Monday, April 14, 2008

Packaging Automation Forum We still have openings for attendees for the 3rd Packaging Automation Forum. It's May 20 at the Marriott Schaumburg (Chicago area). Featured presentations include those from engineers from Unilever, P&G and Genentech plus more. Weâo[dot accent]ll be exploring how developing technologies can pay big benefits for companies of all sizes. In "Remote Functionality to the Rescue," grout manufacturer Laticrete International and systems integrator PACsys describe a state of the art hardware/software solution that enables Laticrete to make mechanical adjustments to their packaging operations a continent away. If you come, you can not only tell me what you think about the industry or my blog--you can also network with leading solution providers and other attendees from companies such as PepsiCo, Arpac LP, Kliklock-Woodman, The Wrigley Co., Estee Lauder, Adept Technologies, Coors Brewing, Multivac, Clorox, Kraft Foods, Mettler-Toledo, Nestle, Pearson Packaging, P&G and more. We have a new opportunity this year. On May 19, OMAC will hold a Make2Pack Workshop with a Connect-and-Pack demo. 4:32:34 PM    comment []

Virtual Forum Several years ago, I was a proponent of the idea of virtual trade shows. The company I worked for tried one that flopped. Now with technology improvements and increased available bandwidth, another company is trying to build a business on it. It also just announced an online forum. I'm a little puzzled about how the forum works, but the concept sounds interesting. The company is PlatformQ and the forum is the Virtual Energy Forum. The Forum runs from June 10-12 and is online only. Its promotion says that it will "connect thousands of corporate executives with sustainability experts, innovators in energy efficiency and conservation, and providers of cleantech products and services." The forum features live streaming video presentations also giving the audience the opportunity to ask questions in real time. There are six industry-specific tracks. Included is a virtual trade show with virtual booths from "over 50" leading technology companies. People from the exhibiting companies will be available to chat over the Internet during show hours. Confirmed speakers to date include senior energy executives from Nike, Marriott, Unilever, Whole Foods, Raytheon, the U.S. Department of Energy; as well as Dick Munson, author of such books as "From Edison to Enron: The Business of Power and What it Means for the Future of Electricity" and "The Power Brokers." When I asked the PR person whether executives could be expected to sit at their computers for two days listening to the presentations live, he indicated that they wouldnâo[dot accent]t have to. So, I donâo[dot accent]t know how the presentations work "live." The virtual trade show is interesting. The company, of course, hope that this idea replaces live trade shows. By the way, the company promotes this energy forum as "green" since no one travels to attend. 9:28:57 AM    comment []