In episode 26 of The Downtime, a weekly manufacturing podcast from WTWH Media, co-hosts Sarah Wynn and Sheri Kasprzak dive into Wynn’s recent trip to Pack Expo Las Vegas.
“Automation is not just making packaging lines faster, but it’s easing operators’ day-to-day workflows,” Wynn told her co-host, recapping the event.
Trends shaping packaging’s future
Pack Expo highlighted where the packaging industry is headed next through machinery, materials, components, and artificial intelligence (AI)-powered technology.
On the show floor, she interviewed multiple subject matter experts, with three clear industry trends emerging:
- AI is turning production data into actionable decisions
- Flexible, future-proof systems that let machine builders pivot across materials and SKUs
- Compact hardware that enables quicker setups
“Think of material agnostic machines,” said Wynn. “A good example is PAC Machinery, they’re building a variety of autobaggers that can work with a large range of materials, including sustainable formats.”
FULL STORY: Three trends shaping packaging’s future at Pack Expo Las Vegas
In addition to PAC Machinery, Wynn spoke with Kuka about deploying autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) to automate handoffs between processes. She also connected with Formic, Grantek, and Antares Vision Group about AI, and with Fanuc America and JVL A/S about compact, standardized systems designed for faster integration and shorter ROI timelines.
Click here to read more about the themes shaping packaging’s future.
Trade shows: a journalist’s perspective
The co-hosts also talked about the good, the bad, and the weird elements of trade shows. From shoes to swag, and even candy, listen for their take on the highs, lows, and quirks of covering trade shows as journalists.
Episode 26: Unpacking Pack Expo | Show notes & time stamps
00:17 – The co-hosts open the show
00:25 – Wynn explains how WTWH Media stands for “Willing To Work Harder.”
00:40 – Kasprzak highlights how The Downtime covers WTWH Media’s Automation & Controls brands
01:55 – Wynn introduces Packaging OEM’s eBook on AI for smarter lines
02:16 – Kasprzak highlights Plant Engineering’s story on air compressors, written by Jayme Leonard of Atlatas Copo Compressors. The story addresses smart asset management best practices, including inventory mapping, key performance indicator (KPI) tracking, and energy recovery
03:31 – Pack Expo discussion begins
04:40 – Wynn highlights how automation is impacting packaging, including operators’ workflows
05:05 – Wynn reports the three biggest packaging trends she noticed at the event
08:08 – The co-hosts talk about robotic cells at Pack Expo
09:15 – Wynn and Kasprzak speak material handling moments from Las Vegas
10:25 – Wynn shares Packaging OEM’s photo gallery from the event
10:42 – Wynn thanks previous guests from The Downtime that were at Pack Expo, including JLS Automation’s Gary Pickett, Emerson’s Johnathan Mitchell, and Hoosier Feeder’s Matt Jones
11:33 – Wynn highlights Kasprzak’s interview with Formic CEO Saman Farid on robots-as-a-service
12:11 – Wynn discusses TOPPAN Packaging America’s Aergo 8, a blister packaging machine. The video demo is available here
12:44 – Wynn spotlights Bartelt Packaging’s Mag-B horizontal form fill seal machine for flexible packaging
13:30 – Wynn’s Pack Expo recap video airs featuring Formic’s Saman Farid, Antares Vision Group’s John DiPalo, Grantek’s David McKenna, PAC Machinery’s Greg Berguig, Fanuc America’s Wes Garrett, and JVL A/S’s Kenneth Pilheden
17:14 – Pack Expo video recap ends
17:24 – Game time segment begins: The co-hosts provide the good, the bad, and the weird lives of covering trade shows as a journalist
27:26 – The dynamic duo wraps up the show
About The Downtime podcast and co-hosts
The Downtime is a weekly manufacturing podcast from WTWH Media that features insights from its automation and controls publications. It’s co-hosted by Wynn, who serves as the senior editor (digital) for Packaging OEM, and Kasprzak, who is the executive editor for Plant Engineering, Control Engineering, and Consulting-Specifying Engineer.
Check out The Downtime’s recent episodes
Episode 21: JLS Automation introduces Peregrine robotic cartoner
Episode 22: Schneider Electric on open, software-defined automation for packaging
Episode 23: Hoosier Feeder’s centrifugal system for coffee pods
Episode 24: Leadership lessons from an engineer in sustainable design
Episode 25: Inside WTWH Media’s “Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop” B2B content strategy
