Registration is now open for Pack Expo Las Vegas and Healthcare Packaging Expo 2021. The event will take place Sept. 27-29 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, said its organizer, PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies.

“We continuously monitor the industry, and exhibitors and attendees alike are eager to return to conducting business and experiencing new machinery, materials, technologies and solutions in-person,” said Jim Pittas, president and CEO of Herndon, Va,-based PMMI. “There is no substitute for seeing technology up close, manipulating materials and containers, experiencing controls systems, speaking to multiple vendors and getting answers on the spot.”

Spaced across four large convention center halls, Pack Expo Las Vegas will offer countless opportunities for ideas from 40-plus vertical markets to cross-pollinate.

“Our industry’s essential role over the past year shed light on new technological needs, and these improvements and advancements in equipment and technology will continue to evolve,” said Laura Thompson, vice president, trade shows, PMMI. “Walking the aisles, connecting with colleagues and meeting new people will allow attendees the opportunity to discover solutions they didn’t even know they needed.”

Free educational sessions located throughout the exhibit halls will provide chances to grow, learn and accomplish professional goals, with suppliers showcasing breakthrough technologies, best practices and case studies at the Innovation Stages. The Forum, an interactive stage encouraging open discussions with industry experts, the Reusable Packaging Stage, hosted by the Reusable Packaging Association, and the new PACK to the Future Stage are also must-visit show floor destinations to learn about the latest trends and discuss the future of the industry, PMMI said.

The Cold Pressure Council Annual Conference (Sept. 28-29) will also take place in conjunction with Pack Expo Las Vegas and Healthcare Packaging EXPO, offering education on the latest in high-pressure processing technologies. All registrants of the conference receive complimentary registration to Pack Expo Las Vegas and Healthcare Packaging EXPO, PMMI said.

Pack Expo Las Vegas 2021 will also feature the return of the Processing Zone, with solutions from food processing/systems, food safety, engineering, design and construction services and more. Attendees may once again start their search for front-of-the-line processing solutions while continuing to solve their packaging challenges all under one convenient roof. A processing-specific Innovation Stage will also feature sessions targeting the processing sector, PMMI said.

Additional pavilions will contain targeted solutions. The Package Printing Pavilion will shine a spotlight on digital printing and converting technologies and labeling, coding and marking solutions. The Containers and Materials Pavilion will showcase the innovative packages and solutions that are proven to capture the eyes of consumers — including the Showcase of Packaging Innovations, the best and brightest ideas in product packaging that have advanced the industry in the past year.

The PACK to the Future interactive experience debuts at Pack Expo Las Vegas and Healthcare Packaging EXPO, showcasing the industry’s past, present and future. PACK to the Future will display carefully curated items and machinery from some of the world’s largest consumer packaged goods and packaging companies, PMMI noted. Industry experts, futurists, business and financial leaders will speak daily on where the industry has been, where it is now and what the future holds for packaging and processing.

Networking opportunities abound at Pack Expo Las Vegas and Healthcare Packaging EXPO, including a Packaging & Processing Women’s Leadership Network breakfast with a keynote presentation and an Emerging Leaders Network event for young packaging and processing professionals on the rise, PMMI said.

In addition to PMMI-provided networking, 19 association partners have signed on to support and exhibit at Las Vegas, with many offering opportunities for their members to connect during the show, including CPA, the Association for Contract Packagers and Manufacturers; Institute of Packaging Professionals; Foil & Specialty Effects Association; OMAC — The Organization for Machine Automation and Control; Flexible Packaging Association and more.

With its Pack Ready health and safety program, Pack Expo Las Vegas and Healthcare Packaging EXPO is prepared to welcome the industry back safely, employing thorough and up-to-date protocols for a safe and successful in-person event, PMMI said.

Registration, which includes access to both Pack Expo Las Vegas and Healthcare Packaging EXPO, is $30 until Sept. 3, after which the price increases to $130. For more information and to register online, visit packexpolasvegas.com or hcpelasvegas.com.