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PACK to the Future: The Story Behind the Historical Exhibit at PACK EXPO Las Vegas

Take a journey through the history of packaging, explore milestones that shaped the present, and learn more about industry trends influencing the future.

Margaret Knight’s flat-bottomed bag machine patent model. Courtesy of the Smithsonian, National Museum of American History.
Margaret Knight’s flat-bottomed bag machine patent model. Courtesy of the Smithsonian, National Museum of American History.

Pack To The Future LogoBe sure to visit PACK to the Future, a packaging exhibit that has been nearly two years in the making, on display at PACK EXPO Las Vegas and Healthcare Packaging EXPO, September 27-29 in the North Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center.

The exhibit traces the evolution of modern packaging from its roots in the Industrial Age to the present and explores current trends that are shaping the near future. The largest feature of the near 10,000 square foot exhibit is a timeline of packaging facts, images, artifacts, and machines spanning 250 years from the mid-1700s to the early 2000s. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) contributes an educational display on regulations that transformed package labeling. Presentations by packaging industry experts and business leaders on topics such as sustainability, smart packaging, and new technologies occur hourly each day on the PACK to the Future stage (schedule below). Corking tables at H.J. Heinz Company, 1901. Courtesy of H.J. Heinz Company Photographs, Detre Library & Archives, Senator John Heinz History Center.Corking tables at H.J. Heinz Company, 1901. Courtesy of H.J. Heinz Company Photographs, Detre Library & Archives, Senator John Heinz History Center.

From the beginning PMMI and curators of the exhibit Jack Aguero, president, Aguero Associates, and Brent Meyer, president, Meyer Communications, wanted PACK to the Future to be more than a “once-upon-a-time-in-packaging” citation of dates. They saw the project as a way to share some interesting educational stories and showcase many of the people who helped make the packaging industry what it is today.

Aguero and Meyer are quick to point out that PACK to the Future couldn’t have happened without the support of numerous people and organizations within and outside the packaging industry. An 11-member Advisory Board with packaging bona fides provided guidance and opened doors to their contacts at CPGs, machinery and materials companies, trade organizations, and universities. The 28 historic packaging and processing machines, dating from the late 1800s through the 1980s, are all contributed by machinery manufacturers. Hundreds of photos, facts, and stories are available for the exhibit because archivists at CPGs, museums, and other organizations generously shared content and time to work with Aguero and Meyer.

“A constant throughout this project has been the extraordinary enthusiasm and the willingness of people to give their time and share their resources and knowledge,” Aguero says. “I think it’s a testament to the people in our industry and the importance of these stories.”

Aguero credits this enthusiasm as one of the major reasons PACK to the Future stayed on track during the uncertainty created by the pandemic. The exhibit was originally planned for PACK EXPO International in 2020 but was postponed due to the pandemic. The delay created both challenges and opportunities.

“One of the biggest challenges on the project was that during the pandemic many people couldn’t access their archives or content in their offices,” Aguero says. “Despite the personal and professional uncertainty, they stuck with us and followed through.”

“The delay also gave us an opportunity to continue researching and locating new sources and information,” adds Meyer. “This extra time helped us fill in some gaps and uncover some great content. It was during the pandemic that Merck introduced us to contacts at the Smithsonian.”


Listen to article   Listen to a brief, 15-minute UnPACKed Podcast in which host Sean Riley discussed the backstory behind the PACK to the Future exhibit with curators Jack Aguero and Brent Meyer.