Industry Reports
Quantifiable outlook of specific markets or trends as it pertains to the packaging and processing industry.
2021 Beverage Trends Driving Change
2021 Beverage Trends Driving Change, published by PMMI – The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies in June 2021, examines industry shifts using interviews with beverage manufacturers and aggregated market data through 2020–2021 with forecasts to 2025. The analysis indicates four focus areas: sustainability and material sourcing, from rPET adoption to alternative formats; functionality and convenience driving SKU expansion and new formulations; flexible equipment and digital-tool adoption, including IIoT, robotics, and smart automation; and workforce, safety and pandemic-driven hygiene practices. Emerging patterns show supply-chain constraints and capital reallocation, and charts highlight equipment and format trends—download the full report to see where engineering teams are prioritizing investments to strengthen operational resilience.
2021 Cybersecurity: Assess Your Risk
2021 Cybersecurity: Assess Your Risk, published by PMMI – The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, examines cyber threats to manufacturing through 2020–2021 incident analyses, industry surveys, and expert interviews to map vulnerabilities and response gaps. Key focus areas include IT/OT convergence and network segmentation, IIoT/cloud/edge risk and secure-update practices, workforce and insider risk management and training, and OEM/supplier chain-of-custody with remote-access controls; examples range from unsecured sensors to compromised service portals. The analysis indicates organizations tend to underinvest in tested recovery plans, and charts highlight common attack vectors and detection challenges. The report reveals where manufacturers and OEMs are prioritizing investments to strengthen cyber resilience.
Packaging and Predictive Maintenance
Packaging and Predictive Maintenance, published by PMMI – The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, examines how early‑2021 survey and interview research of packaging and processing stakeholders assesses adoption, barriers, and comparative value of predictive maintenance relative to other digitization initiatives. The analysis indicates three focus areas: data and sensing strategy, which considers smart sensors, drives‑as‑sensors and PLC telemetry for run‑time and electrical signals; business models and monetization, from per‑sensor subscriptions to Machines‑as‑a‑Service and OEM incentives; and operational enablers, including cybersecurity and remote access, legacy integration, and workforce knowledge capture. Charts highlight adoption patterns and common downtime drivers, and emerging patterns show practical paths to scale; the report reveals where engineering teams are prioritizing investments to strengthen operational resilience.
Pharmaceutical & Medical Devices — Trends & Opportunities in Packaging Operation
Pharmaceutical & Medical Devices: Trends & Opportunities in Packaging Operations, published by PMMI – The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies in November 2020, examines packaging operations across pharmaceuticals and medical devices using industry interviews and public data sources to benchmark near- and mid-term investment priorities. The analysis indicates three focus areas—regulatory traceability and serialization (including DSCSA and UDI compliance), automation and digitalization (such as IoT, remote diagnostics, and robotics), and flexible, sustainability-oriented production to support personalized and high-mix manufacturing—framed against supply-chain pressures and COVID-era disruptions. Charts highlight comparative equipment needs and ROI considerations, and emerging patterns show where capital is being directed. The report reveals where engineering teams are prioritizing investments to strengthen operational resilience.
Trends in Adoption of Remote Access: Moving Forward During Covid 19
Trends in Adoption of Remote Access, published by PMMI – The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, examines how CPGs, OEMs and system integrators responded to remote-support demands during the early COVID-19 period (survey and focus-group research conducted in 2020). The analysis indicates evolving focus areas—workforce and knowledge capture, IT/OT alignment and cybersecurity governance, and remote-access architectures and vendor models (from direct VPNs to black-box and external managed secure networks). Emerging patterns show adoption and investment priorities tend to reflect operational risk trade-offs; charts highlight differences in acceptance and planned investment. The report reveals where engineering teams are prioritizing investments to strengthen operational resilience.
Secondary Packaging Trends: Retail | E-Commerce | Direct-to-Consumer
Secondary Packaging Trends, published by PMMI – The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, examines evolving end-of-line strategies and channel-driven packaging choices using 2020 survey responses, expert interviews, and market research to benchmark practices across CPGs and SMEs. Focus areas include automation and robotics adoption—emphasizing flexible changeover, vision inspection, and line integration—sustainability and material innovation from recyclable corrugate to tray-and-film alternatives, and channel impacts such as e-commerce/DTC demands for durability, right-sized boxing, and branded unboxing; outsourcing and co-packing to manage SKU proliferation are also explored. The analysis indicates manufacturers tend to prioritize flexibility and traceability, and charts highlight emerging patterns across channels. The report reveals where engineering teams are prioritizing investments to strengthen operational resilience.
Automation Timeline: The Drive Toward 4.0 Connectivity in Packaging & Processing
Automation Timeline: The Drive Toward 4.0 Connectivity in Packaging and Processing, published by PMMI – The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, examines industry progress and barriers between 2017 and 2020 using interviews with CPG manufacturers, sector surveys, and market indicators. Focus areas include workforce development and retention, knowledge capture and documentation, and digital-tool adoption and integration, with the analysis indicating persistent hurdles around ROI, skills, and legacy systems. Emerging patterns show robotics and IIoT expanding beyond end-of-line, while predictive analytics and cloud strategies gain traction; charts highlight comparative adoption trends and integration gaps. The report reveals where engineering teams are prioritizing investments to strengthen operational resilience.
Contract Packaging and Manufacturing Packaging Operations - Trends and Challenge
2020 Contract Packaging and Manufacturing: Packaging Operations, Trends and Challenges, published by PMMI – The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, examines North American CPCM dynamics from 2018–2025 using primary interviews, investment data and comparative benchmarks. The analysis indicates three focus areas: workforce development and retention, where labor constraints tend to accelerate automation adoption; knowledge capture and documentation, addressing serialization, traceability and anti-counterfeiting; and digital-tool adoption and version control, encompassing IoT-enabled tracking, labeling upgrades and equipment lifecycle management. Emerging patterns show sustainability and e-commerce are reshaping formats — from flexible pouches to aseptic cartons and PET bottles — and charts highlight regional investment and equipment-sourcing pressures. The report reveals where contract packaging leaders are prioritizing investments to strengthen operational resilience.
Packaging Sustainability: A Changing Landscape
2020 Packaging Sustainability: A Changing Landscape, published by PMMI – The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies in March 2020, examines how CPGs, OEMs, and material suppliers are adapting machines, materials, and formats to meet evolving sustainability commitments. Drawing on 60 interviews and 100 industry sources, the analysis indicates three focus areas: operational readiness including machine modifications, automation, and sensor-driven dashboards; material and supply-chain innovation such as resin choices, mono-materials, and PCR-enriched options; and systemic enablers including consumer education, recycling infrastructure, and policy alignment. Emerging patterns show trade-offs between cost, performance, and circularity, and charts highlight common machine and format challenges. The report reveals where engineering teams are prioritizing investments to strengthen operational resilience.
A CPG's decision to buy new equipment or modify existing equipment depends on many factors in their drive toward more sustainable packaging. Some CPGs are looking to buy new equipment, while others are looking to make modifications or alterations to existing machines when specifically addressing sustainable packaging changes. Find out what's happening in the packaging industry by downloading PMMI's report on sustainability.
Trends and Drivers Impacting the Pet Food Industry
2020 Trends and Drivers Impacting the Pet Food Industry, published by PMMI – The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, examines market shifts from 2019 through recent forecasts and synthesizes primary interviews and industry sources such as Dynovel and Euromonitor to assess implications for processing, packaging, and commercial strategy. The analysis indicates several focus areas—packaging and e-commerce–driven SKU complexity; ingredient innovation and nutraceutical integration affecting processing; equipment modernization emphasizing modularity, sanitation, and compact footprints; and sustainability, regulation, and co‑packing strategies guiding sourcing and distribution—illustrated by charts that highlight regional and benchmark comparisons and including examples such as ovens, fillers, and screening equipment. Download the full report to explore where pet food companies are prioritizing investments to strengthen operational resilience.
Cannabis Market Update: Unique Challenges for THC and CBD Products
2020 Cannabis Market Report: Cannabis Market Update — Unique Packaging Challenges for THC and CBD Products, published by PMMI – The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, examines industry dynamics from recent market rollouts through near-term projections using interviews, government guidance, and market analytics to compare U.S. state-by-state and Canadian national experiences. The analysis indicates converging focus areas around regulatory and labeling compliance, automation and flexible machinery adoption, packaging format strategies and sustainability, and workforce capacity and training needs, with suppliers and OEM partnerships emerging as a common benchmark. Charts highlight shifting formats from dried flower to concentrates and edibles and show where packaging automation is gaining traction. The report reveals where engineering teams are prioritizing investments to strengthen operational resilience.
Industrial IoT Readiness
Industrial IoT Readiness, published by PMMI – The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, examines industry survey data and a Cargill case study collected through 2020 to assess maturity and implementation patterns for IIoT across sectors and regions. The analysis indicates three focus areas—infrastructure and integration (network design, software interoperability, legacy equipment), people and governance (skillsets, IT–OT collaboration, training and change management), and data and security (data collection, analytics, cloud adoption and cybersecurity)—where comparative benchmarking and regional contrasts generally show strengths and gaps. Charts highlight operational barriers and implementation pathways, and emerging patterns indicate how organizations move from proofs of concept to scaled deployments. The report reveals where engineering teams are prioritizing investments to strengthen operational resilience.
2019 Vision 2025 PACK EXPO Las Vegas
Vision 2025 Report, published by PMMI – The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, examines insights gathered during the 2019 PACK EXPO Las Vegas Vision 2025 sessions and synthesizes participant input from panels, roundtables and workshop rankings to assess operational priorities. The analysis indicates three focus areas—asset reliability, multifunctional equipment and changeovers, and RFP process and collaboration—intersect with workforce capability and organizational dynamics, shaping readiness and investment decisions. Emerging patterns show companies tend to struggle with legacy equipment, knowledge capture, and cross-functional alignment while generally favoring modular design, standard work, and earlier OEM engagement, with charts highlighting comparative benchmarks and stakeholder-ranked themes. The report reveals where engineering teams are prioritizing investments to strengthen operational resilience.
2019 Trends and Advances in Food Packaging and Processing
Trends and Advances in Food Packaging and Processing, published by PMMI – The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies in November 2019, examines drivers, constraints, and technology adoption shaping food manufacturing, drawing on industry interviews and market research sources. The analysis indicates key focus areas — sustainability and materials innovation, including recyclable films and compostable substrates; automation and integration, including robotics, IIoT and PackML-ready connectivity; and sanitation-driven design paired with clean-label and traceability practices — that tend to influence capital planning and supplier partnerships. Comparative benchmarks and charts highlight sector and segment trends over recent years; download the full report to see where engineering teams are prioritizing investments to strengthen operational resilience.
2019 Aftermarket Opportunities for OEMs
2019 Aftermarket Opportunities Assessment, published by PMMI – The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies in October 2019, examines aftermarket services and parts across packaging and processing industries using interviews with manufacturers, equipment providers and suppliers and by benchmarking trends from 2015–2019. The analysis indicates four focus areas—workforce development and retention with knowledge capture and mentorship; inventory management and predictive forecasting for spare parts; training, remote diagnostics and blended learning; and service models and OEM value‑adds such as consignment and machine‑as‑a‑service—where patterns tend to affect uptime and procurement behavior, and charts highlight adoption of tools including video conferencing, AR/VR and 3D printing. The report reveals where engineering teams are prioritizing investments to strengthen operational resilience.
2019 Senior-Friendly Healthcare Packaging
Senior-Friendly Healthcare Packaging, published by PMMI – The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, examines senior-focused design and market readiness using 2019 interviews with manufacturers, technology suppliers and retailers alongside public market and regulatory sources. The analysis indicates three strategic focus areas—labeling and closures, including sharper text, contrasting graphics and easier-open tabs; smart technologies and digital verification, such as dosage-tracking caps, QR-enabled instructions and authentication tools; and supply-chain traceability and e-commerce readiness, encompassing serialization and fulfillment adaptation. Emerging patterns show implementation tends to be cautious due to cost and regulatory trade-offs, and charts highlight adoption barriers and potential ROI. The report reveals where engineering teams are prioritizing investments to strengthen operational resilience.
2019 Nutraceuticals Market Assessment
2019 PMMI Nutraceuticals Market Assessment, published by PMMI – The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, examines market shifts and operational implications for nutraceutical manufacturers using 2017–2019 market data, industry interviews, and trade sources. Analysis indicates five focus areas: packaging formats and materials—movement from glass toward pouches, stick packs and shrink sleeves for eCommerce and portability; machinery and small-batch processing—demand for modular pilot-plant equipment; product innovation and delivery formats—CBD, gummies and ready-to-mix beverages; regulatory and traceability pressures including QR-enabled disclosures; and sustainability and shelf-life tradeoffs. Charts highlight comparative global and U.S. patterns and emerging supplier constraints. The report reveals where nutraceutical manufacturers are prioritizing investments to strengthen operational resilience.
Omnichannel Retail
2019 Omnichannel Retail, published by PMMI – The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, examines how e-commerce-driven shifts are reshaping packaging, production and distribution across the integrated supply chain, benchmarked against traditional distribution models. Drawing on 2018–2019 industry surveys, vendor interviews and case studies, the analysis indicates rising emphasis on supply-chain integration and real-time visibility. Focus areas include integrated data and collaboration (breaking down silos), packaging durability and channel strategies (from channel-specific to universal formats), automation and warehouse modernization (robotics and AGVs), and fulfillment innovations such as last-mile delivery and returns. Charts highlight deployments including RFID and QR-enabled smart labels, box-on-demand and automated guided vehicles. The report reveals where engineering teams are prioritizing investments to strengthen operational resilience.
2019 Vision 2025 ProFood Tech
Vision 2025, published by PMMI – The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, examines the operational impact of mass customization in food and beverage processing using findings from a 2019 ProFood TECH session, panel and roundtable discussions with live audience voting. Across CPGs, OEMs and co-packers, the analysis indicates three focus areas: changeover optimization and modular equipment design such as drop-down PLC recipes; collaboration and co‑manufacturer partnerships including earlier OEM involvement; and hygienic design emphasizing sanitation and CIP. Emerging patterns show companies tend to prioritize flexible line segmentation, late-stage differentiation and small-scale prototyping, while charts highlight participant rankings and qualitative themes that benchmark industry practices. The report reveals where engineering teams are prioritizing investments to strengthen operational resilience.
Top to Top Summit 2019 Report
Top-to-Top Summit Report 2019, published by PMMI – The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, examines insights from the March 10–12, 2019 summit by synthesizing panel conversations, roundtable discussions and participant rankings across CPGs, OEMs and contract packagers. The analysis indicates three focus areas—obsolescence management and lifecycle planning, robotics adoption and integration, and AR/VR for remote access and training—framing workforce development and knowledge capture, digital-tool adoption and platform standardization as cross-cutting concerns. Comparative benchmarks and practitioner-sourced examples, including risk assessments, modernization kits and wearable-enabled service, illustrate trends, and charts highlight consensus areas and divergence. The report reveals where engineering teams are prioritizing investments to strengthen operational resilience.
