ORGANISERS of PPMA Show 2024 have hailed the event a ‘great success’ after welcoming thousands of visitors to the NEC Birmingham for the latest edition of the processing and packaging machinery exhibition.
The event, which includes industrial automation and machine vision systems, provided a three-day platform for visitors to witness the latest technologies and solutions, see live demonstrations and product launches, and extend their knowledge with hours of expert seminars.
One highlight this year was a special appearance by broadcaster, entrepreneur and writer Gregg Wallace, who spent a day at the show as he went ‘Inside the Exhibition’.
The PPMA Show, which is owned and organised by Automate UK, featured more than 350 exhibitors – including over 100 debutants. These companies showcased solutions spanning the full spectrum of the manufacturing industry including: pharmaceuticals, food, beverages, building materials, pet care, microbrewers, and distillers.
Exhibitors included Fortress Technology, Evolution Bottling & Packaging Solutions, Minebea Intec, Ishida, Packaging Automation, PFM, Holmach, Keymac, Omori, Wipotec, Somic, Markem-Imaje, Ilapak, Bizerba, Ulma, Beckhoff, Schur Star Systems, Ilpra, Sidel, and JBT Proseal.
Scott McKenna, chief operating officer at Automate UK, said, “The PPMA Show has consistently been the premier destination in the UK for exploring technology across the entire processing and packaging industry. Our main challenge as organisers is to ensure the exhibition evolves and stays relevant to the high-calibre visitors we are proud to attract each year.
“This year, we can confidently say, we exceeded our own expectations, with an outstanding turnout of attendees eager to invest in the remarkable range of innovative technologies showcased at the event.”
This year’s keynote speakers were Jessica Sansom from Huel and Stefan Casey from Nestlé. Jessica’s presentation focused on the manifestations of climate changes and how to rise to the challenge and adapt to a new normal. Stefan shared some of his knowledge on the digital transformation of FMCG industry, including challenges and opportunities in packaging across the whole value chain.
New for this year, Automate UK debuted a free app with features such as a function to retrieve exhibitor information via QR codes, detailed seminar information, and a floorplan.
The PPMA Total Show will return to the NEC next year, promising to be ‘bigger and better’ than before.
An extended review of PPMA Show 2024 will appear in the October-December issue of Packaging Scotland.
