PACK EXPO East 2026, held February 17–19 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, once again demonstrated why the event has become one of the most important regional gatherings for the packaging and processing industry. Organized by PMMI, the show brought together thousands of industry professionals and more than 100 exhibitors across 125,000 square feet of exhibit space, showcasing innovations serving more than 40 vertical industries including food and beverage, life sciences, cosmetics, and industrial manufacturing.
As a regional event designed to provide hands-on access to packaging technologies and industry expertise, PACK EXPO East gave AIM some key insights into some key themes in the packaging space.
Key Industry Themes from the Show Floor
Walking the show floor and engaging with exhibitors and attendees revealed several clear trends shaping the future of packaging and processing:
- Increasing Automation and Digitalization
Automation technologies, robotics, and advanced controls were prominent across the exhibition halls, reflecting the industry’s push to increase efficiency, reduce labor constraints, and enhance operational visibility. - Greater Focus on Traceability and Data
Packaging and processing operations are becoming increasingly data-driven. Solutions demonstrated at the show highlighted the importance of capturing accurate product, pallet, and asset data throughout production and distribution environments. This aligns closely with our members technologies. - The Rise of 2D Codes and Connected Packaging
Discussions around digital product information, regulatory compliance, and consumer engagement highlighted the growing adoption of 2D barcodes and smart packaging capabilities that enable more information to travel with products across the supply chain. - Sustainability and Reusable Packaging
Sustainability was a consistent theme across sessions and exhibits, including new materials and systems designed to support circular packaging models and reusable transport packaging.
These trends strongly reinforce the importance of standards-based identification and tracking technologies, an area where AIM continues to play a critical role through education, standards engagement, and industry collaboration.
Not only did we walk the show floor, but we also had a booth presence where the team had many productive conversations with packaging professionals, solution providers, and brand owners. These discussions focused on how AIDC technologies support traceability, operational visibility, and automation within modern packaging environments. This was particularly valuable for AIM because they bring together the broader ecosystem of packaging machinery manufacturers, material providers, and technology innovators who rely on accurate identification and data capture throughout production and logistics workflows.
AIM also was proud to sponsor a post event dinner at Del Frisco Steakhouse along with the Reusable Packaging Association and ACSIS. I had the opportunity to briefly speak at this gathering and noted how exciting it is to see so many people within the industry in one area discussing their successes and challenges, collaborating in a way to foster a more transparent and at the end of the day more productive supply chain.
Industry Speaks Session: AIDC in Packaging
On the final day of the show, AIM participated in the Industry Speaks educational sessions, where attendees gathered for discussions on emerging technologies and industry best practices.
During the session, I provided an overview of how multiple AIDC technologies work together to support modern packaging operations. The presentation explored:
- 1D and 2D barcodes for product identification and regulatory compliance
- Passive RFID for automated inventory visibility and asset tracking
- Active RFID and RTLS systems for real-time location tracking
- Sensor-enabled solutions that provide condition monitoring for assets and goods
I explained how these technologies can be integrated within a packaging warehouse environment to create a connected system where materials, products, pallets, and returnable assets can all be identified and tracked automatically.
AIM Board Member John DiPalo then expanded on the discussion by sharing a compelling reusable packaging use case. The example demonstrated how multiple AIDC technologies can be combined to track reusable transport items across a supply chain, improving asset utilization, reducing losses, and increasing operational transparency.
The session highlighted a key message that resonated strongly with the audience: AIDC technologies are most powerful when deployed together as part of an integrated data ecosystem supporting packaging, logistics, and supply chain visibility.
Looking Ahead to PACK EXPO International
AIM greatly values its collaboration with PMMI and the PACK EXPO community. Following a successful event in Philadelphia, AIM looks forward to continuing this partnership at PACK EXPO International, taking place October 18–21, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois.
At the Chicago event, AIM plans to further engage the packaging community through:
- A booth presence on the show floor
- Educational discussions focused on AIDC technologies
- Networking opportunities connecting packaging professionals with the automatic identification community
Contact me if you would like updates on the work AIM Plans to do at the PACK EXPO International event.