U.S., Canadian packaging machines shipment soar in 2004

According to the 11th Annual Shipments and Outlook Study released by the Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Institute (PMMI) in Arlington, Va. packaging machinery shipments in the United States reached US$5.344 billion in 2004, a 9.3 per cent increase from the US$4.889 billion shipped in 2003.
All 17 of the machinery categories that PMMI tracks in its annual review experienced growth in 2004. Double-digit growth was experienced in seven out of the 17 categories, including converting machinery up 25.6 per cent, skin and blister packaging machinery up 23.8 per cent, labeling machinery up 22 per cent, and capping overcapping, lidding and sealing machinery up 13.8 per cent.
Canadian packaging machinery shipments grew 8.4 per cent in 2004 to an estimated C$420.6 million. According to the report, several categories achieved significant growth including filling machinery, dry products up 113.5 per cent, cartoning and multi-packaging machinery up 22 per cent and case and tray forming machinery up 14 per cent.