Food & Beverage Industry News delves into what’s on at AUSPACK 2022 on 17-20 May at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.
As the southern hemisphere’s leading exhibition for the packaging and processing industry, AUSPACK 2022 will deliver the new “COVID-normal” way of doing business and celebrate the industry’s top movers and shakers.
As the industry’s first in-person exhibition since 2019, excitement is even greater for this flagship event, with just under 100 Australian Packaging and Processing Machinery Association (APPMA) members having signed up to exhibit by February – a new record.
“This support from APPMA members for the Association’s premier event highlights its value,” APPMA chairman Mark Dingley said.
“On top of that, the actual space booked by Australian companies was right up near the previous record. After the two very tough years that businesses have experienced, this backing illustrates the benefits that business and brand owners find in AUSPACK.”
Whether attendees are looking for processing, packaging or filling machinery, through to product identification solutions, packaging materials, materials handling or ancillary components in food and beverage, frozen goods, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, chemical and household items or FMCG, they’ll find it at AUSPACK 2022.
Celebrating industry excellence
This year, the APPMA Awards of Excellence have been expanded from five categories to eight. To aid the awards’ inclusivity, both the new machinery awards have a section for SMEs, that being companies with up to $10 million in annual turnover, and corporates, being over $10 million.
According to Dingley, the main themes of the awards this year are recognition, celebration, inclusivity and education.
“It was exciting to bring back these awards at the last AUSPACK, and APPMA is even more excited for the expansion,” he said.
These themes also reflect what the AUSPACK exhibition will offer to delegates. With so many suppliers showcasing their most innovative products in one place, attendees will have a great opportunity to find the solutions that are most needed in their packaging and processing businesses.
For example, stretch-wrapper pioneer and expert in case and tray-handling equipment, Lantech Asia Pacific (Stand B045), is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2022. Lantech will have its Lean technology on display at AUSPACK, including Load-Seeking Clamp, pallet grip, Metered Film Delivery and Load Guardian Technology.
The Load Guardian Technology is Lantech’s patented control system that creates, maintains and delivers the right containment force for safe-to-ship loads every time. It minimises operator interaction and eliminates the guess work for stretch wrapping any load configuration.
Another AUSPACK exhibitor is ProMessa, a supplier of fresh meat products to supermarkets in the Netherlands, who has achieved a 70 per cent reduction in plastics with an Omori Flow Wrapper.
The change benefits the environment, while the style of packaging also allows for extended shelf-life plus the bonus of reduced transportation load, in terms of both the packaging material and the packaged end products. This means ProMessa has been able to reduce its overheads with transport movements, material costs, energy
costs and running costs. Using Omori sealing technology, the flow packs are encased in a strong barrier protection film and allow for longer shelf life and reduced food wastage.
Meanwhile, Perfect Automation (Stand B070), will have sustainable, SMART technology on display, demonstrating its workable solutions in answering the call for environmental change in the packaging sector.
AUSPACK Leaders Forum
The sessions in the Leaders Forum have been designed to allow extra time for networking and to visit the various exhibitions, so delegates can attend the sessions of their choice and still circulate throughout the event.
Running from 18-19 May, the Forum will start at 7:30am each day with a breakfast and concludes on the first day with cocktails and networking. Lunch is supplied on both days during the 12:30pm session.
The AUSPACK Leaders Forum has more than 25 speakers already confirmed with more lined up, who will present on topics such as:
- from where business and the economy are at and what’s next;
- sustainability and the circular economy;
- future technology;
- risk, resilience, rebalance and reward;
- investment and collaboration;
- adapting and diversifying for commercial success;
- future supply chain; and
- people, planet, profit.
Some of the speakers include Rose Herceg, president – Australia and New Zealand, WPP – who will open the event with the ten trends that businesses need to know for 2022 and beyond – and CSIRO’s Future Digital Manufacturing lead, Christian Ruberg. Ruberg will deliver a keynote presentation on Industry 4.0, followed by a panel discussion on Industry 4.0, 5.0 and the future of technology.
“Rose is one of Australia’s leading social forecasters and futurists and the author of three books on business leadership and innovation,” Dingley said. “She is a powerhouse presenter, and this is a fantastic, high-level way to begin the AUSPACK 2022 Leaders Forum.”
An interesting panel discussion around how manufacturers can get a seat at the table as part of Australia’s infrastructure investment explosion will be led by Emma Greenhatch, CEO of the Agribusiness Food Network and director of the Turbine Sunshine Coast.
“Emma, the 2021 Outstanding Sunshine Coast Business Woman of the Year, is well known for being a translator of ideas into strategies and actions that deliver sustainable outcomes,” Dingley said.
“This is such a timely session on finding and optimising opportunities for the processing, packaging and manufacturing industries, including creating a coalition with other manufacturers, in light of the Australian government’s $4 billion infrastructure stimulus package to help support the national economy after COVID-19.”
Register now
Dingley said that APPMA are very proud of the line-up of both international and domestic speakers.
“The new-format AUSPACK 2022 Leaders’ Forum offers opportunities to gain in-depth knowledge from other business leaders, and the interactive breaks will allow visitors to ‘get other things done’ out on the show floor to maximise their AUSPACK 2022 visit.”
He encourages those thinking about researching new solutions or potential agencies, engaging in some in-person networking or expanding their knowledge base to register now.
AUSPACK 2022 will be held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, 17-20 May 2022.