FEBRUARY 5--From January to November 2006, United States exports of packaging machinery increased 7% compared to the same period of 2005, totaling US$783 million. US imports of packaging machinery increased 6%. The data, based on US Census estimates and reported by the Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Institute (PMMI; Arlington, VA, USA), trade association for the packaging industry, reflect the overall economic impact of the US packaging industry.
Packaging is a critical component of all branding, merchandising, and promotional strategies. Brand owners rely on product packaging to gain a competitive advantage in the local, national, and global marketplace. Packaging-machinery manufacturers transform packaging concepts into tangible products. Machinery design and capabilities continue to advance helping speed a product's time to market.
"The November numbers indicate a solid international demand for US packaging machinery," said Charles D. Yuska, president and CEO of PMMI. "PMMI member companies are aware of brand owners' needs. In addition to introducing new and advanced machinery, they also provide solutions and services that help brand owners gain a competitive edge in the marketplace and boost overall operational efficiency."
According to the PMMI's 12th Annual Shipments and Outlook Study, released in September 2006, growth in US packaging-machinery shipments can be attributed to end users expanding production lines to accommodating new product introductions and package designs. In effect, end users continued to replace older packaging machines with new models featuring state-of-the-art technology and promising rapid return on investment.
"PMMI is optimistic that the industry will continue to experience solid growth in 2007 based on the consistent rise of 2006 Census numbers and positive sales cycle projections," noted Yuska. "In addition, we experienced record-breaking attendance at PACK EXPO International in October 2006. The show continuously exemplifies its strong impact on the packaging industry, bringing together the international packaging community under one roof."
