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Technological breakthroughs and lively show-floor demonstrations keep PACK EXPO visitors coming back for more
One of the most telling indicators of a successful, long-running trade-show is arguably the number of repeat visitors it is able to attract, and by this measure, the biennial PACK EXPO International in Chicago may well be in a league of its own.
One of the many happy returnees working the McCormick Place show-floor next month is Bill Edgar, packaging analyst at Fetzer Vineyards of Hopland, Ca., who is on a mission to seek out the latest in advanced packaging materials, stretchwrappers and robotic depalletizing equipment.
Edgar's previous visit to PACK EXPO International led to the purchase of servo-driven case-packers that boosted the winemaker's case-packing efficiency by 65 per cent.
A popular brand with consumers worldwide, Fetzer had outgrown the capabilities of its older pick-and-place system, which could only process specific bottle sizes and shapes, according to Edgar.
"We couldn't run reverse taper bottles or six-packs on our old equipment," explains Edgar. "We needed a solution that would be compatible with all of our brands, and also offer flexibility for future growth."
Ranking as the sixth-largest producer of premium wines in the U.S., Fetzer Vineyards is renowned for its environmentally-conscious grape growing and production techniques, which ensure high quality and value, while minimizing impact on nature.
In the mid-1980s, the company purchased and transformed the rustic Valley Oaks Ranch into a world-class training and education center for the wine trade, making a firm commitment to grow all of its grapes organically. Along with organic farming, Fetzer's environmental philosophy also focuses on carbon emission mitigation, energy conservation, waste reduction, sound water management, and earth-friendly packaging.
To maintain its status as one of the world's largest producers of certified...