The Australian Packaging and Processing Machinery Association (APPMA) has announced the appointment of a new chairman.
After seven years in the chair Rob Lawrence decided to step down and will be replaced by Mark Dingley, who was unanimously elected as the new Chairman.
Lawrence said his most memorable moments as Chairman include hosting the first COPAMA meeting ever held outside of the US and Europe, which was hosted in China.
“In the last seven years I have also seen many changes to the packaging and processing machinery industry including rapid development and advancement in robotics and automation,” Lawrence said.
Lawrence will remain on the APPMA board as a director and has voiced his full confidence in Dingley to keep the association growing.
“The APPMA has a strong board and under Mark’s capable leadership the members should look forward to further growth of the association and improved member benefits,” he said.
“I wish him all the very best as the new National Chairman,” Lawrence said.
Dingley has been in the packaging industry for over seventeen years, is now head of Matthews Intelligent Identification Business Development and has been on the APPMA board for ten years.
“I am very excited to become the National Chairman of the APPMA and the first goal in my new role is to ensure that AUSPACK PLUS continues to grow and be recognised as the only exhibition to attend for the packaging and processing machinery industries,” Mr Dingley said.
He said he wants to focus on APPMA’s success in trade shows, as well as finding new avenues for expansion.
“After the 2011 AUSPACK PLUS an extensive survey was undertaken with visitors and exhibitors to determine how we can offer an even more diverse and successful exhibition in 2013,” he explained.
“The results of the survey have guided our objectives for the Sydney show and one of the key findings will be to focus on welcoming the materials side of the industry to both exhibit and attend AUSPACK PLUS 2013.
“Materials refers to all elements from film to plastics, through to components and ancillaries of packaging and processing machinery.
“This is a side of the industry that is sometimes overlooked and yet is critical to the success of production lines.
“I would also like to explore how we can improve our member services of the association and this will be a growth area that I will be personally focusing on over the next few years.”