Events Galore, Business is Thriving

September was quite a month for trade shows and conferences in the flexible packaging arena. I attended CPP/Print 13, Pack Expo Las Vegas, and the Flexible Packaging Association Fall Executive Conference. I also paid a visit to two separate companies. All of these visits and meetings with company owners and operators shared a similar story: Business in the flexible packaging industry is good, and is only getting better.

Consistently, I’m getting reports and forecasts that business for flexible packaging is only growing and becoming more prosperous. This is great news for anyone involved in this sub-sector of the packaging industry. It seems a few key points are being hit, which is making the flexible packaging industry thrive.

It’s clear that flexible packaging suppliers and converters are listening to their customers. What the customer needs and wants, the customer gets. This can include innovative materials and techniques, adhesive and barrier properties that help keep products at their peak, appealing graphics and inks used in printing, low logistics cost, ease-of-use and reclosability, and sustainable and even recyclable options. Flexible packaging is hitting every key component of packaging needs, and then some.

The industry is constantly striving to introduce a new innovation or improve upon an existing one. Partnering with other companies is a big component of the industry’s success as well.

So despite the common news that business is slowing or stagnant (which, in some sectors, it is!), business for the flexible packaging industry is doing wonderfully!  

Erin J. Wolford is editor in chief of Flexible Packaging magazine, www.flexpackmag.com, a business publication for those in the flexible packaging industry. Wolford has been in publishing since 2005. Email her at wolforde@bnpmedia.com.