Successful PACK EXPO bodes well for the industry at large

PACK EXPO Las Vegas 2011 was "a ringing success,"according to show owner/organizer PMMI.

"Record-breaking only begins to describe it"boasts the headline on packexpo.com. It was the largest PACK EXPO Las Vegas show ever in terms of attendees, exhibitors and floor space:

• A record crowd of 25,000+ professionals attending.
• 23,000 people pre-registered, a 14 percent increase over 2009.
• 1,633 companies exhibiting.
• A 630,000+ sq-ft show floor.

The business activity and excitement at the show bodes well for the near economic future of the industry. Jorge Izquierdo, PMMI's vp market development, in an interview with FoodProductionDaily.com reported good numbers for machinery sales in the first and second quarters of 2011.

And, although, PMMI expects growth to slow in third and fourth quarters, "I can tell you that 2011 will be a record year for packaging machinery,"Izquierdo told reporter Rory Harrington.