State of the packaging industry: 3 key insights from PACK EXPO 2025
Celebrating its 30th anniversary, PACK EXPO 2025 Las Vegas welcomed over 35,000 attendees and 2,300 exhibitors to explore the latest in packaging and processing. Across the show floor, the spotlight was on automation—from proven material handling solutions to the latest advances in smart conveyance, palletizing, labelling, filling, inspection and more.
The OTTO team spent three days engaging with manufacturers across over 40 vertical industries to gain insight into the challenges manufacturers face and the state of their operations. Here’s what we learned.
1. Flexibility is crucial to keeping pace with shifting consumer demand
CPG manufacturers attend PACK EXPO seeking ways to boost efficiency, improve safety, and reclaim valuable floor space. To achieve these goals in an industry where consumer demands are constantly shifting, flexibility is a requirement for any automation solution manufacturers consider. Rapidly shifting demand, seasonal SKUs, and frequent line changeovers mean production lines must adapt quickly without costly downtime.
On the show floor, this need was reflected in solutions like autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) that can be redeployed where needed, modular conveyors that adjust on demand, and custom label printing to support rapid SKU changeovers.
2. Sustainability is a powerful influence on innovations in packaging automation
Companies are facing growing pressure from both regulatory actions and rising consumer expectations to reduce packaging waste, eliminate dyes, cut carbon emissions, and improve recyclability. Consumers are also increasingly seeking sustainable products, often favoring brands that prioritize eco-conscious practices.
Sustainability is a top priority for manufacturers—98% now have a sustainability or ESG policy, nearly half formalized company-wide. Many are restructuring facilities and investing in new technologies to support these initiatives. At PACK EXPO 2025, this focus was clear: one pavilion highlighted “Reusable Packaging,” two main stages centered on green manufacturing, and innovations on the show floor included recycled films, mono-material packaging, compostable laminates, and new recyclability technologies.
3. Autonomous operations are moving from concept toward reality
With persistent labor shortages and rising consumer demand, connected systems are moving from “nice to have” to business critical. Today, manufacturers are prioritizing investments that progress them towards end-to-end automation and orchestration technologies, enabling machines, software, and robotics to operate seamlessly together across the production cycle.
At PACK EXPO 2025, Rockwell Automation and OTTO demonstrated what that vision looks like in practice.
PACK EXPO 2025 Las Vegas reinforced that the packaging and manufacturing landscape is evolving rapidly. Companies that embrace innovation and invest in versatile, integrated solutions will be best positioned to thrive in this competitive, fast-changing industry.
Learn more about how OTTO works for the food and beverage and consumer packaged goods industries.