PACK EXPO East and PACK EXPO International both earned a place on Trade Show Executive’s prestigious Fastest 50 and Next 50 lists for being among the fastest-growing trade shows in 2024. Produced by PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, both shows continue to set the standard for innovation and comprehensive solutions in the manufacturing industry. The Fastest 50 & Next 50 honorees are selected based on the percentage of growth in three categories: net square feet, number of exhibiting companies, and number of attendees.
PACK EXPO East earned a spot on the Fastest 50 list for growth in all three categories. PACK EXPO East had its largest show to date in 2024, attracting 7,977 attendees and over 500 exhibitors across 120,000 net square feet at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia. The event is the premiere regional show for consumer-packaged goods and pharmaceutical companies to find the latest innovative solutions for their manufacturing needs.
PACK EXPO International earned a spot on the Fastest 50 list for growth in the number of exhibiting companies and was also placed on the Next 50 list for total attendance. PACK EXPO International, which took at McCormick Place in Chicago, was the largest packaging and processing show of 2024. It brought together 48,000 attendees and 29,500 exhibitor personnel, reaching 77,500 in total attendance. A record number of 2,700 exhibitors occupied 1.32 million net square feet of space, making PACK EXPO International the largest show in its history and the biggest event at McCormick Place in 2024.
“We are honored to see PACK EXPO East and PACK EXPO International recognized among the Fastest 50 and Next 50 shows,” says Jim Pittas, president and CEO of PMMI. “This achievement reflects the rapid growth of the packaging and processing industry, the groundbreaking innovations emerging in areas like AI, robotics, and sustainability, and the dedication of our team in delivering world-class events that keep pace with industry trends.”
View the complete list of honorees.
“The growth of PACK EXPO East and PACK EXPO International reflects the industry’s increasing demand for cutting-edge solutions and meaningful connections,” says Laura Thompson, vice president, trade shows, PMMI. “Our commitment to delivering world-class events that showcase the latest advancements in packaging and processing continues to drive record-breaking attendance and exhibitor participation. We’re excited to build on this momentum with the debut of PACK EXPO Southeast in 2025.”
Next for PMMI is the debut of its newest show, PACK EXPO Southeast (March 10-12, Georgia World Congress Center), the most comprehensive packaging and processing show taking place in the southeast in Atlanta. The show is shaping up to be larger than PACK EXPO East with a sold-out exhibit floor featuring over 500 exhibitors spread over more than 110,000 net square feet.
Learn more at: packexposoutheast.com.
