Packaging, Latin-style

Mexico's total market value to packaging machinery reached (U.S.) $442 million in 2005, with parts sales adding another (U.S.)$60 million to $65 million, according to the Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Institute (www.pmmi.org), producers of the EXPO PACK México and PROCESSA shows. Imports represent 85 percent of the Mexican packaging market.

The Mexican food industry comprises 19 percent of the country's manufacturing GDP, with the beverage segment close behind. In fact, the food industry accounts for 40 percent of all packaging machinery sold into Mexico. The pharmaceutical industry, however, is another significant machinery buyer in Mexico, representing about 10 percent of all packaging equipment sold. That market has been growing rapidly, as it has elsewhere in the world, registering about 7-percent-per-year increases. The personal care market is on par with pharmaceuticals. The food and beverage segments are growing at 3.7 percent per year.

The two shows are expected to attract 745 exhibitors from 22 countries and 32,000 packaging professionals from 24 countries. The shows will occupy about 150,000 sq ft of space at Centro Banamex in Mexico City.

A conference program is organized by the Mexican Packaging Assn. (AMEE) during EXPO PACK México 2007. The conference features topics about security in packaging, new packaging materials for the pharmaceutical industry, printing systems, flexography advantages, trends and innovation in packaging design, developing integral systems for packaging production lines and technological developments for packaging machinery.

Show hours are 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. For information on the show, visit www.expopack.com.mx or call PMMI at 703/243-8555. Registration is available online, at the show website.