Up, Up and Away

PACK EXPO Drones Arrive in Philadelphia

Making their way east from their PACK EXPO Las Vegas 2017 debut, "PACK EXPO Drone Demo - Packaging for the Last Mile,” will take to the Pennsylvania Convention Center airspace in Philadelphia at PACK EXPO East 2018, April 16-18. This showcase of interactive automated packaging distribution reinforces PACK EXPO East’s status as a destination for innovation and breakthrough technology in all things packaging.

Show producer PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, will again collaborate with electric truck and drone maker, Workhorse, to bring the simulation to life. The interactive display offers a real visualization of the final process that brings a package to a consumer's home. Mock housing will populate the virtual landscape of the 2,400-square foot. exhibit, complete with mailboxes and doorsteps to accept delivered packages.

Workhorse delivery drones will take off from the top of a stationary Workhorse electric van and make deliveries. To complete the simulation, monitors outside of the drone area will broadcast the information available from the delivery van via the Metron application. The screens will also offer the drone perspective via live video from a camera mounted on the drones.

“With the eruption of ecommerce and industry giants like Amazon pioneering automated packaging distribution with their patented vision for drone centers, it’s only a matter of time until drones become part of daily operations,” says Jim Pittas, president and CEO, PMMI. “As a regional show, PACK EXPO East is the place to experience this innovative technology and explore the potential for your business."

Scheduled for hourly demonstrations, the entirely unmanned delivery system and electric-powered truck will showcase a system of automated package distribution and how the system is faster and more efficient than traditional delivery methods.

The PACK EXPO Drone Demo - Packaging for the Last Mile addresses many of the fundamental sustainability, efficiency and product safety challenges that 6,000 attendees coming to PACK EXPO East are looking to solve. In addition to the Drone Demo, attendees will find a wide range of packaging innovations among the 400 exhibiting companies.

To register, visit www.packexpoeast.com/

About PMMI

PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, represents more than 800 North American manufacturers and suppliers of equipment, components and materials as well as providers of related equipment and services to the packaging and processing industry. We work to advance a variety of industries by connecting consumer goods companies with manufacturing solutions through the world-class PACK EXPO portfolio of trade shows, leading trade media and a wide range of resources to empower our members. The PACK EXPO trade shows unite the world of packaging and processing to advance the industries they serve: PACK EXPO International, PACK EXPO Las Vegas, Healthcare Packaging EXPO, PACK EXPO East, EXPO PACK México, EXPO PACK Guadalajara and ProFood Tech. PMMI Media Group connects manufacturers to the latest solutions, trends and innovations in packaging and processing year-round through brands including Packaging World, Automation World, Healthcare Packaging, Contract Packaging, ProFood World and OEM Magazine. PMMI Business Drivers assist members in pursuing operational excellence through workforce development initiatives, deliver actionable business intelligence on economic, market and industry trends to support members' growth strategies, and actively connect the supply chain throughout the year.

Learn more at pmmi.org and packexpo.com and pmmimediagroup.com.