Food & Beverage Asia June/July 2022

10
NEWS
APPMA announces AUSPACK transition to APPEX
The Australian Packaging and
Processing Machinery Association
(APPMA), has announced that its
flagship exhibition AUSPACK is
transitioning into an all-of-industry
event: APPEX – Australasian
Processing & Packaging Expo.
Mark Dingley, chairman of APPMA,
revealed the news at the APPMA
Awards of Excellence gala dinner
when winners of the national
awards programme for Australia’s
packaging and processing industry
were announced. APPMA has run its
flagship event, AUSPACK, since 1985.
INDUSTRY SUPPORT
Dingley said in representing Australia’s
leading packaging and processing
machinery and allied component
companies, the APPMA aims to
promote, integrate, and foster
participation and development
at all levels of the packaging and
processing machinery industry.
He added that the development of
APPEX had strong industry support.
Tania Carey, general manager of Food
Processing Equipment Australia &
New Zealand, said: “We had
never thought joining APPMA
until we learned about these
changes. This is a great change
for the industry in Australia and
one we believe will set future
expos on an exciting new path.”
Dingley said: “These two
comments are among many from
APPMA research into developing
APPEX, and with all of this broad
industry momentum, now is the
time to transition AUSPACK into
the all-of-industry event APPEX.”
CHANGES AND BENEFITS
The transition to APPEX will
occur after the current AUSPACK
is completed, with APPEX
running in March 2024, and every
three years thereafter. The event
will be anchored in Melbourne.
“Three yearly is an optimal
cycle for a large show with
more exhibitors and visitors,
it is a neater flow with other
international shows and
facilitates better alignment with
developments in new technology.
APPMA chose Melbourne for its
position as Australia’s premier
venue for holding larger shows,
with facilities allowing APPEX
and Processing & Packaging
Week to grow while still retaining
AUSPACK’s renowned experience.
Operationally, the Melbourne
Convention and Exhibition Centre
site facilitates easier move-in
and move-out for exhibitors.”
The benefits of APPEX include
having the largest showcase
of processing and packaging
equipment, thus attracting
more targeted visitors across
all of industry, noted Dingley.
“APPEX being run by the industry
means that exhibitors, APPMA
members and key players will all
have a strong voice in the show’s
development. APPMA will continue
to reinvest the exhibition’s profits
to further support and develop
the processing and packaging
industry, Australia wide, and with
more on offer for visitors, the
Australian marketplace overall
will benefit,” he added. ■
FOOD & BEVERAGE ASIA JUNE / JULY 2022