FDBusiness.com

The PPMA Show 2018, which takes place at the NEC in Birmingham from 25 to 27 September, has unveiled a first-class industry-responsive conference programme that looks set to create a forum for education, knowledge share and debate.  The free to attend conference sessions will run over the first two days of the show in the Enterprise Zone, with a programme devised to focus on some of the key issues facing modern manufacturing.  These include topical issues such as Brexit, Industry 4.0, cyber security, robotics, automation and optimisation, augmented reality, as well as tackling the ongoing debate surrounding the impact of lastics in packaging.

Lord Mark Price.

Headlining the programme will be two of the most respected and influential business leaders in the UK, Lord Mark Price and Jonathan Warburton.

With less than a year to go before Brexit on 29 March 2019, Lord Mark Price will dedicate his keynote address to looking at how business can prepare for life post-Brexit.  Lord Price is a former Minister of State for Trade and Investment, whose previous roles have included Managing Director of Waitrose and Deputy Chairman of the John Lewis Partnership.

Jonathan Warburton is the current Chairman of Warburtons, the largest family-owned bakery business in the country, whose business has seen a 60% increase in turnover under his leadership.  A fifth- generation member of the Warburton family and a hugely respected industry figurehead, Jonathan worked his way up through the junior ranks of the business to become Chairman in 2001.  His keynote address will focus on how to build long-term sustainable businesses by drawing on his own experiences of spearheading the growth of the Warburton business into a highly successful £550m turnover organisation.

Visitors will also hear from Nick Brown, Head of Sustainability at Coca-Cola Enterprise, and a host of thought leaders from the processing and packaging industry, who will share their insight into how to improve production line efficiencies and future-proof operations.

“The Enterprise Zone will be a central focal point for visitors who will be attending the show to see the latest display of innovations and technologies.  There’s also the opportunity to learn and take away creative ideas to enhance their own businesses,” says Dr Andrew Mint, CEO of the PPMA Group. “We have devised a conference programme that will add value to the PPMA visitor experience and offer the perfect balance of informative, educational and thought-provoking presentations, while still allowing visitors the time to walk the aisles and explore all the hands-on equipment demonstrations and new product launches at the show.”

Presentation highlights will include:

Day One:  Tuesday 25 September

• KEYNOTE ADDRESS: How to Brexit proof your business delivered by Lord Mark Price
• Q&A Panel Discussion: How will the proposed new regulations coming from both DEFRA & Brussels impact on the FMCG market’s use of Plastic?  Featuring Mike Baxter, External Affairs Director, RPC bpi; Gail Hunt, Editor, Machinery Update; Nick Brown, Head of Sustainability, Coca-Cola.
• Smart technologies & robotics for packaging optimisation by Alexandre Flory from Schneider Electric
• A&IP and how it fits into modern production by Andrew Manly at Active & Intelligent Packaging.

Day Two:  Wednesday 26 September

• KEYNOTE ADDRESS: How to build a long-term sustainable business – Jonathan Warburton
• The future of food manufacturing (preservation technologies & safety management) led by Craig Leadley, Campden BRI
• Robotics & automation – Mark Swainson from the National Centre for Food Manufacturing
• Augmented reality & the Virtual factory – Matt Rayment from the Manufacturing Technology Centre
• Processing Emulsified Sauces: A development project case study – Soren Steffensen & Ulrika Brintje of Tetra Pak will be joined by a Tetra Pak customer for interactive discussion.
• Cyber security for packaging manufacturers & Industry 4.0 – Richard Werran, Director of Food at BSI Group.

Jonathan Warburton.

The first two days of the conference schedule will start at 10.00 and run until 15.45 with a lunchtime Champagne networking session between 12.00 and 13.00.  Day three will be dedicated to addressing the skills gap; another significant challenge facing the industry, when PPMA’s BEST (Business, Education, Skills & Training) initiative will host 60 students and introduce them to the potential career opportunities available within the processing equipment and packaging machinery industry.

A full up-to-date PPMA 2018 conference schedule can be viewed at

www.ppmashow.co.uk/enterprise-zone/programme

“This year, we are really excited to offer such a high calibre speaker line up, with presentations that cover the topics that really impact our sector,” says Andrew Mint.  “With so much change in our industry, the PPMA Show provides visitors the opportunity to see the very best technologies available, as well as experience and learn something new. The combination of quality technology demonstrations and new product launches on display, coupled with our free thought-provoking and insightful conference programme, means that this year’s Show will again offer something of value to everyone.”

To obtain a FREE visitor badge to the PPMA Show 2018, visit the PPMA Show website at: www.ppmashow.co.uk.