Las Vegas is a city that plays host to thousands of pleasure seekers every day, with people trying their luck at the casinos, checking out the shows, or lounging by the hotel pools. However, from September 29 to October 1, the city’s massive convention center will welcome an estimated 35,000+ attendees, checking out 2,300 exhibitors stretched out over about 1 million square feet of space at PACK EXPO Las Vegas—and they all mean serious business.

Three decades of innovation
The 2025 edition of PACK EXPO Las Vegas marks the event’s 30th. Show organizer PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, puts on a calendar full of events for people working across the CPG field—including bakers and snack makers—throughout the year (check the PMMI trade show calendar for the full list). The most significant events happen in the fall, alternating years: PACK EXPO International, which takes place in Chicago, and PACK EXPO Las Vegas. The biennial events offer attendees a chance to view the latest technology, materials, and other solutions up close. What’s more, the various show features enable producers, partners, and other stakeholders to make useful connections.

“PACK EXPO Las Vegas is where the industry shows up—not just to see machines run, but to meet the people driving the industry forward,” says Jim Pittas, PMMI president and CEO. “It’s where conversations become partnerships and where ideas turn into real-world solutions.”

According to PMMI, PACK EXPO Las Vegas is slated to be the largest such gathering of industry professionals on the 2025 event calendar. The list of attendees represents more than 40 different vertical markets, with the opportunity to tailor their show-going experience to the specific needs of their industry through specialized pavilions, educational sessions, lounges, and other targeted features.

With the million square feet of space and event-packed agenda, PACK EXPO Las Vegas might feel like a daunting prospect for first-time attendees. To help newbies get situated and settle into the action, PMMI offers two features. First, the First-Time Attendee Lounge (found in Room S-220) offers a welcoming space for people unfamiliar with the program. Sponsored by ProMacInc., the space offers attendees several resources providing assistance on everything from ways to navigate the show, guidance on accessing locators, and simply time to recharge their tradeshow batteries. Then, there are two options for folks to tour the floor: the PACK EXPO Discovery Tours (sponsored by Formic) for folks looking to connect with automation solutions; and the Sustainability Tour (backed by Anchor Packaging) for CPG brand owners hunting for eco-conscious solutions.

Education and insights
The PACK EXPO Las Vegas agenda includes a wide range of programming to help attendees expand their knowledge in several key areas.

• Innovation Stage: This area offers concentrated 30-minute talks covering everything from the latest technologies, to industry best practices, to expert insights. Topics include robotics and automation, digital readiness and literacy, cybersecurity, sustainability, and more.
• Processing Innovation Stage: Like the previous show section, this stage also offers 30-minute presentations, but with a focus on concerns of interest to food and beverage manufacturers.
• Industry Speaks: Here, attendees can sit in on presentations by thought leaders from various PACK EXPO Las Vegas partner associations, with sessions on certified-food-safe packaging, consumer trends in snacking, control of robotics, and more.
• Reusable Packaging Learning Center: Considering reusable containers are of particular interest to bakery companies, snack producers, and other packaging customers, this show area will feature sessions on logistics, material handling, supply-chain intelligence, and more.

Gathering and doing good
On the morning of Tuesday, Sept. 30, attendees of all genders are invited to the Packaging & Processing Women’s Leadership Network (PPWLN) Breakfast. Available to any registered attendees (RSVP is required), the annual event delivers the opportunity for people to connect with peers, share experiences, and build their business knowledge over a morning meal. The event features an inspirational speaker every year—this year’s presenter is Alison Fragale, who is an organizational psychologist, professor at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, leadership expert, and bestselling author. Her book Likeable Badass: How Women Get the Success They Deserve delivers a wealth of practical advice on how to build a career with boldness and authenticity. The breakfast is made possible by a range of sponsors:

• Gold Sponsors: Morrison Container Handling Solution, ProMach
• Silver Sponsors: BW Packaging, Emerson Discrete Automation Group, Plexpack Corp., Septimatech Group, SMC Corp. of America, Smurfit Westrock
• PMMI Benefactor Sponsor: Schneider Electric.

To encourage young packaging and processing professionals, PACK EXPO Las Vegas is hosting the Young Professionals Networking Reception on Monday, Sept. 29. Sponsored by Beckhoff Automation, the event gives future industry leaders the chance to meet up and connect with peers in a fun and relaxed environment—this year, the Cove Bar & Arcade. As is the case with many PACK EXPO social events, the reception is free to attend but RSVP is required.

One highlight of each PACK EXPO offers visitors a blend of networking, charity, and fun. PACK Gives Back (sponsored by Rockwell Automation) takes participants off the Las Vegas Convention Center floor for an exclusive performance of Cirque du Soleil’s Mystère, open only to ticketholders. Taking place the night before PACK EXPO Las Vegas’s official opening, the event will take place on Sunday, Sept. 18, at Treasure Island. Proceeds will benefit PMMI Foundation, the organization’s charitable arm that works to bolster the future of the packaging workforce by providing scholarships and promoting industry employment opportunities. Visit the event page for more information or to register.

Education and insights
Vision 2030 provides unparalleled networking opportunities among packaging and processing industry leaders. During these interactive sessions, industry professionals gain valuable connections, insights, and new perspectives around common operational challenges – while helping to develop innovative solutions. Four sessions are planned at PACK EXPO Las Vegas covering the following topics: From Paper to Digital Intelligence - Knowledge Transfer for Machine Operators; Securing the Future of Packaging and Processing: Collaborative Cybersecurity for OEMs and CPG companies; Beyond Manuals: Setting the Right Expectations for Operator Training on Modern Packaging Lines; and The Dirty Work: Automation in Food and Beverage Equipment Sanitation of the Future. Participation is free on a first-come, first-served basis. Visit the Vision 2030 page to select your session and register. Breakfast or lunch will be provided.

In addition, dedicated resource centers, such as the Association Partner Pavilion and the Education and Workforce Development Pavilion, provide structured settings for meeting with industry organizations and talent development leaders. A complete list of special events and networking opportunities can be found here.

PACK EXPO Las Vegas attendees can harness their competitive spirit while they explore the show with the annual Scavenger Hunt, which uses mobile technology to pit participants against each other. To take part, users log into the My Show Planner feature on the mobile app, then explore 10 key locations on the show floor. At each post, signs will offer unique codes that the participant enters to prove they made it to the location. All competitors that visit all 10 designated stops will be entered to win one of three $1,000 gift cards.

Visit the packexpolasvegas.com for more information or to register. SF&WB