Pack Expo/CPP: A Time for Change

Published: January 01, 2011, By By Nsenga Thompson, Associate Editor

While some industry trade shows have experienced declining attendance, this year converting, printing, and packaging-related events have been on the upswing — and Pack Expo and CPP Expo were no exception. The four-day show, held Oct. 31-Nov. 3, 2010, spanned more than 1 million net sq ft in Chicago's McCormick Place and attracted nearly 44,000 attendees and 1,835 exhibitors, a 7% increase from the 2008 edition.

“Pack Expo International 2010 was definitely a success,” says Charles D. Yuska, president and CEO of the show's producer, Packaging Machinery Mfrs. Inst. (PMMI). “Traffic was consistently strong, and the exhibitors I spoke with were very pleased with the quality of leads they received. I think it's also significant that exhibitors were queued up to reserve booth space for Pack Expo Las Vegas 2011. It demonstrates the value exhibitors were receiving from this year's event, and what they know to expect from Pack Expo.”

For more information, visit www.packexpo.com.

Changes To Come

Co-located with Pack Expo for the past five years, CPP (Converting & Packaging Printing) Expo, owned by H.A. Bruno, also reported strong numbers, with 7,239 attendees. “With the current uncertainty in the economy, it is great to see these types of numbers at our event,” comments Leo Nadolske, president of CPP Expo. “We could tell going into the show with the pre-registration coming in strong that we were on to something big,” he adds.

Although Pack Expo and CPP found success together over the past five years, CPP recently announced key changes. Beginning in 2012, CPP Expo will organize regional events, ending their co-location with the Pack Expo shows.

“While we will always look back with gratitude toward Pack Expo and PMMI for allowing us to develop and co-locate CPP Expo alongside Pack Expo, it has always been our mutual understanding that one day, we would in a constructive fashion, separate our shows,” says Nadolske.

CPP and Pack Expo conclude their co-location agreement with the event on Sept. 26-28, 2011, at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Afterward, CPP Expo will take place regionally in the even-numbered years, while holding its international main expo in Chicago in the odd-numbered years.

For more information, visit www.cppexpo.com.