AI, Automation, and Sustainability Lead Packaging and Processing Trends | RoboticsTomorrow

(Herndon, Virginia – Feb. 13, 2026) – Packaging and processing producers are investing in smarter tools, automation, and sustainable solutions to tackle labor shortages, provide chain challenges, and rising customer expectations.

At PACK EXPO East 2026 (Feb. 17-19, Pennsylvania Convention Heart, Philadelphia), attendees will specialize in how synthetic intelligence (AI), automation, and versatile machinery are transferring from experimentation to day after day tools that give a clutch to effectivity, decrease downtime, and toughen long-term enhance.

“Producers are appealing about constructing operations which may perhaps perhaps perhaps be extra efficient, resilient, and adaptable,” says Jorge Izquierdo, vp of market sort at PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Applied sciences. “The trends rising across packaging and processing mediate a decided industry priority: doing extra with much less while asserting quality, security, and sustainability.”

Top Packaging Trends

Synthetic Intelligence

AI is changing into a well-known instrument in both packaging and processing. It helps producers work extra efficiently, decrease tools downtime, give a clutch to product quality, and cope with labor challenges. Essentially based fully on PMMI’s 2026 reveal, Building an AI Advantage in Packaging Tools, among the crucial largest advantages of AI come from utilizing it to piece records, predict repairs needs, meet regulations, and enjoy records more uncomplicated to adore.

As an different of proper sorting out AI, extra firms are if fact be told utilizing it in day after day operations. AI is helping optimize manufacturing traces, catch issues early, and toughen better dedication-making, giving producers a bonus as operations change into extra advanced.

Sustainability

Sustainable packaging stays a indispensable point of curiosity, with elevated ask for recyclable, compostable, and light-weight solutions. Producers are prioritizing packaging designs that toughen round financial system targets while asserting shelf charm and product protection.

Automation and Robotics

Robotics and automation are expanding swiftly across packaging traces, helping decrease labor dependence and offers a clutch to throughput. Case packing, palletizing, and pick-and-set purposes are among basically the most broadly adopted.

Versatile Packaging Enhance

Versatile packaging formats, equivalent to pouches, waft wraps, and stick packs, proceed to execute market piece attributable to their effectivity, convenience, and reduced subject matter utilization.

Modular and Quick-Alternate Packaging Tools

Producers are hunting for packaging systems that enable sooner changeovers, shorter manufacturing runs, and greater SKU variability. Tools flexibility is changing into foremost for assembly market ask.

Dapper Packaging and Traceability Tools

Linked packaging solutions, including QR codes and digital labeling, are helping give a clutch to traceability, compliance, and user engagement while supporting transparency initiatives.

Top Processing Trends

Meals Safety and Hygienic Tools Design

Processing tools is increasingly being engineered with sanitation in mind, supporting stricter meals security requirements and minimizing contamination risk through hygienic create rules.

Digitalization and Industry 4.0 Integration

Linked processing tools, records analytics, and proper-time monitoring tools are being primitive to provide a clutch to visibility into performance, effectivity, and quality befriend watch over.

Predictive Upkeep and Tools Reliability

Predictive repairs applied sciences are helping facilities decrease unplanned downtime by figuring out set on, vibration, and performance disorders earlier than disasters occur.

Power and Water Efficiency

Sustainability efforts are riding investments in processing systems that decrease water use, optimize energy consumption, and toughen corporate environmental targets.

Gaining a Aggressive Advantage

“Firms that embody these trends are better ready to work extra efficiently, meet regulations, give a clutch to product quality, and discontinuance competitive as market demands proceed to grow,” Izquierdo says.

Produced by PMMI, PACK EXPO East continues to aid as a key shuttle blueprint for packaging and processing mavens hunting for the most contemporary machinery, materials, and records shaping the attain forward for manufacturing. This year’s show veil highlights major trends accelerating across the industry, including AI, automation, sustainability, digitalization, and tools designed for greater flexibility and effectivity.

With 500 exhibitors, covering 125,000 bag sq. ft of show veil spot, PACK EXPO East brings solutions for greater than 40 vertical markets, including meals and beverage, life sciences, cosmetics and personal care, and industrial and family chemicals.

PACK EXPO East facets machinery that helps packaging and processing firms work sooner, safer, and extra efficiently. The show veil highlights reside demos of tools love computerized machines, robotics, and versatile systems which may perhaps perhaps perhaps be more uncomplicated to commerce over between products.

Attendees can specialize in purposeful solutions designed to diminish downtime, give a clutch to quality, and toughen new packaging kinds and manufacturing needs.

Contemporary for 2026, PACK EXPO East introduces the Containers and Supplies Pavilion, designed to aid trace owners, kit designers, and producers locate the most contemporary advances in paperboard, glass, steel, versatile, and resealable packaging.

Besides, the Reusable Packaging Pavilion, subsidized by the Reusable Packaging Association, offers attendees knowledgeable guidance on most productive practices for adopting and optimizing reusable packaging systems.

“PACK EXPO East has change into a indispensable match for packaging and processing mavens on the East Flit,” says Laura Thompson, vp, alternate reveals, PMMI. “The 2026 show veil brings collectively new facets, purposeful training, and unmatched access to suppliers and solutions, giving attendees a decided advantage as they notion for the year forward.”

Training

PACK EXPO East 2026 offers a sturdy lineup of free tutorial programming, including Industry Speaks and Innovation Stage sessions led by industry experts and exhibitors. These sessions tackle well timed subjects equivalent to AI, automation, operational effectivity, 2D barcodes, meals security, and sustainability, and provide actionable insights attendees can put collectively staunch now.

Session highlights embody:

AI and Automation in Labeling and Artwork Administration: Are You Ready?

Presented by Bart Meersschaert, presales reply architect at Esko

Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2:00 p.m.

Sustainable Packaging in Word: The Perfect, the Arduous, and the Fundamental

Presented by Jessica Adkins, vp, corporate accountability, security & quality at Bonduelle Americas

Wednesday, Feb. 18, 1:30 p.m.

Building an AI Advantage in Processing and Packaging Operations

Presented by Jorge Izquierdo, vp, market sort at PMMI

Thursday, Feb. 19,11:00 a.m.

The show veil will characteristic two sessions on Atomize of day 2027.

Unlocking Atomize of day 2027: How Tech Providers Can Lead the 2D Revolution

Presented by Steven Keddie, senior director, Computerized Identification and Data Hold (AIDC) and SME lead at GS1 World Office and Andrew Morehead, director of worldwide requirements at GS1 US

Tuesday, Feb. 17, 11:30 a.m.

Making ready for GS1 Atomize of day 2027: A Standpoint on the Retail Industry’s Next Evolution

Presented by Clay Ryan, head of worldwide enterprise sort for Amazon Transparency

Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2:30 p.m.

A Must-Attend Event for Industry Professionals

From executives and engineers to trace managers and kit designers, PACK EXPO East is the set dedication-makers come to express solutions, alternate tips, and switch initiatives forward. With planning tools love My Expose Planner, the PACK EXPO East Mobile App, and visual category search, attendees can maximize their time on the show veil ground and join with the right kind companions sooner.

For further records and to register, consult with www.packexpoeast.com.

About PMMI

PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Applied sciences, represents greater than 1,100 producers and suppliers of tools, parts, and materials moreover to suppliers of associated tools and services and products to the packaging and processing industry. We work to come a diversity of industries by connecting user goods firms with manufacturing solutions through the field-class PACK EXPO portfolio of alternate reveals, main alternate media, and a wide vary of resources to empower our people. The PACK EXPO alternate reveals unite the field of packaging and processing to come the industries they aid: PACK EXPO Global, PACK EXPO Las Vegas, PACK EXPO East, PACK EXPO Southeast, EXPO PACK México, and EXPO PACK Guadalajara. PMMI Media Neighborhood connects producers to the most contemporary solutions, trends and innovations in packaging and processing year-round through producers including Packaging World, ProFood World, Healthcare Packaging, OEM, Contract Manufacturing and Packaging, and Mundo EXPO PACK. PMMI Industry Drivers aid people in pursuing operational excellence through crew sort initiatives, carry actionable enterprise intelligence on financial, market, and industry trends to toughen people’ enhance recommendations, and actively join the provide chain all through the year.

Be taught extra at pmmi.org and packexpo.com and pmmimediagroup.com.