It’s a source of great pride to organisers, the Australian Packaging Machinery Association, that AUSPACK has maintained its footprint in a difficult climate.
“We feel this demonstrates the exhibition is considered an essential event on the global calendar,” says AUSPACK 2009 Event Director Rob Keen.
AUSPACK continues to receive strong industry support from both national and international companies, who have decided that participation in AUSPACK is a cost effective sales and marketing medium to showcase the latest packaging innovations and technology available.
Of the 164 exhibiting companies to date, AUSPACK 2009 boasts 24 international companies representing Netherlands, Poland, Germany, China, India, Korea, Taiwan, Japan, Singapore and New Zealand.
While visitor attendance predictions can never be exact, Keen maintains history suggests AUSPACK 2009 should expect the participation of between 5000 and 6000 industry professionals.
“A trade fair of this calibre attracts a highly qualified and quality audience genuinely interested in doing business and seeing the latest in packaging technology,” Keen says.
AUSPACK was born 1985 when the first Australian Packaging Machinery Association exhibition was held at the Horden Pavilion in Sydney as Darling Harbour was being built.
“The Australian Packaging Machinery Association had been founded by several local machinery manufacturers, in order to promote and run their own exhibition,” Keen relates, “as they believed that their interests were not being considered by the then current organisers.”
Malcolm Miller of National Packaging was the original instigator and invited Bob Brook of Bud Pak, Bill Juknitis of Advance Machinery, David Tierney of Heat and Control and Barton Porter of Inteco Australia, to talk about how to turn that situation around.
The Association grew and a committee was formed to source an exhibition specialist as the Australian Packaging Machinery Association members needed an exhibition focused on Packaging Machinery.
Rob Keen says the key to AUSPACK’s success stems from its core objective; to provide a face-to-face business forum. “For exhibitors it is an opportunity to interface with thousands of potential buyers over 4 days,” he explains.
“For visitors it is an opportunity to come to one place every two years to see the latest in packaging and processing technology, products and services under one roof.”
Asked how AUSPACK 2009 will be different from the 2005 show, Keen points to two key attractions, the Australasian Bioplastics Pavilion and the New Product Showcase.
“The packaging industry is increasingly being asked to use products that have a renewable resource component and are biodegradable and compostable,” Keen says.
“The new AUSPACK Bioplastics Pavilion will enable members of the industry to see an extensive range of products and technologies that are available in Australia.”
“This will be the first time industry people can visit a single area to view a complete line-up of the world's most innovative bioplastic packaging materials. They will be able to easily compare the individual features and functionality of different solutions.”
The Bioplastics Pavilion will consist of members of the Australasian Bioplastics Association (ABA); which is the representative body for the bioplastics industry in Australia and New Zealand; as European Bioplastics is in Europe and BPI in North America.
The ABA is key for development of standards for recognition of this class of materials. “The products that will be displayed are in themselves unique,” Keen says. “They offer customers an 'environmentally friendly' alternative to conventional plastics.”
AUSPACK visitors will have a chance to learn about new applications, and the wide range of materials available.
“The Bioplastics Pavilion will provide visitors with an understanding of the different properties of these polymers and allow them to match them with potential packaging applications.”
The new Product Showcase area is an additional feature of AUSPACK each year to enable visitors to see what is new at the exhibition.
“Many of the exhibitors launch new products at AUSPACK making the event a significant opportunity for the industry to gain a better understanding of what is available to help them with their job roles,” Keen says.
“International exhibitors also introduce new packaging machinery and materials at AUSPACK which brings the global opportunities to our door.”
Of the current exhibitors, 41, or 25 per cent are first timers or returning after many years. Some of these include Azano (Aust) Pty Ltd, Aztro Pty Ltd, Carter Holt Harvey, Solari Packaging Systems, ALCAN Packaging Asia Pacific, A&D Mercury, Aries Packaging (MWV), Bizerba Australia Pty Ltd, Colimatic, Shell Australia, Tangible Packaging, Titan Strapping Systems, VIP Packaging and Viscount Consolidated Industries.
Among the largest of the exhibitors, Matthews Intelligent Identification is a long-time AUSPACK participant, having launched many new products at the expo.
“That includes RFID labelling equipment back in 2001, through to fibre YAG laser coders, which were awarded 'Best New Product' at AUSPACK 2007,” enthuses National Sales and Marketing Manager Phil Biggs.
“This year’s theme of ‘The Future of Packaging and Processing’ fits the Matthews’ philosophy perfectly. We firmly believe less operational risk, higher reliability and lower cost of ownership are even more vital now and in the future, hence our focus on rapid response and service excellence.”
Matthews will display its entire range of class-leading products at this year’s show, including the new Linz 6900 Solver CIJ printer which provides intelligent solvent usage, and all equipment linked to the company’s iDSnet integration and traceability software.
“We’ll demonstrate how an entire packaging production line can be simply networked to a central production database, delivering significant benefits to manufacturers, and focus on our customer and technical support,” Biggs says.
KHS Pacific, manufacturer and supplier of packaging equipment for the food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries will demonstrate turnkey plants and individual machines for food, non food and beverages.
According to Managing Director Kurt Hofmann, KHS Pacific supplies packaging systems for the dairy industry, including bottling plants, tub fillers, cup filling, cheese cutting, wrapping, pouching, case packers, palletisers and bulk packaging.
“In beverages, we manufacture and supply individual machines for filling, sealing, labelling, packing and palletising of glass and PET bottles, cans and kegs for all types of beverages, including beer, spirits, wine, soft drinks, mineral water and juices,” he says.
"KHS Pacific also manufactures and designs machines for PET bottles and shapes including stretch blow moulding, barrier coating and aseptic filling.”
In terms of Australian design innovation, a must-see at AUSPACK 2009 is ZINZINA Seal & Shrink machine to be launched by PackSynergy.
The ZINZINA machine has the capability to shrink the new generation of polyolefin films, minimise the amount of film required, maximise air flow around the pack and reduce shrink time and energy by up to 40 per cent.
“The ZINZINA includes a new generation of PLC Control and Touchscreen operator interface with Ethernet gateway and Fieldbus module for remote control and programming,” says creator Diego Barbaro.
“When I designed the machine I felt it was also necessary to not only convey the finished product but also to position it in the centre of the shrinking chamber.”
“The machine opens mechanically and closes using its own gravity, which eliminates any possible danger to the operator, the product or equipment,” Barbaro adds.
“The design also allows the machine to be positioned against a wall to minimise floor space.”
In addition Viscount Plastics will showcase its Nallyenviropal, the only 100 per cent post consumer waste plastic pallet available in Australia.
Sized to fit the Australian Supply Chain system requirements, the Nallyenviropal is used for supply chain transportation and warehousing across every industry packaging segment and is even suitable for rental pool applications such as CHEP and LOSCOM.
“Early indication is that the service life of the Nallyenviropal is in the range of 3 to 7 years,” says Viscount Plastics manager — Materials Handling Catherine Moran.
“Timber pallets are normally damaged after 3 trips; guaranteeing that the Nallyenviropal will outperform timber in terms of service life.”
“The plastic pallet is 100 per cent recyclable at the end of its life — when recycled it can again become a new Nallyenviropal. Designed and manufactured in Australia, this product ensures Australian manufacturing innovation and viability.”
“Everything about AUSPACK is interesting,” says Rob Keen. “As soon as you walk through the door you'll be consumed activity happening on the stands, from robotics, vibration systems and conveyors running cycles to palletising systems, shrink wrappers and more.
“If automating your processes and systems is a key factor in your future strategic planning, you can't afford not to attend AUSPACK 2009. “Prepare to hit the ground running with full knowledge of what new technology is available.”
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