Meat+Poultry - February 2024 - 8

COMMENTARY
Rising to the occasion
While emptying my suitcase after
arriving home from the 2024
International Production and
Processing Expo (IPPE) earlier
this month, I found myself mentally
unpacking all that I saw and heard
during this year's robust event.
This was the 22nd time I made the
sojourn to Atlanta out of my 24-year
tenure at MEAT+POULTRY, and
it's always interesting to reflect on
the evolution of the exhibitors, the
attendees, networking events and the
presentations that make up what was
known as the International Poultry
Expo/International Feed Expo (The
" poultry show " ) back when I first
started attending.
In 2013, the North American
Meat Institute (then known as the
American Meat Institute) announced
it would co-locate at the trade
show along with the US Poultry &
Egg Association and the American
Feed Industry Association, adding a
helping of pork and beef to what was
traditionally a poultry show. Since
then, each event has given processors
of a variety of species more reasons
to flock and stampede to Atlanta
to kick off the year with a festive
show, spotlight new innovations,
celebrate accomplishments and bring
together stakeholders from across the
broader meat and poultry processing
community together to share ideas and
look for the next big opportunity.
This year, I was especially struck
by how the IPPE experience reflected
many of today's industry headlines and
how many exhibitors' technology and
solutions addressed the challenges
facing meat and poultry processors and
food processors in general.
In talking with exhibitors this year
about what issues their customers
are challenged by in today's industry,
it was hardly surprising that labor,
automation, artificial intelligence,
and sustainability were mentioned
consistently. What I heard from
exhibitors and processors I visited with
on the show floor affirmed many of
the findings of the 2023-2024 Meat and
Poultry Industries Capital Spending
Trends Study, which was released
in December 2023. According to the
survey, almost 90% of processors in
2024 plan to match or increase their
investments in processing equipment
compared to 2023.
The fact that exhibit space at
the show was reportedly sold out
supports findings of the survey that
74% of processors plan to invest
in new processing equipment or
maintenance and replacement parts.
This was evident at many booths where
well-known suppliers anxiously shared
details about their investments in
stepped up training for their customers'
maintenance workers to proactively
troubleshoot and perform preventative
maintanance on equipment. Others
are focusing on offering new
equipment with features that include
increased throughput using the least
possible floor space and optimizing
labor resources.
Investments in systems
improvement via line integration and/
or automation were the focus of 69%
of processors in the survey, which
was also reflected by suppliers at
IPPE 2024. An increasing number of
exhibitors demonstrated how they
are expanding the scope of their
technologies beyond a single process
and have developed whole-line
solutions instead of focusing on a
single step in a process. Additionally,
packaging as well as refrigeration/
chilling/freezing were the top two
categories processors in the survey
said they plan to spend significant
dollars on in 2024 (59%). Not
surprisingly, these are two areas that
have seen some of the biggest strides
made in automation and robotics.
If the first big trade show of 2024
is any indication, meat and poultry
processors' concerns and areas of
focus are on the front burners of the
suppliers of technology and solutions
to the industry. These positive signs
from IPPE 2024 are worth unpacking.
JOEL CREWS, EDITOR | jc rews@sos land.com
What I heard from exhibitors and processors I
visited with on the show floor affirmed many of
the findings of the 2023-2024 Meat and Poultry
Industries Capital Spending Trends Study.
8 MEAT+POULTRY | 02.24 | www.meatpoultry.com
http://www.meatpoultry.com
Meat+Poultry - February 2024

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