PackEast 2026 brought together the packaging industry’s brightest minds and most innovative technologies at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, February 17–19. With approximately 7,000 attendees exploring solutions from over 400 exhibitors, this year’s show delivered on its promise as the East Coast’s premier packaging and processing trade show.
Arrow Systems, Inc. was proud to exhibit alongside our partners at the EZ Hi Tech booth, demonstrating our ArrowJet digital label printers to an enthusiastic crowd of packaging professionals, brand owners, and production managers.
PackEast is the region’s most comprehensive packaging and processing trade show for the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic markets. Held every two years, the event brings cutting-edge technology and solutions from top suppliers to CPG and life sciences companies across more than 40 vertical industries.
This year’s show introduced the new Containers & Materials Pavilion, reflecting the industry’s growing focus on sustainable packaging solutions and material innovations.
Dates: February 17–19, 2026
Location: Pennsylvania Convention Center, Philadelphia, PA
Exhibitors: 400–500 companies
Expected Attendance: ~7,000 professionals
Industries Represented: 40+ vertical markets
New Feature: Containers & Materials Pavilion
The three-day event featured live technology demonstrations, educational sessions, and countless networking opportunities. Every hour spent on the show floor delivered insights into solutions for the industry’s biggest packaging and processing challenges.
Pineberry showcased an impressive lineup of automation solutions designed to streamline label production and packaging operations:
FlexJet Drop-on-Demand Print and Label System — combines printing and labeling in one efficient system
Dot Jet Printing Solutions — high-speed industrial printing with friction feeder integration
Friction Feeder Systems with Conveyors — automated feeding for consistent production flow
Erect and Flat Carton Serialization Systems — critical for pharmaceutical compliance and track-and-trace requirements
Pick & Place Tray Denesting System — automation for complex packaging configurations
Rotary Feeder Systems — versatile feeding solutions for various product types
Cobot MG400 System — collaborative robotics for safe, flexible automation
Afinia made waves with the launch of their L701 Industrial Color Label Printer, featuring:
Five 150 mL ink cartridges for extended production runs
Full-color, photo-quality label printing
Direct printing to inkjet-printable die-cut labels and tag stock
Thousands of material and label size combinations
Their focus on bringing label production in-house continues to resonate with businesses looking to reduce lead times and increase flexibility.
ATIP demonstrated advanced printing solutions focused on substrate versatility:
Expanded substrate flexibility with solvent ink support for non-porous materials
High-resolution tall-format printing without labels or complex multi-head setups
Solutions that eliminate the need for traditional label applications
Alongside Arrow Systems, AstroNova showcased their QuickLabel digital label printers, demonstrating high-speed, full-color label production capabilities for businesses of all sizes.
PackEast 2026 proved that digital label printing has moved firmly into the mainstream. Key innovations included:
Drop-on-demand printing systems offering variable data and short-run capabilities
Industrial-grade color label printers with expanded ink capacity for longer runs
Direct-to-substrate printing that bypasses traditional label materials
High-resolution printing delivering photo-quality results on demand
Automation was everywhere at PackEast, with exhibitors demonstrating:
Collaborative robots (cobots) working safely alongside human operators
Friction feeder systems handling products of all shapes and sizes
Pick-and-place systems for complex packaging requirements
Automated serialization systems meeting pharmaceutical and food safety standards
Track-and-trace capabilities continue to be a major focus, with systems designed for:
Pharmaceutical compliance requirements
Food safety and recall preparedness
Anti-counterfeiting measures
Supply chain visibility
Multiple vendors emphasized solutions for bringing label production in-house. Companies are tired of long lead times and minimum order quantities from traditional label suppliers. Digital printing technology now makes short runs economically viable.
Cobot systems and automated feeding solutions were prominent across the show floor. The message was clear: automation isn’t just for high-volume operations anymore. Mid-sized companies are finding ways to integrate robotics and automation into their workflows.
Serialization systems for pharmaceutical applications were a major focus, reflecting the industry’s need for robust track-and-trace capabilities. These systems are increasingly being adopted by food and beverage companies as well.
The introduction of the Containers & Materials Pavilion signals the industry’s commitment to sustainable packaging solutions. Expect continued innovation in recyclable materials, reduced packaging, and environmentally friendly printing processes.
Exhibitors emphasized multi-material printing and substrate flexibility. In today’s fast-moving market, production equipment needs to handle a wide variety of jobs without lengthy changeovers.
Arrow Systems, Inc. was proud to join our partners at the EZ Hi Tech booth for PackEast 2026. We demonstrated our ArrowJet digital label printers to hundreds of attendees interested in bringing professional label production in-house.
Our ArrowJet digital label printers demonstrated:
High-quality color printing for product labels, packaging, and branding materials
Variable data capabilities for personalized and serialized labels
Short-run efficiency — print exactly what you need, when you need it
Cost-effective production — no plates, no minimums, no waste
User-friendly operation — easy setup and intuitive controls
The response to our demonstrations was overwhelmingly positive. Attendees were particularly interested in:
Reducing reliance on external label suppliers
Printing prototypes and samples in-house
Managing seasonal packaging changes efficiently
Complying with evolving labeling regulations
Controlling costs on small-batch production runs
Our presence alongside EZ Hi Tech strengthened our commitment to providing comprehensive labeling solutions. The partnership allows us to offer customers not just printers, but complete labeling ecosystems including media, software, and technical support.
PackEast 2026 made one thing clear: digital label printing and packaging automation are no longer emerging trends—they’re the new standard.
As we look ahead to the rest of 2026 and beyond, we expect to see:
Continued advancement in digital printing speeds and quality
More affordable automation solutions for small and medium businesses
Greater emphasis on sustainable materials and processes
Integration of AI and machine learning into production workflows
Enhanced connectivity and Industry 4.0 capabilities
PackEast 2026 delivered on its promise as the East Coast’s premier packaging event. The combination of innovative exhibitors, engaged attendees, and forward-looking educational content made it an invaluable experience for anyone involved in packaging and label production.
For Arrow Systems, the show reinforced what we’ve been hearing from customers: there’s tremendous demand for flexible, affordable, high-quality label production solutions. Our ArrowJet printers are designed to meet that demand, and we’re excited to help more businesses take control of their labeling operations.
Didn’t make it to PackEast 2026? Contact Arrow Systems today to schedule a demonstration of our ArrowJet digital label printers. See firsthand how in-house label production can transform your packaging workflow.
Arrow Systems, Inc. is a leading provider of digital label printing solutions, helping businesses of all sizes bring professional label production in-house. Our ArrowJet line of printers combines quality, flexibility, and affordability to meet the evolving needs of modern packaging operations.
Ready to learn more? Contact us today to discuss your label printing needs.
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