Curtain Rises Soon at The Pack Place Theater in NYC

Lisa McTigue Pierce | Jun 07, 2023

Packaging celebrities will step into the limelight the middle of June as presenters at The Pack Place theater during EastPack 2023. The annual event takes place this year from June 13 to June 15 at the Javits Convention Center in New York City.

The Pack Place Theater offers three days of educational sessions, free to attendees of EastPack and its co-located sister shows at the IME East mega-show: MD&M East, ATX East, D&M East, Plastech East, and Quality Expo East.

Organized by Informa Markets Engineering (aka IME and parent of Packaging Digest), the educational sessions focus on hot topics in packaging. On Tuesday, June 13, along with a couple opening sessions on packaging design, we’ll have a full program on Digital Printing. Then on Wednesday, June 14, presenters will showcase more innovation in packaging materials and design, as well as give tips and advice for packaging production. And on Thursday, June 15, we target packaging for cannabis with our CannPack sessions. See full agenda below.

The Pack Place Theater is, conveniently, located on the show floor in Booth 1901.

10:45 - 11:30 a.m.Optimize Your Workflow with AIGet an introduction into how designers are using artificial intelligence (AI) in their everyday work flow, as well as understand how AI is changing the future of design. Walk out of this conversation with a clear understanding of what AI is, what it can do, and most importantly how you can use it today.Speakers: Evelio Mattos, Creative Director of Packaging, IDPDirect.com, and Gene Portnoy, Founder at Work and Company

11:45 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.Direct to Object UV Decoration for Health and Beauty ProductsDirect-to-object UV printing is revolutionizing the health and beauty product space by providing unprecedented customization, enhanced branding opportunities, and improved product safety. This innovative printing technology involves applying UV-curable inks directly onto various surfaces, including plastic, glass, metal, and ceramics, without the need for traditional labeling or packaging methods.Speaker: Scott Einsig, National Sales Manager, Engineered Printing Solutions

1:15 - 1:25 p.m.Digital Printing: Welcome and Ice Breaker IntroductionsModerator: Frazer Chesterman, Director at FM Future

1:25 - 1:45 p.m.Paper Not Plastic: How Archipelago's Powerdrop Coating Technology is Enabling the Shift from Plastic to Sustainable Paper in Product Design and Product packagingSpeaker: Guy Newcombe, CEO at Archipelago

1:45 - 2:00 p.m.Approaching Digital Print in PackagingSpeaker: Christine Russell, Global Business Development Manager at Fujifilm

2:00 - 2:15 p.m.Is This Object Really What It Claims to Be? How The Emerging Technology of Digital Watermarking Is Contributing to Intelligent PackagingSpeaker: Mike Agness, Executive Vice President, Americas, and Sales - Latin America / North America at Hybrid Software Group PLC

2:15 - 2:30 p.m.Digital Printing with Single-Pass UV Curable InkWhere "single-pass UV inkjet" falls as a technology within the larger digital print segment, and what common print applications is it used for. Plus, potential benefits to digital vs analog printing in terms of imaging and/or accounting. And considerations of UV single-pass printing beyond imaging and costs.Speaker: Tom Shea, Regional Manager, Inkjet US & Canada at Siegwerk

2:30 - 2:45 p.m.Packaging Mock Up Creation & Extended Gamut PrintingSpeaker: Lynn Leppo, Business Development Manager - Eastern North America at CGS ORIS AMERICAS

2:45 - 3:00 p.m.Disruptive Direct to ShapeSpeaker: Scott Einsig, National Sales Manager – Strategic Accounts at Engineered Printing Solutions

3:00 - 3:15 p.m.Integrating Robotics into Digital Printing 4.0 and Creative Embellishment with Single Pass Technology in Luxury PackagingSpeaker: Matt Brooks, Global Business Director Packaging at Agfa/Inca

3:15 - 3:30 p.m.Single Pass Digital Print Technology for direct print on Pharma and Medical ApplicationsIndustrial direct printing on products has got huge advantages towards other print techniques but needs the right partner to come up with a complete solution. Knowledge about adhesion, inks, pretreatment, and curing, as well as creating an optimal print quality, are important items to deliver a total package and a solid solution for the customer. Using a practical example from an American customer, Image Gloves, this is clarified.Speaker: Peter Bergstein, Director, Bergstein

3:30 - 3:45 p.m.Industrial Inkjet for Packaging - The role of LEDWe will discuss the effective implementation of industrial inkjet digital printing with LED curing and highlight the significant advantages it offers across diverse applications. Additionally, we will delve into the future prospects of industrial digital UV printing, focusing on the sustainability aspects of LED curing, the reclassification of Mercury lamps, and the advancements in UVC and LED chips/diodes. By examining these developments, we gain valuable insights into the transformative potential of UV printing in the coming years.Speaker: Holly Steedman, Business & Technology Development, 1st Intech

3:45 - 4:00 p.m.Q&A Panel DiscussionModerator: Frazer Chesterman, Director, FM Future

10:45 - 11:30 a.m.The Hidden Truth Behind "Digital Twin" for Packaging Automation and OptimizationWhen it comes to designing or optimizing a packaging line/operation, "digital twin" is all the rage today. How is digital twin different from the simulation software/services companies have offered for decades? What are some challenges of packaging line simulation/digital twin technologies today and how do we overcome them? What's next?Speaker: Rob States, Partner, Stress Engineering Services (SES)Moderator: Lisa McTigue Pierce, Executive Editor, Packaging Digest

11:45 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.Container Closure Integrity for PharmaCCIT testing is used to evaluate pharmaceutical packaging such as vials, syringes, auto injectors and IV bags for sterile barrier integrity breaches. This presentation will review all the common CCIT methods found in USP <1207> to compare the testing options. The presentation then explores CCIT method validation approaches and pitfalls to enhance understanding of how methods can be applied to different sample types.Speaker: Jennifer Gygi, Expert Technical Consultant, Nelson Laboratories LLC

12:45 - 1:30 p.m.Under Pressure: How Regulatory Standards and Consumer Preferences Are Driving Big Changes in PackagingFrom California to Maine, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) legislation is quickly forcing changes in packaging materials. When you couple that with growing concern over our plastic pollution problem and evolving consumer attitudes toward packaging materials, a shift toward a more circular, eco-friendly packaging is no longer a "nice to have" for brands.While it might seem like a daunting task, the shift to plastic-free packaging can be quite simple. In this session, we’ll highlight inspiring stories from companies that have successfully made the transition to plastic-free packaging and offer both considerations and key steps you can take to start your plastic-free journey.Speaker: David Warren, VP Sales & Marketing, JBM Packaging

1:45 - 2:30 p.m.Winning Packaging Solutions for Ecommerce GroceryRecent robust online grocery sales — along with an impressive 12% expected growth rate for the next several years — has food and beverage companies rethinking their strategy for this channel. And omni-channel packaging designs don't seem to be as effective as packages specifically developed for direct-to-consumer shipping. See how winning designs are overcoming the significant challenges that food and beverage brands face today.Speaker: Lisa McTigue Pierce, Executive Editor, Packaging Digest

2:45 - 3:30 p.m.Panel: Opportunities and Challenges of Recycled PlasticsRecycling of plastics is critical to saving our planet and to ensure a relatively clean environment especially with all the AV and EV vehicles coming out in the near future. Multiple level manufacturing challenges of original equipment manufacturing, their assembly, individual component manufacturing — metal and plastics and now increasing the recycled content of plastic material creates tremendous amount of challenges. We review the importance and the various types of recycled plastics and how to design for recycling. Non-homogeneity of the recycled material leads to issues like inconsistency in viscosity which gives rise to quality issues. Moldex3D is able to measure the viscosity of few recycled compositions of recycled and virgin material blends and predict the viscosity for any combinations of the two. With the ability to predict viscosity of the various compositions of recycled and virgin materials, there are a lot of cost saving opportunities.Speaker: Harshal Bhogesra, Director of Sales, Moldex3D Northern America Inc.

10:45 - 11:30 a.m.Cannabis Packaging Decisions: What 90% Get Wrong (and How to Fix it Without Being Left Behind)Current trends in sustainable practices in the cannabis industry, goals, some of CANY's work and policy involvement, business urgency for sustainable practices and packaging, vision for the future and possible concepts for success.Speaker: Raphael Wechsler, Chair at New York Cannabis Growers & Processors Association

11:45 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.Spark to Shelf: A Branding Path for Non-CreativesPeople from all walks of life and with divergent skill sets start businesses every day. However, many of these folks feel anxious and out of their depth when discussing branding, product design, and marketing. Erin offers actionable steps to help companies become active participants in their own stories, so they are better equipped to hire and guide creatives in building an authentic brand.Speaker: Erin Cadigan, Chief Visionary Officer, Illuminated Leaf

12:45 - 1:30 p.m.Unpacking the Impact: Navigating Packaging Regulations and Legal Issues for Foreign Brands Entering the NY MarketIn this comprehensive session, the panel will delve into the fundamental aspects of packaging, labeling, and advertising regulations in the state of New York (NY) and explore the potential implications for foreign brands operating within this market. The panel will provide attendees with a thorough understanding of the existing restrictions and guidelines set forth by NY authorities, ensuring you are well-equipped to navigate the intricate landscape of marketing within this jurisdiction.Speakers: David Holland, President, and Andrew Schriever, Co-Founder, both at Hudson Valley & New York City Cannabis Industry Associations

More information about text formats

Looking for a job? Find career opportunities for packaging directors and managers, graphic designers, sustainability czars, and more.