US packaging buyers turn to automation that preserves workforce know-how
Important news | PACK EXPO 2026 reached record scale as buyers weighed usability, connectivity and compliance.
Editorial desk
Important news | JETRO reported on 4 November 2026 that PACK EXPO ran in Chicago from 18 to 21 October. Organiser data put total participation at about 72,000, with more than 2,700 exhibiting companies and over 1.3 million square feet of exhibition space, the event’s largest edition. For food, beverage, healthcare and consumer-goods businesses, the show offers a window into how US factories are reworking packaging and processing operations.
The floor covered seven specialist areas: food and beverage processing, healthcare packaging, logistics and supply chains, containers and materials, printing, reusable packaging and confectionery. More than 150 sessions addressed AI, robotics, automation, sustainability and workforce development. Their overlap suggests buyers are comparing machine performance, materials, data connectivity and operator usability together, rather than looking only for the fastest line.
A PMMI report forecast US packaging-machinery shipments rising from $11.6 billion in 2025 to $12.2 billion in 2026 and $13.0 billion in 2027. This is an industry forecast, not a confirmed order for any supplier. Component, sensor, inspection, changeover, maintenance and software companies can treat it as a demand signal, then verify the opportunity through direct buyer interviews.
Industry analysis at the event identified labour shortages and regulatory compliance as shared challenges, including the loss of knowledge when skilled workers retire or leave. Equipment proposals that discuss only output may miss the factory’s real risk. Visual controls, fault guidance, maintenance records, remote support and multilingual training can strengthen a proposal, but these are editorial business suggestions, not statutory specifications.
JETRO reported rising interest in technology that inexperienced operators can use while preserving skilled-worker know-how; AI and robotics are also being used to shorten training and share knowledge. A practical next step is a one-page comparison covering changeover time, training hours, fault recovery, material compatibility and compliance records, tested with three US integrators. Validate the problem before quoting, and do not treat exhibition activity as guaranteed demand.
Sources
Some images in this article are generated illustrations.