FPA Plans FlexPack Crash Course at PACK EXPO International

FPA Leader Alison Keane Also to Give Address at Conference

By Thomas A. Barstow | October 11, 2022
FPA Plans FlexPack Crash Course at PACK EXPO International
Digital Exclusive


The last day of PACK EXPO International in Chicago on October 26 will include a crash course for people who are new to the flexible packaging industry and want to learn details about the packaging industry and processes.

Starting at 9 a.m. at the McCormick Place convention center, the FlexPack Crash Course sponsored by the Flexible Packaging Association’s (FPA’s) Emerging Leadership Council (ELC) is available to people who work for FPA member companies. The forum is geared toward employees who have worked for about five years or less in the industry and who want a broad overview of how the industry operates, according to FPA.

The daylong event will take participants from raw materials to the finished product and everything in between, says Johnathan Quinn, ELC co-chair and Pregis LLC’s director of market development and sustainability.

“This course is ideal for younger people or people who are new to the industry,” Quinn says. “We are expecting nearly 50 people attending and around 20 people will be presenting the actual content.”

The ELC will hold a networking reception for attendees after the forum, so people can “make connections and foster some new relationships for everyone,” Quinn adds.

More Details

It will be the first time the ELC has offered the course, and organizers say they expect similar forums in the future.

“The ELC is incredibly excited about hosting its first flexible packaging crash course this year at Pack Expo Chicago,” says Apurva Shah, director of strategic partnerships at Charter Next Generation and an ELC member. “Our goal is to build a program that covers the basic fundamentals of the industry and to utilize PACK EXPO’s broad reach to create a community of newcomers to the industry.”

This event is a great opportunity for new hires and newcomers to the flexible packaging industry who have fewer than five years of experience in the actual industry. “The presentations will provide a high-level overview of the flexible packaging industry. We’ll cover market trends, sustainability, the legislative and regulatory environment, as well as a high-level overview of technical fundamentals including flexible packaging materials, substrates, and converting technologies,” says FPA in a news release.

According to FPA, the event will include the following key topics:

  • Industry Overview & Trends;
  • Materials & Converting Basics;
  • Sustainability & Advocacy; and
  • Package Design Workshop.

While travel and accommodations must be covered by the attendee, FPA will cover the course costs and evening networking event.

To register, visit the event webpage on FPA’s website. That site also has an event brochure that can be downloaded.

FPA at the Convention

In addition to the ELC forum, FPA President and CEO Alison Keane will give a presentation on the first day of the convention from 12:30 to 1 p.m. October 23.

Keane’s presentation will be at the PACK to the Future stage and is titled “Advocating on the Sustainability of Flexible Packaging.” Keane will address how full circularity is a challenge and how FPA is advocating for the industry.

FPA will have a booth in the North Hall at N-4533 in the Association Partner Pavilion, as well. And it will have a display at the Showcase of Packaging Innovations®, which will be in the West Hall at W-20052.

In addition, FPA is part of the partner program for PACK EXPO.

More Events

Sponsored by PMMI, PACK EXPO International 2022 runs from October 23 to October 26. PMMI says the expo is considered one of the most comprehensive packaging and processing shows worldwide this year. Various educational presentations and exhibits will hit on numerous trends, including emerging packaging technologies, cybersecurity updates and tips, and sustainability efforts from international packaging companies and consumer brands.

Highlights include The PACK to the Future Exhibit, which looks at the role of packaging and processing through history. It will be near the PACK to the Future Stage that will provide “industry-expert presentations on cutting-edge industry advancements,” according to PMMI.

PMMI says other top features will include the following:

  • The PACKage Printing Pavilion will include digital printing and converting, labeling, coding, and marking technologies.
  • The Containers and Materials Pavilion will showcase containers and materials to meet sustainability goals, refresh a brand, or launch new products. It houses award-nominated packaging solutions in The Showcase of Packaging Innovations®, sponsored by WestRock.
  • The Confectionery Pavilion,sponsored by the National Confectioner’s Association, highlights candy trends and technologies. It also offers The Candy Bar Lounge for casual networking and idea sharing.
  • The Reusable Packaging Pavilion, sponsored by the Reusable Packaging Association, showcases reusable packaging solutions to help reduce waste, cut costs, and gain supply chain efficiency.
  • The Education and Workforce Development Pavilion is PACK EXPO International’s resource to strengthen workforce development.
  • The Association Partner Pavilion houses leading associations dedicated to advancing the packaging and processing industry.

For more information, go to PACK EXPO 2022.

Thomas A. Barstow is the senior editor at FlexPack VOICE®.