Industry Reports
Quantifiable outlook of specific markets or trends as it pertains to the packaging and processing industry.
2019 Robotics Innovation 2 Implementation
2019 Robotics: Innovation 2 Implementation, published by PMMI – The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, examines the evolving role of industrial robotics in processing and packaging, drawing on interviews and industry data through 2018 to compare recent adoption against prior forecasts. Focus areas include workforce development and training, knowledge capture and service models; sensor-enabled digitization, AI and unified controls; and end-of-arm tooling, hygienic design and flexible changeover. The analysis indicates adoption tends to expand beyond automotive into food, CPG and life‑sciences and that implementations generally show stronger integration, modularity and aftermarket service needs; charts highlight adoption patterns and implementation tradeoffs. The report reveals where engineering teams are prioritizing investments to strengthen operational resilience.
2019 Flexible Packaging Market Assessment
The 2019 Flexible Packaging Assessment Report, published by PMMI – The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, examines market and technology shifts in flexible packaging using 2018–2019 industry surveys, expert interviews and market intelligence. Analysis indicates three priority focus areas: product and format innovation, including convenience-led pouch formats and specialty closures such as stand-up pouches, spouts and resealable zippers; operations and equipment, including automation, flexible smaller-footprint machinery and enhanced service models; and sustainability and channel adaptation, including material choice, recycling initiatives and e-commerce-driven retail-ready requirements. Emerging patterns show manufacturers balancing shelf-life gains with supply-chain constraints, and charts highlight benchmark comparisons across regions and end-use sectors. The report reveals where engineering teams are prioritizing investments to strengthen operational resilience.
2019 Craft Breweries and Distilleries Machinery and Automation Trends
2019 Craft Breweries & Craft Distilleries: Machinery and Automation Trends, published by PMMI – The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, examines evolving production, packaging, and automation choices across U.S. craft beverage SMEs, drawing on industry data and operator interviews from 2010–2018 for comparative context. Focus areas include constrained floorplans with modular, mobile equipment; phased automation and hybrid labor strategies; rapid small-batch changeover and SKU management; and outsourcing, distribution and packaging shifts tied to sustainability. The analysis indicates firms tend to adopt compact solutions such as mobile filling and labeling lines, leverage contractors for peak demand, and charts highlight emerging patterns in investment priorities. Download the full report to see where engineering teams are prioritizing investments to strengthen operational resilience.
2019 Education and Workforce Development Best Practices
2019 Education & Workforce Development Best Practices Report, published by PMMI – The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, examines talent pipeline challenges and retention strategies through a 2019 survey of North American small and medium manufacturers, interviews, and case studies and benchmarks practices across industries. The analysis indicates three focus areas—workforce development and retention (apprenticeships, internships, high-school and college partnerships), talent management and incentives (dedicated HR, flexible career paths, targeted recruiting), and knowledge capture for retiring workers (mentorship, phased schedules, advanced notice)—while charts highlight recruiting channels and training approaches; emerging patterns show faster hiring where assessments and digital screening are used. The report reveals where engineering teams are prioritizing investments to strengthen operational resilience.
Millennial Purchasing and Trade Shows 2018
Millennial Purchasing & Trade Shows, published by PMMI – The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, examines how Millennials engage with industry events and shape buying processes, drawing on 2018 attendee surveys, in‑depth interviews and PMMI member validation. The analysis indicates distinct focus areas: trade‑show experience and engagement such as hands‑on demonstrations, healthier food and peer networking; research and decision behavior including online research, LinkedIn and pre‑show demos; and event tools and app features like advanced search and pre‑event planning. Findings generally show Millennials value in‑person technology demonstrations while tending to rely on digital research and peer reviews; charts highlight these comparative patterns and recommended tactics. The report reveals where organizers and vendors are prioritizing investments to increase Millennial engagement and event ROI.
2018 Vision 2025 PACK EXPO International
Vision 2025 Report, published by PMMI – The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, examines the operational pressures and strategic responses facing CPGs, OEMs and contract packagers from the 2018 PACK EXPO International sessions, drawing on panel discussions, roundtable dialogue and participant-ranking data. The analysis indicates several focus areas: equipment flexibility and changeover efficiency such as modular tooling and late-stage differentiation; automation and IIoT adoption paired with data-management and predictive-maintenance pilots; and workforce development and retention alongside knowledge capture and on-demand training. Emerging patterns show stronger cross-functional collaboration and supplier partnerships to benchmark investments, and charts highlight converging priorities across stakeholders. The report reveals where engineering teams are prioritizing investments to strengthen operational resilience.
2018 Personal Care Industry Trends
Personal Care Industry Trends, published by PMMI – The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, examines packaging and packaging machinery implications across the 2017–2018 timeframe using industry surveys and market repositories, benchmarking regional shifts. Focus areas include supplier selection and serviceability, including spare part proximity and turnkey offerings; machinery flexibility and automation adoption, such as modular designs and robotics that reduce changeover and simplify cleaning; packaging formats and material transitions, including standup pouches, tubes and glass versus rigid plastics; and safety, traceability and regulatory pressures. The analysis indicates emerging patterns that generally show trade-offs between innovation and operational complexity, and charts highlight comparative trends across segments. The report reveals where engineering teams are prioritizing investments to strengthen operational resilience.
Taste of Processing Trends Around the World 2018
Taste of Processing Trends Around the World, published by PMMI – The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, examines global food and beverage processing dynamics across the 2015–2020 window using industry sources such as IHS Markit and regional benchmarks to contextualize change. The analysis indicates shifting focus areas, including automation and modular line design such as decentralized drives and servo systems linked with increased automation content; regulatory and food-safety drivers reshaping machinery requirements; and market and consumption trends that tend to vary by region, from beverage to dairy segments. Charts highlight adoption patterns and supply-chain implications, while emerging patterns show workforce, digital-tool, and traceability priorities. The report reveals where engineering teams are prioritizing investments to strengthen operational resilience.
2018 Breadth of Press Offerings for Digital Packaging Printing
Breadth of Press Offerings for Digital Packaging Printing, published by PMMI - The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, examines the U.S. digital packaging market in 2018 using surveys, interviews, and data to present market sizing, vendor offerings, and adoption drivers. The analysis indicates key focus areas: technology and press landscape tied to inks, substrates, and regulatory constraints; supply-chain optimization and just-in-time printing to reduce warehousing; and customization and SKU/versioning strategies, alongside converter economics, workflow integration, and workforce readiness. Emerging patterns generally show broader vendor entry across applications including labels, folding carton, and corrugated, while charts highlight trade-offs among productivity, cost, and sustainability. The report reveals where brands and converters are prioritizing investments to strengthen packaging agility and supply-chain resilience.
2018 E-Commerce: Think Inside the Box
2018 E‑Commerce: Think Inside the Box, published by PMMI – The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, examines recent multi‑year market trends and stakeholder interviews combined with public data sources to assess how online retail is reshaping packaging and processing. The analysis indicates several focus areas—pack protection and right‑sizing (materials and corrugated strategy), machine flexibility and automation (shorter runs and IIoT readiness), supply‑chain models and fulfillment (3PL versus in‑house, last‑mile options), and traceability with anti‑counterfeit measures—where emerging patterns show shifting investment priorities. Charts highlight corrugated and machine‑buying trends and the report integrates examples including right‑sized shippers, flexible end‑of‑line equipment, and wearable‑enabled warehouses. The report reveals where packaging and processing leaders are prioritizing investments to strengthen operational resilience.
E-commerce is not only changing the rules of the game, it's starting a whole new game. This research report explores the impact and changes e-commerce is creating along the consumer supply chain, from product manufacturing to delivery. In this report you'll walk through the challenges at each stage of the supply chain, learn what opportunities to look for and what the advantages of moving quickly can be. You'll also explore solutions for e-commerce with a glimpse at what tomorrow might look like.
Industrial Robot Opportunities in Food and Beverage Processing
Industrial Robot Opportunities in Food and Beverage Processing, published by PMMI – The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, examines evolving robot technologies and adoption trends across the food and beverage sector using industry market data and studies from 2015–2018. Focus areas include technology and applications—robot types, end-of-arm tooling and machine vision for quality control; operational and regulatory readiness—hygiene, wash-down design and safety for cobot collaboration; and economic and workforce implications—total cost of ownership, systems-integration constraints and reskilling strategies. The analysis indicates manufacturers tend to pilot cobots and AI-enabled vision for pick-and-place and quality tasks, while charts highlight expanding addressable use cases from secondary packaging to primary processing. The report reveals where engineering teams are prioritizing investments to strengthen operational resilience.
2018 Pharmaceutical Packaging & Processing Equipment
Five Factors Spur Growth in Pharmaceutical Packaging and Processing Equipment, published by PMMI – The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, examines market and equipment drivers across industry studies and forecasts. Drawing on PMMI’s 2017 and 2018 reports and global pharmaceutical data through 2017–2021, the analysis indicates several focus areas: regulatory traceability and serialization, including supply‑chain tracking and coding requirements; market expansion in pharmerging regions and patent/R&D dynamics, such as patent expiries and new drug launches; functional, user‑centric packaging like easy‑open formats; and equipment innovation and digital‑tool adoption, including cabinet‑less machinery and decentralized controls. Emerging patterns show benchmarks and adoption tendencies, and charts highlight comparative trends. The report reveals where engineering teams are prioritizing investments to strengthen resilience.
Top to Top Summit 2018 Report
Top to Top Summit Report, published by PMMI – The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, examines findings from the 2018 Top to Top Summit and Vision 2025 focus groups (PACK EXPO Las Vegas 2017), synthesizing qualitative input, panel and roundtable discussions, and OpX Leadership Network work products to benchmark industry practice. Key focus areas include workforce development and retention—training, knowledge capture, and simplified HMIs; machine innovation and interoperability—automation, modular design, and remote diagnostics; and e-commerce and distribution strategies—fulfillment models and packaging adaptations. Analysis indicates common priorities and trade-offs, charts highlight comparative patterns across CPGs and OEMs, and emerging themes generally show collaboration and data-sharing as drivers. The report reveals where engineering teams are prioritizing investments to strengthen operational resilience.
2018 Big Data to Enhance Manufacturing Processes
How to Utilize Big Data to Enhance Manufacturing Processes, published by PMMI – The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, examines how manufacturers collect, process, and apply production data to improve quality, uptime, and flexibility. Drawing on a 2018 whitepaper with industry interviews and cross-sector case studies, the analysis indicates implementation choices and benchmarks that tend to influence outcomes. Key focus areas include workforce skills and change management; data strategy and infrastructure from sensors to hybrid cloud; and analytics-to-action covering user interfaces, alarm handling and asset prioritization. Applications such as predictive maintenance, machine vision sorting and recipe consistency generally show operational gains, while charts highlight trade-offs across sectors. Download the report to see where leaders prioritize investments that strengthen resilience.
This white paper starts by introducing some of the early applications of big data analytics in food and beverage processing. It then consolidates findings and best practices learned from other industry sectors, and is used to answer critical questions any potential user of big data analytics should consider prior to embarking on their own projects, including: Where is investment needed? How to deal with data? What are the challenges faced? What are the potential returns on investment (ROI)?
2018 Snack Foods Packaging and Processing Market Assessment and Trends
2018 Snack Foods – Packaging and Processing Market Assessment and Trends, published by PMMI – The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, examines market dynamics and equipment implications across North America and select global markets using market data through 2017 and interviews with industry stakeholders. The analysis indicates two primary focus areas: operational resilience—machine flexibility and faster changeovers paired with sanitary design and enhanced detection systems—and market response—flexible-pack formats, SKU proliferation and e-commerce that favor contract manufacturers and automation. Emerging patterns show investments tend to favor adaptable pouch and case equipment, including stand‑up pouches, flow wrappers and vertical FFS, and charts highlight regional benchmarks and trade-offs. The report reveals where engineering teams are prioritizing investments to strengthen operational resilience.
2018 Global Trends Food and Beverage Processing
2018 Food & Beverage Processing Machinery Report, published by PMMI – The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, examines trends in the U.S. market using 2016 base-year sales and production data and forecasts through 2021, drawing on IHS Markit, U.S. government statistics and industry sources. Analysis indicates three focus areas: modernization and automation—modular designs, robotics, and IIoT-enabled controls—that tend to improve flexibility and reduce labor; food-safety and traceability—sterilized processing, CIP, and serialization—that generally drive investment in hygienic design and software integration; and workforce, outsourcing and remote service models that tend to reshape capital and aftermarket strategies. Charts highlight cross-sector comparisons and trade context. The report reveals where engineering teams are prioritizing investments to strengthen operational resilience.
2018 Beverage Trends in Packaging and Processing
Beverage Trends in Packaging and Processing Operations, published by PMMI – The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, examines evolving packaging, processing and supply-chain dynamics across North America and projects implications through 2028 based on 2018 industry interviews, supplier input and market forecasts. The analysis highlights three focus areas: packaging innovation and materials (notably aluminum, PET and glass innovations), manufacturing and supply chain resilience (labor, co-packer capacity and logistics) and automation and equipment strategies that speed changeovers and enable predictive maintenance. Emerging patterns indicate consumer-driven premiumization and convenience trends—such as slim cans and resealable closures—and charts highlight shifting material and equipment demand. The report reveals where engineering teams are prioritizing investments to strengthen operational resilience.
The premium and ultra-premium segments of just about every beverage category have experienced very strong growth in recent years. Mid-tier brands, particularly in the spirits industry, have been refreshing their packaging to present a more premium image through enhanced labels, more sophisticated closures, and eye-catching, shelf ready packaging. Consumers’ increasing desire for natural and organic products has driven the increased use of glass bottles and cartons – two containers with a healthier and environmentally friendly image among most consumers. PMMI's 2018 Beverage Trends report features robust information on consumer trends, retail trends regulations and manufacturing and supply chain and should serve as your guide to today's Beverage Industry.
Global Trends Impacting The Market for Packaging Machinery 2018
2018 Global Trends Impacting the Market for Packaging Machinery, published by PMMI – The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, examines market drivers, regional shifts, and technology implications for packaging machinery across a multi-year (2016–2021) forecast using IHS Markit data and industry interviews. The analysis groups focus areas around sustainability and material innovation (recycled content and packaging minimization), flexible-packaging adoption and machine adaptation (pouches versus rigid formats), operational economics and CapEx–OpEx tradeoffs, and workforce development, knowledge capture and documentation, and digital-tool adoption and version control such as serialization and traceability systems. Emerging patterns indicate regional variation and adoption trends; charts highlight comparative benchmarks and scenario outcomes. The report reveals where engineering teams are prioritizing investments to strengthen operational resilience.
2017 Vision 2025 Pack EXPO Las Vegas
Vision 2025 Report, published by PMMI – The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies in 2017, examines trends gathered from Vision 2025 focus groups at PACK EXPO Las Vegas and related industry engagements to benchmark near‑term CPG manufacturing and supplier practices. The analysis indicates three clustered focus areas—workforce development and retention with knowledge capture and documentation; equipment and process innovation for flexible, quick changeovers; and digital adoption and data‑integrity initiatives such as Industry 4.0, remote diagnostics, and e‑commerce fulfillment—where emerging patterns show tradeoffs among speed, cost and compliance; charts highlight cross‑company comparisons and implementation pathways. The report reveals where manufacturing leaders are prioritizing investments to strengthen operational resilience.
2017 Cannabis Industry White Paper
Here to Stay or Up in Smoke? A Look at the U.S. Cannabis Market, published by PMMI – The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, examines the evolving U.S. cannabis sector across recent five-year trends and emerging regulatory shifts using state regulatory data, market channel reports, and industry interviews. Focus areas include regulatory and financial constraints—federal–state tensions and banking reluctance; packaging and processing requirements—child‑resistant and format-specific needs as products move from flower to edibles; and operational resilience—testing, track‑and‑trace, automation, and workforce evolution. Analysis indicates regional variability and innovation opportunities, and charts highlight comparative adoption patterns across markets. The report reveals where industry leaders are prioritizing investments to balance compliance and scale operations.
Most people involved with the cannabis industry are aware of the risks, especially in terms of legal status, but believe the potential rewards out-weigh them. Overall, there is a belief that cannabis will become a main-stream, but heavily regulated, product in the U.S. in the next 10 years, like alcohol and tobacco. Large food and beverage companies are eying the market and positioning themselves to be ready to move once the federal threat is removed. In the meantime, because processing, packaging and retail must be state-specific, suppliers to the cannabis industry must have local teams that understand the regulations and peculiarities of each market. Cannabis manufacturers are actively looking for equipment and technology OEMs to aid them with implementing new processes and technologies, especially in automation. Many opportunities exist to form strong and lasting relationships with these manufacturers – especially for the OEMs that offer technical guidance and are willing to take on a bit of risk.
