Despite being situated smack dab in the middle of trade show-heavy October, the industry came out for PACK EXPO International 2026.
According to PMMI, the event brought together over 72,000 packaging and processing professionals and more than 2,700 exhibitors at McCormick Place in Chicago for a four-day showcase of industry innovation.
The event highlighted solutions across over 40 vertical markets, fostering strong engagement, live demonstrations, and valuable networking between manufacturers and suppliers. Additionally, exhibitors spoke to ongoing trends including the need for operational efficiencies, sustainable materials and easier integration of new technologies. Many exhibitors, likewise, emphasized how their customers sought to leverage equipment that could augment skilled labor shortages.
On behalf of IEN, Manufacturing.net, Food Manufacturing and Industrial Distribution, we spent several days on the floor reviewing the latest wares in packaging, material handling and automation. Here are some highlights.
Slideways Inc., maker of high-quality machined plastic parts, unveiled a high temperature guide rail leveraging Teflon for temperature resistance and low-friction performance. For food-processing applications, the material is approved for direct food contact and supports conveyor temperatures up to 500 degrees.
SmartSights emphasized AI-ready data for business, so manufacturers can "stop guessing" about what is happening on their plant floor. Company leaders told us their customers are "hungry for data" but fatigued by the amount of human intervention that is required in order to derive actionable opportunities. Leveraging leading-edge tech and one common ecosystem means users can improve visibility and make better decisions.
Even plant infrastructure brands like Kaeser Compressors got into the mix at PACK Expo. This year the long-standing leader in air systems made its pitch for on-site nitrogen generation, offering a solution to the "hidden" utility cost that fluctuates with supplier delivery fees, tank rentals, and long-term contracts. Kaeser now provides complete, high-performance on-site nitrogen generation systems, allowing customers to produce their own high-purity gas at a fraction of the cost of liquid or bottled supply. By integrating the generator with the necessary compressed air and booster systems, Kaeser says it can "ensure total reliability and purity from a single source."
Can Lines Engineering turned some heads with its display of the Quick Draw, a can flipping machine that the company says offers a simpler design, smaller footprint and lower cost than its competitors. This new product offers quicker changeovers and a sleek design that protects fittings from damage.
As a water solutions company, Xylem focused on providing sustainable solutions and efficient plant infrastructure for packaging and processing sectors — particularly around food, beverage, and liquid handling. A heavy emphasis on water recovery generated inquiries from attendees on Xylem’s tech agnostic solutions.
Heat and Control has partnered with Ishida since 1980 to provide global, fully integrated food processing, weighing, packaging, and quality control lines. On display this year was a high speed snack packaging line with capabilities of bagging up to 300 packages per minute.
Bosch Rexroth displayed its open and modular automation platform tailored for packaging OEMs and CPG manufacturers – ctrlX AUTOMATION – as well as VarioFlow plus Plastic Chain Conveyance and its ctrlX FLOW High-Speed Conveyance solutions. The VarioFlow modular belt conveyor uses a fine-mesh and level surface for transporting bulk and film-wrapped products and large-format packaging.
Motion solutions company Brecoflex showcased polyurethane timing belts, pulleys, and precision metal accessories, including eco-friendly BRECOgreen timing belts made with 37% renewable raw material content to reduce fossil-based polyurethane usage and lower CO₂ emissions.
Rhode Island-based igus displayed a palletizer designed to be affordable, with setups starting under $40,000. Supporting the lower price point is an intuitive, no-code HMI offering quick integrations.
Relay’s third generation handheld device was on display, with the company demonstrating the loud, clear audio and translation into 35 languages. These cloud-based smart radios leverage AI-backed data intelligence to enable manufacturing and warehouse workers to document processes – as well as risks – in order to better predict, and respond to, future issues.
Kentucky-based Lantech displayed its AGV wrapper combos – the SL400 and SL400LT— designed to integrate into existing operations, allowing facilities “to advance automation at their own pace.” Lantech’s Global Business Development Manager for Automation and Strategic Partner Ciaran Donnelly noted that there was a widespread fear of complexity in certain applications, so Lantech used pre-programmed systems to reduce integration requirements. Reduced customization means the machine comes in at almost half the cost of other solutions designed for the same purpose.
Rockwell Automation placed heavy emphasis on digital twins, highlighting virtual design, testing, and commissioning capabilities to reduce risk and deployment timelines. In addition, the company's OTTO platform of AMRs were paired with Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform and FactoryTalk Orchestration software for intelligent material movement and workflow coordination.
Technologies across the Regal Rexnord portfolio work together to optimize material flow, improve line performance, and support long-term operational success. Goals for the technology include increasing throughput without sacrificing reliability, and proactively reducing downtime through predictive maintenance intelligence. On display were a broad variety of products including Kollmorgen Essentials, Cambridge Cam-Brid Pro-form Metal Belts and Busse/SJI Viper Bulk Series Palletizers.
Encoder Products was showcasing encoder solutions designed to help packaging OEMs and machine builders improve precision, flexibility and performance. This Idaho-based company recently unveiled the new 36RT/H Accu-CoderPro, a high-resolution, field programmable incremental encoder designed for applications requiring precise motion feedback, flexible configuration and a compact 36mm footprint.
PACK EXPO International 2028 is scheduled for November 5–8, 2028, at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois. For more information, visit www.packexpo.com.
