EXPO PACK México 2024, held from June 4–7 at EXPO Santa Fe México, marked a historic milestone as Latin America's largest packaging and processing trade show. The event attracted nearly 20,000 packaging and processing buyers representing over 40 vertical markets, featured 700 exhibitors, and spanned over 20,200 net square meters (217,600 net square feet) of sold-out exhibit space.
“EXPO PACK México 2024 outpaced all expectations. Attendees came seeking to network with peers and learn about the best and newest packaging and processing technologies. The show delivered all this and more,” says Celia Navarrete, EXPO PACK Director. “This show was crucial for the region’s companies to help them keep up with the world’s best innovation and technological developments.”
The exhibition floor was bustling with business activity as industry leaders, experts, and decision-makers explored diverse packaging and processing solutions. Exhibitors showcased groundbreaking technologies addressing sustainability, efficiency, and consumer convenience, from eco-friendly materials and biodegradable packaging to smart and interactive packaging. “It is a great honor to be here. It is very important to have a meeting point with customers and market players, especially local ones,” said José Cañada, commercial director of Coesia Latin America. “We are active in Mexico, and it is very important that we can meet, get in touch, and chat.”
“For us it is fundamental to be at EXPO PACK México, it is the most important show we have for all of Latin America and it is an excellent opportunity to strengthen relationships with existing customers, find new prospects and let the industry know that we are here in many ways,” says Luis Lisandro Sanchez, sr. commercial manager, Royal Apollo Group. “I believe that events like EXPO PACK México are necessary in countries where demand is constantly growing due to the country's demographics. I have been coming here for more than 20 years and I will continue to come here because it is definitely a show to be at.”
Attendees also found the show met their needs and provided the right solutions for their current challenges.
“So far, I have found EXPO PACK México to be great. There are very good products, very good exhibitors. It helps us verify what new technologies we can use,” says Fernando León, engineer, Cervecería Modelo.
"EXPO PACK México brings good suppliers, quite competitive. I come from Coca-Cola FEMSA, and I am especially looking for shrink film. There are several suppliers that we know and attend the show to visit. The show is very complete,” says Karen Sánchez, negotiation executive, Coca-Cola FEMSA.
“It is very important to see the different portfolios that suppliers offer to see if they can be included in the company's strategy. We have found suppliers that can contribute to solve some of the day-to-day problems that exist in the plant in terms of packaging. The exhibitors are very well prepared,” says Adriana Nabor, packaging engineer, Alpura.
Many innovative solutions were presented at the standing-room-only Innovation Stage sessions. Attendees learned about the latest technologies and solutions from free, 30-minute, on-floor presentations featuring experts describing new technology, innovative applications, case studies, and best practices.
Over 500 attendees gathered to hear keynote presentations from top industry leaders on key issues such as sustainability, gender equality, diversity, and the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on packaging operations. Speakers included representatives from Natura Mexico, Grupo Hada, Unilever Mexico, Walmart México and Central America, and the World Packaging Organisation. The Packaging & Processing Women’s Leadership Network Latin America Chapter held a panel on gender equality and diversity in the packaging industry.
Access to EXPO PACK Online, including exhibitor information, keynote sessions, and Innovation Stage lectures, is available until July 15, 2024.
Celebrating Innovation and Excellence
The Mexican Association of Packaging (AMEE) announced the winners of its Envase Estelar Awards during the show. A total of 59 entries from 21 different companies were submitted. The Best in Show award went to Nanoretorta with Spout - Biomaussan (Mango) by Nanogruppe.
Other category winners included:
- Food-Saving Packaging: Nanoretorta with Spout - Biomaussan (Mango) by Nanogruppe
- Marketing: Mainstay 20 KG by Folmex
- Sustainability: 100% Paper Bubble Mailer by Sealed Air
- Digital: Nanopouch Mosaic HP by Nanogruppe
- Packaging: Glove Box Form
- Pet: Nanosachet Pet Campi by Nanogruppe
- Household Packaging: Henkel PCR Laundry Bottle - Persil
- Alcoholic Beverages: Matusalem Rum by O-I
With 500 students in attendance at the show, the student portion of the Envase Estelar Awards saw significant participation. Students from across Mexico, particularly UAM -Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana (Autonomous Metropolitan University) students, were recognized for their contributions with a certificate. One of the most innovative designs was a metal perfume bottle.
“The participation of UAM students in AMEE's stellar packaging competition was one of the ceremony's highlights,” Navarrete says. “Seeing the new generations rewarded for contributing their vision and new ideas to the packaging industry was inspiring.”
A Global Platform for Collaboration
EXPO PACK México 2024 provided a global knowledge exchange, collaboration, and market expansion platform. The event featured nine international pavilions from Brazil, Canada, China, France, Italy, Spain, Taiwan, Turkey, and the USA, emphasizing its international scope.
PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, and EXPO PACK show organizer reported a strong commitment to the Latin American market from its members. The PMMI Pavilion alone featured 108 exhibitors, spanning 5,049 net square meters (54,347 net square feet) of exhibit space.
Fostering Leaders and Continuous Improvement
PMMI's Young Professionals Network hosted a breakfast for industry professionals under 34 years of age. More than 60 attendees heard from an executive panel moderated by Jorge Izquierdo, PMMI's vice president of market development, gaining insights into potential career paths and leadership opportunities.
Vision 2030, part of PMMI's suite of continuous improvement forums, brought together 100 consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies, OEMs, and agents. The event featured a CPG panel and roundtable discussions on using technology to address workforce challenges, including availability and skills gaps in running and maintaining packaging and processing operations. A presentation on the market for packaging machinery in Mexico highlighted that imports of packaging machinery in Mexico have grown more than 50% in the past two years.
Commitment to Sustainability
Sustainability was a key theme, with nearly 100 exhibitors participating in the EXPO PACK Verde program. Exhibitors showcasing biodegradable packaging, new packaging reduction processes, recyclable and recycled-content materials, or technology to reduce carbon footprint were easily identified by the EXPO PACK Verde icon at their stands and in the online exhibitor directory.
The PyME (Pequeña y Mediana Empresa) icon identified over 200 companies providing products or services for small to medium-sized enterprises, facilitating easy identification through online searches and the mobile app.
Leading associations recognized the significance of EXPO PACK México, with 15 strategic partners supporting the show. These included:
- CANAINCA: Cámara Nacional de la Industria de Conservas Alimenticias (National Chamber of the Canned Food Industry)
- AMEE: Asociación Mexicana de Envase y Embalaje (Mexican Association of Packaging and Packing)
- CANAFEM: Cámara Nacional de Fabricantes de Envases Metálicos (National Chamber of Metal Packaging Manufacturers)
- CANAGRAF: Cámara Nacional de la Industria de Artes Gráficas (National Chamber of the Graphic Arts Industry)
- CANIPEC: National Chamber of the Cosmetic Products Industry. (Cámara Nacional de la Industria de Productos Cosméticos)
- CRECEX: Cámara y Comercio Exterior de Costa Rica (Chamber of Foreign Trade of Costa Rica)
- CIG: Cámara de Industria de Guatemala (Chamber of Industry of Guatemala);
- CAMEX: Cámara de Exportadores de Guatemala y México (Chamber of Exporters of Guatemala and Mexico)
- CANIFARMA: Cámara Nacional de la Industria Farmacéutica (National Chamber of Pharmaceutical Industry)
- ANPDAPAC: Asociación Nacional de Productores y Distribuidores de Agua Purificada (National Association of Purified Water Producers and Distributors)
- CANACINTRA PUEBLA: Cámara Nacional de la Industria de Transformación (National Chamber of the Transformation Industry of Puebla)
- CLUSTER ALIMENTARIO (Food Cluster)
- IFT: Institute of Food Technologists
- CANACINTRA LEON: Cámara Nacional de la Industria de Transformación (National Chamber of the Transformation Industry of Leon)
- CANACINTRA NACIONAL: Cámara Nacional de la Industria de Transformación (National Chamber of the Transformation Industry of Mexico)
- ISBT: Sociedad Internacional de Tecnólogos de Bebidas (International Society of Beverage Technologists)
Looking Ahead
PACK EXPO International is the next trade show in the PACK EXPO portfolio. It is scheduled for Nov. 3–6, 2024, at McCormick Place, Chicago. For more information or to register, visit packexpointernational.com.
PACK EXPO returns to Mexico with EXPO PACK Guadalajara from June 10–12, 2025, in Guadalajara, Jalisco. For details on the complete lineup of PACK EXPO trade shows, visit packexpo.com.
