This year’s Pack Expo in Chicago, US (November 3–6), almost 48,000 attendees visited over 2,700 packaging companies in what was the industry’s biggest trade show globally. Medical packaging was a major theme, with numerous companies showcasing their latest product designs and production machinery, and highlighting the challenges in advancing pharmaceutical packaging amid workforce shortages and impending legislation. According to the US Chamber of Commerce, more than 50 million workers quit their jobs in 2022, following 47.8 million who did so in 2021. In 2023, another 30.5 million workers resigned by August. These trends have impacted manufacturing throughout the country and driven the demand for automation and AI-based production solutions.
