PPMA puts cogs in motion for revamped September show

The PPMA Show will provide the setting for the largest industrial gathering in the UK when it returns to Birmingham’s NEC on 27-29 September 2011. The organisers, Reed Exhibitions, are promising a revamped and refreshed outlook for the show, which concentrates exclusively on the processing and packaging machinery market.

Already the largest ever show in terms of floor space, the exhibition will welcome more than 300 world-class suppliers, each dedicated to helping visitors improve their manufacturing productivity and efficiency in the food, drink, pharmaceutical and cosmetic sectors.

Alongside the exhibition, The PPMA Show will play host to number of attractions to keep the visitor and exhibitor audience up-to-date with the latest industry developments and trends. LIVE machinery demonstrations will give visitors the opportunity to witness and examine the latest top-of-the-range equipment to hit the market. Whilst The Manufacturing Forum (sponsored by B & R Industrial Automation) will welcome experts to discuss and debate ongoing challenges, and come up with solutions to industry issues. Returning for what is set to be another successful year, Interplas, the leading international forum for the plastics industry will once again be co-located with The PPMA Show.

Speaking of the new revamped programme for 2011, Archana Sharma, Marketing Manager for The PPMA Show, commented: "We are really excited to get the ball rolling for this year’s PPMA Show. The 2009 edition was a great chance to witness a selection of cutting-edge equipment launches, but this year we want to get even further under the skin of the industry. With constant innovation in the processing and packaging machinery world, there is no better time to bring the industry together and thrash out these latest advances."

What’s more, the show is also going digital for the first time ever this year. The show organisers are launching an interactive social media campaign ahead of the event, which will provide exhibitors and visitors with the chance to share insights and keep up-to-date with show announcements, industry news and product launches.

The aim of the Linkedin group – www.linkedin.com – is to facilitate communication and ideas sharing between likeminded industry professionals. Members of the group will be regularly updated with relevant show developments, whilst the discussion forum will allow exhibitors and visitors to share insights with one another. The organisers are also using the platform as a means of gaining feedback from all stakeholders to ensure the show is meeting their key objectives.

Archana Sharma concluded: "We are very excited about launching The PPMA Show into the social media sphere. Feedback from our exhibitors and visitors has highlighted to us that business social and digital communications channels are becoming increasingly important in the industry. We now recognise that online networking is absolutely integral to our marketing communications and our aim for this year is make 2011 the most interactive PPMA show to-date – watch this space!"