2005 Ad

Food & Drug Packaging, March, 2005

Every other year the Southland beckons, and more than 17,000 industry representatives are expected to answer this trade show's call. It's not whistling "Dixie" to tout SouthPack 2005--running April 13-14 at the Georgia World Congress Center, in Atlanta--as the region's biggest packaging event. Some 400 exhibitors will welcome attendees looking for new suppliers and process solutions.

Special pavilions and conferences are among highlights that make this the total package. New in 2005, SouthPack also features two additional co-located trade shows: PLASTEC South, dedicated to the plastics processing industry; and Design & Manufacturing South, showcasing design and manufacturing solutions. Together, the three shows offer a full range of solutions for manufacturing, from design through packaging and everything in between.

Top packaging suppliers in every category will be on hand. Attendees can explore all aspects of packaging machinery, check out new containers, and source a complete line of packaging materials, from coatings, to films, glass, paper, plastics, resins, wood and more. Contract packagers, designers, recycling companies, marketers and shippers will offer outsourcing solutions. Solutions for custom automation, robotics and software needs will be on view.

Every facet of pharmaceutical packaging will be grouped at SouthPack's Medical/ Pharmaceutical Packaging Pavilion. Medical-grade materials, tamper-resistant and disposable containers, testing and sterilization services, bar-coders and more will be showcased to remedy specialty needs. Visitors can check out packaging needs for vitamins and nutritional supplements. Plus, attendees can source processing equipment, packaging, labelers, quality control instruments and more for the nutraceuticals market.

SouthPack's second pavilion will feature material handling, automation and logistics, with a full array of conveyors, controlling devices, storage and retrieval systems, automatic ID systems and data collectors. Also, find palletizers, racking and inventory management systems, and third-party logistics providers in this pavilion.

Have something new to learn? Enroll in SouthPack's conferences to enrich your mind or your company's bottom line. Seminars on the show's first day may be of special note. "Creating a Sensational New Brand or Revitalizing an Old One" offers how-to tips for getting inside the mind of consumers, and for understanding the merchandising environment and making it work for you. The presenter, Robert Wilkes, is a brand strategist and design consultant specializing in packaged consumer goods.

Another notable first-day conference offering, "RFID: The Basics and Beyond," reinforces tagging basics and the role of radio frequency identification in packaging and labeling. Speakers will offer insight into the critical role packaging and labeling are playing in the adoption of RFID technology and how it is rapidly being embraced by leading retailers, as well as by thousands of consumer goods and pharmaceutical suppliers. Presenters will delve into EPC RFID mandates for case and pallet tagging, and how to achieve return on investment.

SouthPack, produced and managed by Canon Communications LLC, is the only event dedicated to the Southeast's packaging market.

AT-A-GLANCE

What: SouthPack

Where: Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta, Ga.

When: (exhibit hall hours):

Wednesday, April 13 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Thursday, April 14 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

CONFERENCE HOURS:

9 a.m.--Noon, both days

RELATED ARTICLE: SouthPack products run the gamut.

Here are some selected product offerings available at SouthPack:

High-speed counter integrates well

Automated Packaging Systems is featuring the Accu-Count 200a High-speed Counter, which achieves an automatic count, print and pack system when integrated with its AB 180 bagger and Prism two-sided printer. Automated Packaging also will display its portable AirPouch Express 3 Tabletop Voidfill System, with puncture-resistant sealing and improved air retention.

Automated Packaging Systems Inc.

Booth 1239

800-527-0733; www.autobag.com

New conveyors support many functions

Dorner Manufacturing is displaying its 3200 Series conveyors for pharmaceuticals, medical equipment and other industries. The conveyors accommodate sortation, packaging, print/labeling/marking, and automated and manual assembly applications. Features include 1,000-pound load capacity and speeds up to 600 feet per minute.

Dorner Manufacturing Corp.

Booth 1639

800-397-8664; www.dorner.com

Adhesive applicator ergonomic, portable

Glue Dots introduces the Dot Shot Pro adhesive applicator as a safe, smart alternative to tape guns, hot glue guns, or liquid glues. This ergonomic, portable innovation allows Glue Dots to be applied quickly for many packaging applications. Unlike glue guns, it requires no electricity.

Glue Dots International

Booth 1550

262-814-8500; www.gluedots.com

Read, write, verify and apply RFID tags

ID Technology will display its IDT 250r printer applicator for RFID applications. The IDT 250r can read, write, verify and apply RFID tags in top, bottom and side label applications. It features modular component configuration and spare assemblies that install in minutes.