ACMA at PackExpo 2024: Cutting-edge Technologies for the Diverse American Market

ACMA's participation in Pack Expo 2024 in Chicago underscores the strategic importance of the American market for the company, which has been a leader in packaging solutions for consumer goods for 100 years. The U.S. market is characterized by diverse and constantly changing sectors, requiring advanced and flexible technologies to meet the evolving needs of consumers. With its long-standing experience and ability to innovate, ACMA positions itself as a key partner for companies operating in fast-moving markets, such as the food industry, with specific expertise in niches like bakery products. This particular packaging sector has seen significant global growth, with a market value estimated at $3.4 billion in 2022 and a forecasted CAGR of +4.8% until 2032, with North America accounting for over 40%.

However, bakery packaging technologies won't be the only highlights. At the exhibition, ACMA will present innovative solutions designed to meet the packaging needs of another key sector of the American market: e-commerce. The logistics sector in the United States is currently experiencing exponential growth, with a market value exceeding $1.2 trillion in 2022 and a forecasted CAGR of +8.99% until 2029. Pack Expo will also be an ideal opportunity to showcase the company’s achievements in liquid packaging, emphasizing its strong commitment to innovation and sustainability. High-performance machines tailored to specific sector needs, flexible and compatible with eco-friendly materials, will take center stage, responding to the latest trends and industry regulations.

Flow Pack Packaging for Bakery Products... And More!
Flow pack packaging technologies are part of the DNA of the Italian company, which has been designing and developing machines for decades that combine high-level performance with flexibility, making them suitable for a wide range of applications. In Chicago, the BF 450 will be on display, a horizontal machine for forming, filling, and flow pack packaging of food products in single or multiple packs (bakery, confectionery, snacks, and bars), with a specific focus on cookies. This machine offers superior packaging quality and excellent seal integrity, thanks to the option for both cold or hot sealing.

The BF 450 is easy to operate and maintain: the cantilever design and user-friendly digital HMI simplify interaction and access to functions, optimizing wrapping times and everyday operations such as cleaning and format changeovers. Based on the same platform, the company developed the SF 450, a version dedicated to flow pack packaging of soap bars. One of the key features of ACMA’s flow packers is the ability to use all main packaging materials, including recycled plastics and, in the future, paper-based materials.

E-SWL: A Customized Solution for E-commerce Packaging
Another major innovation is E-SWL, an advanced ACMA solution designed for the e-commerce sector. This machine is designed to produce customized paper bags in real-time based on the size of the products being packed. The machine significantly reduces the amount of packaging material around the product, resulting in material savings and a reduced environmental impact. Scalable, flexible, and easy to use, it allows on-demand printing and the insertion of any type of documentation within the package, with real-time customization. Thanks to integrated data management—between the machine, Warehouse Control System (WCS), and Warehouse Execution System (WES)—the machine ensures error-free order processing by delivering only compliant packages. Additionally, E-SWL dynamically aligns with the operator's pace, synchronizing production speed with the product load and ensuring no empty bags.

LRF: The New Platform for Liquids
The liquid filling sector is also particularly developed in North America, covering specific areas such as personal care, household care, and oils, both edible and mineral. These are products with different production requirements and characteristics such as density, viscosity, and chemical composition, requiring specialized technologies for filling and packaging. To meet these needs, ACMA has developed the new LRF machine platform. The new family of liquid machines will not be on display in Chicago, but ACMA staff will be available to explain its features. ACMA’s LRF platforms offer flexibility, precision, and ease of use, allowing quick format changes without tools and ensuring precise filling through the net weight system. The "smart filling" approach minimizes waste, optimizing dosing speed based on the product characteristics. Maintenance is simplified thanks to a design that reduces operating costs, and the OptiMate and PerforMate digital platforms support effective and real-time production monitoring. Once again, ACMA is committed to sustainability, collaborating with bottle manufacturers to integrate recycled or compostable materials into production lines.

“ACMA’s participation in Pack Expo 2024 – says Roberto Ponzinibbi, CEO of ACMA – represents a unique opportunity for us to showcase to the American market, after years of offering confectionery wrapping solutions, our strong presence in the world of flowpacking. We are proud to present a solution designed for the bakery sector, which is particularly active and vibrant in the North American market. We invite the media to visit us at booth S-2501 to discover our latest innovations up close and discuss the future of packaging with our team of experts.”