Herndon, Va. – Over the last year and a half pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers have shifted their operational priorities to focus on efficiency, productivity, automation and health & safety, according to the Packaging and Processing – Coming Through COVID-19 white paper produced by PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies. The need to invest in new packaging equipment is strong with 84 percent of survey respondents indicating increased investment through 2021.

Automation is high on the agenda in many sectors, including pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturing. Process automation has many longer-term benefits in terms of speed, efficiency and increased productivity. When asked about plans for investment in automated machinery, one third (31 percent) of respondents said they are currently using, and will continue to use, automated machinery as a substitute for appropriately qualified manpower. Another 30 percent said they had plans to introduce automation for that reason in 2021. One thing the white paper makes clear: even if pharmaceutical companies have only added automation in response to the demands of the pandemic, these changes most likely will remain.

Additionally, the issue of long term, high-tech remote support solutions, saving the time and expense incurred on in-person site-visits by maintenance people is important to these end users. The PMMI white paper reports more than half (56 percent) of respondents are using remote access and/or plan to invest more heavily in this technology in 2021.

As pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers continue to navigate the current manufacturing environment, exhibitors at Healthcare Packaging EXPO and PACK EXPO Las Vegas 2021 (Sept. 27-19, Las Vegas Convention Center) will display the latest solutions to improve efficiency, productivity, automation, health & safety and remote access.

With over 1,500 exhibitors, no other event in 2021 will bring together a more comprehensive gathering of suppliers offering new products, technologies and solutions. Healthcare Packaging EXPO offers the widest range of equipment and technology solutions for life sciences, serving as the only event with packaging and processing suppliers showcasing targeted solutions for pharmaceutical, medical device, nutraceuticals and biologics alongside crossover solutions from related industries, such as food and beverage.

Featuring free education events such as the brand-new PACK to the Future Stage, with presentations by industry experts on advancements such as sustainable solutions, smart packaging and artificial intelligence. The ever-popular Innovation Stage, the Forum and countless networking opportunities at Healthcare Packaging EXPO and PACK EXPO Las Vegas, produced by PMMI, provide opportunities for the more than 20,000 executives and plant managers, engineers, brand managers and packaging designers who come to see machinery in action, connect with suppliers, network and gain the latest perspective on a plethora of industries in over 40 vertical markets.

PMMI continues to monitor local state and federal guidelines to provide a safe and productive event for all. With its PACK Ready health and safety program, PACK EXPO Las Vegas and Healthcare Packaging EXPO will reunite the packaging and processing community, implementing thorough and up-to-date protocols for a successful in-person event. Learn more at packexpolasvegas.com/packready.

Registration, which includes access to both Healthcare Packaging EXPO and PACK EXPO Las Vegas, is $30 through Sept. 3, after which the price increases to $130. For more information and to register online, visit packexpolasvegas.com.