful for their support. Together, 12 lives [six human, six canine] were changed forever,” says Shari Duval, president and founder, K9s for Warriors.org.

K9s for Warriors does not charge soldiers for any of the expenses associated with its training academy, and works primarily with rescued dogs. Graduating a canine/warrior team costs roughly $11,000 and includes veterinary care, and room and board for the soldier and the dog. To give, visit Packexpo.com through October or visit K9sforWarriors.org.