In a move to boost attendance, Pack Expo International 2010 will feature a new Confectionery Pavilion as well as a new Processing Zone at its show, with runs from Oct. 31-Nov.3 in Chicago.

Moreover, the Grocery Manufacturers Association is partnering with the Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Institute and co-locating the first ever Manufacturing Excellence Conference during this fall’s show. The conference will deliver two days of education on topics including product safety, sustainability and operational reliability.

“By partnering with PMMI, our goal is to provide GMA members and all of our industry partners a forum where we can work to align manufacturing, engineering and plant management problem solving in the critical areas of product safety, sustainability and operational reliability,” notes Pamela G. Bailey, GMA’s president and CEO.

Both NCA and PMMI will work together to promote Pack Expo and the new Confectionery Pavilion to the candy and snack food industries. The Pavilion will occupy more than 10,000 sq. ft. at McCormick Place in Chicago.

Booth sales for the new Processing Zone have been expanded to 70,000 sq. ft., according to PMMI. The new pavilion will highlight the latest processing technologies for a range of market sectors including food, baked goods, snack food, meat, dairy, produce, beverage and more. Many of Pack Expo’s expected 1,600 exhibitors already produce both packaging and processing equipment. In the past, these exhibitors could only show packaging equipment at the show. Now, they can show both packaging and processing equipment at their booths throughout Pack Expo.

For more information, go to www.pmmi.org.