Crowds at WestPack

"Being part of the largest advanced design and manufacturing event on the West Coast allows packaging professionals convenient access to thousands of additional resources and ideas to innovate their packaging and streamline their manufacturing processes-all under one roof," says Susan Duval, group marketing manager with show producer UBM Canon.

WestPack is one of several manufacturing-focused events co-located at the convention center that week. Others include Automation Technology Expo West, Medical Design & Manufacturing West, PLASTEC West, Sustainability in Manufacturing, Electronics West, Pacific Design & Manufacturing, AeroCon and SensorTec. WestPack attendees will have one-stop access to approximately 3,000 exhibitors supplying the latest materials, machinery, components and services.

Spotlight on innovation

Each year, WestPack organizers strive to optimize the show's benefits to attendees by adding new features. Making its debut at WestPack 2012: the Innovation Brief Theater. This program will share concentrated, free presentations by industry experts that touch on an array of topics, each designed to help packaging pros build their business. These are scheduled throughout the event and conveniently located directly on the show floor.

The full roster of Innovation Brief Theater presentations will be posted on the show site, www.westpackshow.com.

Packaging school

The WestPack schedule features an array of educational seminars geared toward helping attendees meet challenges associated with a number of areas, including sustainability, managing production costs, automation and increasing operational efficiency. Highlights include two new seminars:
• Sustainability in Packaging, Tues., Feb. 14: This session will examine ways to achieve source reduction, cut down energy consumption and reduce the carbon footprint of packaging production.
• Automation and Cost Control in Packaging, Wed., Feb. 15: Attend and learn how to harness automation technology to reduce expenses and streamline any packaging operation.

Get in the Zone

Machinery at WestPack

• Pharmaceutical, Medical and Nutraceutical: This show feature emphasizes specialty equipment; medical-grade materials and supplies; disposables packaging; trays and kits; blister packs; tamper resistant/evident containers; labeling and bar coding equipment; QA/QC; and testing, inspection and sterilization services.
• Health & Beauty: Visitors seeking solutions for cosmetic, fragrance and personal care packaging can browse the zone to view stylized bottles, jars, pouches and tubes; specialty labeling; innovative design services; coatings, colorants and finishes; closures, valves, pumps and sprayers; and ties, ribbons and other accessories.
• Supply Chain: This zone permits hands-on access to conveying equipment, palletizers, racking systems, robotics, and warehouse and inventory management systems. Automation technology suppliers will show off automation equipment, assembly systems, instruments, controls, testing/inspection equipment and more.
• Contract Packaging: This area gives attendees the chance to connect with leading copackers, manufacturers and outsourcing service providers supplying a range of services including packaging, labeling and filling; logistics, warehousing and distribution; testing and compliance; R&D, engineering, design, consultation and much more. This feature area offers solutions to implement fixed cost recognition in design, manufacturing, packaging and distribution and increase your speed-to-market and overall efficiency.

Registration for WestPack 2012 is now open. To sign up or learn more about the event, visit the show site at www.westpackshow.com.
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