Packaging and logistics face tightening regulation and rising demand for automation. Two days at the NEC Birmingham bring suppliers of materials, machinery and outsourced packing together with technology providers for coding and traceability.
Dates opening times and venue
Packaging Innovations Birmingham +Empack 2027 runs from 24 to 25 February at the National Exhibition Centre. Opening hours are Wednesday 24 February 10 00 to 17 00 and Thursday 25 February 10 00 to 16 00. Activities occupy halls 6 to 9.
Industry profile and exhibitor mix
The event gathers companies working in primary and secondary packaging alongside machinery vendors, automation specialists and robotics suppliers. Contract packing and fulfilment providers attend together with startups focused on sustainable materials and smart packaging solutions.
Highlighted zones and programme features
The show includes an Automation and Robotics Zone with live demos and an Empack Tour to see machinery in action. There are Pitch the Co-packers sessions, an Expert Trail with CPD accredited content and presentation areas such as the Discovery Theatre and the Museum of Failure. Material sourcing is supported by Material Connexion.
Key figures on attendance and offering
The event lists 8,021 visitors and more than 500 exhibitors. Over 3,000 brands are present and the conference programme features more than 120 speakers. Those numbers illustrate the scale of supplier choice available in Birmingham.
Commercial prospecting and networking tactics
Use the official event app to prebook meetings and shortlist stands to visit. Set three priorities per day: equipment to evaluate, alternative suppliers to benchmark on cost and potential contract packers for capacity spikes. Allocate at least 30 minutes for machinery demos to observe full cycles and capture technical performance data to compare with your specifications.
Bring standard evaluation sheets and specific technical questions. When assessing outsourcing partners ask about scaling capabilities, lead times and traceability measures. For automation vendors request performance cases and OEE metrics when available.
Closing note and official link
For procurement and operations teams this edition helps link sustainable material options with automation pathways that reduce labour cost and improve throughput. Check the programme and exhibitor list on the official site at http://www.packagingbirmingham.com to schedule the most relevant meetings in advance.
