Anuga FoodTec and PMMI – The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies – have extended their strategic partnership, reinforcing collaboration between major industry trade events in Europe and North America.
The renewed agreement brings together several flagship exhibitions organised by the two organisations, including Anuga FoodTec in Cologne and PMMI’s PACK EXPO trade shows in the United States. The collaboration also includes Andina Pack in Bogotá, strengthening cross-regional industry connections.
Expanding Market Access For Exhibitors
The partnership is intended to broaden global opportunities for exhibitors by leveraging the networks of both organisations. Through the collaboration, European companies will gain greater access to the North American market via PMMI’s extensive member network, while Anuga FoodTec will benefit from increased participation by technology providers from the United States and Canada.
Joint marketing initiatives will aim to expand the reach of participating companies and attract a wider international audience. Organisers say this will help deepen industry engagement and increase the quality and diversity of visitors attending the events.
Joint Promotion Across Major Trade Events
The extended cooperation will support several upcoming exhibitions organised by the two partners. These include PACK EXPO International in Chicago, scheduled for October 18–21, 2026, Anuga FoodTec in Cologne from February 23–26, 2027, PACK EXPO Las Vegas from September 27–29, 2027, and Andina Pack, expected to return in Bogotá in November 2027.
Through coordinated promotional activities, the organisers aim to strengthen the international visibility of each event while facilitating greater participation from companies across both continents.
Industry Collaboration And Technology Exchange
Beyond exhibition promotion, the partnership also seeks to foster closer collaboration across the packaging and processing sectors. The organisers plan to highlight emerging technologies and industry developments through dedicated showcases and conference programmes.
The initiative is expected to support knowledge exchange and encourage new partnerships across key industry priorities, including digitalisation, sustainability and process efficiency.
“PMMI looks forward to extending our strategic partnership with Koelnmesse and Anuga FoodTec, reinforcing our shared commitment to advancing the global packaging and processing industry. This collaboration not only strengthens industry engagement but also helps our members expand their reach in the global marketplace,” said Jim Pittas, President & CEO of PMMI.
Roland Thiemann, Director of Anuga FoodTec, added that the extended partnership will bring tangible benefits to exhibitors and visitors by strengthening links between the European and North American markets.
“The extension of our partnership with PMMI pays off directly with regard to the performance of exhibitors and visitors. We establish engineering competence and market access between Europe and North America, accelerate technology transfer and reinforce the resiliency of supply chains. For Anuga FoodTec 2027, we bundle solutions for efficient processes, digital interfaces and sustainable packaging. That creates measurable added value in OEE, resource deployment and time to market,” he said.
Supporting Innovation Across The Value Chain
Both organisations said the collaboration will continue to focus on advancing processing and packaging technologies across the entire value chain. Industry platforms created through the partnership will aim to support innovation, encourage technology adoption and facilitate business connections between companies operating in the two regions.
The continued cooperation reflects the growing globalisation of the packaging and processing industries, where trade events increasingly serve as hubs for technology transfer, networking and strategic partnerships.
