Record numbers of packagers and machine builders alike came to Las Vegas looking to break away from the status quo and achieve quantum rather than incremental gains in capability and cost reduction.

Show goers found what they were looking for—the latest designs from trendsetting OEMs who are unleashing the power of modular packaging machinery. These new entries overcome the limitations of PLC-based servo machines, and in several instances feature innovative robotic functions.

With the emergence of international standards, packagers find they can break away from legacy control platforms without risk. The business owners can then leverage innovation to meet their goals—which include increasing operational efficiencies, being first to market, and leveraging packaging as a supply chain strategy.

“At PELV we saw an acceleration in the technology adoption curve,” reports ELAU’s president, Christopher Zei. “Customers are telling us that our PacDrive platform has moved from being an interesting alternative to their automation standard. This level of commitment is not an insignificant shift.”