Registrations are open for APPEX 2027, which will bring processing and packaging machinery, automation and live technology demonstrations to the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre from March 16 to 19, 2027.
“Three years is a long time in technology; the experience for visitors walking into APPEX in 2027 will be very different from the one they left in 2024,” says Australian Packaging and Processing Machinery Association (APPMA) chief executive Michael Moran.
Presented by APPMA, the triennial exhibition will occupy all 20 bays of the venue, covering 30,000m². The association describes it as Australia’s largest manufacturing exhibition.
The redesigned exhibition floor will feature working machinery, live demonstrations, end-to-end applications and networking hubs. Visitors will have opportunities to examine equipment, see applications first-hand and speak directly with the people developing and using the technology.
“APPEX provides us with four days to bring together industry development and progress in one place. Visitors get to see machinery operating, experience the technology, talk directly with experts and understand what these developments could mean for their own operations,” Moran says.
The exhibition will cover turnkey automation projects, machine building, robotics, digital technology, materials, logistics and food processing, bringing together developments from Australia and overseas.
APPMA says manufacturers facing pressure to increase productivity, improve efficiency, reduce waste, address labour challenges and become more sustainable will be able to explore equipment and technologies in a live environment and compare them side by side.
“If you are planning your next investment, looking to solve a production challenge or want to understand where processing and packaging technology is heading, APPEX is the place to do it,” Moran says.
“You can achieve in four days what could otherwise take months of research, meetings and supplier visits. You can compare technologies, resolve questions, see solutions operating and talk with the experts who understand how they can be applied.”
APPEX serves industries including food and beverage, meat, dairy, bakery, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, fast-moving consumer goods, chemicals, household products, logistics and manufacturing.
Dedicated networking spaces throughout the exhibition will give visitors, exhibitors and industry partners opportunities to exchange ideas, build relationships and explore business opportunities.
The Victorian Government joins the event as major partner for 2027.
Meat Industry Day will return in conjunction with the Australian Meat Processor Corporation, following what APPMA describes as strong industry demand.
The Food Industry Solution Series, hosted and curated by Barry McGookin, will examine emerging technologies, manufacturing challenges and opportunities across the food sector.
New for 2027 is the F&B SME Packaging & Machinery Solutions Centre, which will help small and medium-sized food and beverage businesses navigate packaging, sustainability, product life cycles and machinery decisions.
Delivered in partnership with organisations including APPMA, End Food Waste, the Australasian Institute of Packaging, Tetra Pak and RMIT University, the centre will provide independent expertise, real-world case studies and research-backed guidance, with a focus on practical, more sustainable packaging options.
Women in Processing & Packaging will return following its 2024 debut. Developed in partnership with PKN and Food & Drink Business, and owned and presented by APPMA, the event will bring industry participants together to connect, share experiences and hear from women working across processing and packaging.
Speakers will discuss their personal stories, career journeys and perspectives on the future of women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
The APPMA Awards of Excellence will return during APPEX 2027, with a gala dinner on March 17 expected to bring together more than 650 industry guests. The awards recognise excellence, innovation, leadership and best practice across Australia’s processing and packaging sector.
“The APPMA Awards of Excellence are the national awards for our industry, and the Gala dinner has become one of the most anticipated events on the industry calendar,” Moran says.
“It is our opportunity to celebrate the people, businesses and technologies pushing Australian processing and packaging industry forward – an industry that is vital to Australia’s provision of essential services, export capabilities, skilled worker development and respected as a leader on the world stage.”
For more information and to register, visit www.appex.com.au.