PPMA joins forces with Pakex
The Processing and Packaging Machinery Association (PPMA) has healed the rift with Reed Exhibitions, organiser of the triennial Pakex show, and plans to develop Pakex and the PPMA show as a series of complementary events.
The venture will be steered by a 4-man executive board consisting of two representatives from the PPMA and two from Reed Exhibitions and will be chaired by the PPMA.
Reed will become responsible for organising the PPMA show next year and in 2003. In 2004, the PPMA Show will be collocated with Pakex in the machinery halls. This will enable Pakex to compete more effectively with larger mainland European events.
The plan has been recommended unanimously by the PPMA Board and is likely to be accepted by the Association's membership at the AGM in December.
According to PPMA President Barry Tucker, the agreement will allow the Association to devote more of its time and effort to the interests of its members by passing over to Reed Exhibitions the responsibility for organising the annual PPMA Show. All PPMA member companies will be offered preferential terms to exhibit at Pakex, a move which is expected to result in an increase in PPMA membership.
PPMA will retain its branding within Pakex, and will share the profits proportionally.
'We are obviously disappointed and would have liked to see more visitors,' said Barbara Jackson, who has been named exhibition director for forthcoming shows. 'However, feedback from exhibitors has been entirely positive. One exhibitor told us the whole pharmaceutical industry was here.'