Latest News
PPMA Show 2026
The UK’s Leading Processing and Packaging Machinery Exhibition
The PPMA Show 2026 will bring the processing and packaging industry together at Hall 5 of the NEC Birmingham from 22 to 24 September 2026.
Recognised as the UK’s leading free-to-attend exhibition for processing and packaging machinery, the event will feature more than 350 exhibitors representing over 1,500 brands. Visitors will be able to see the latest machinery in operation, speak directly with manufacturers and assess new technologies covering the complete production line. The exhibition covers far more than packaging equipment alone. Processing machinery, robotics, automation, industrial vision systems, materials, containers and packaging design will all be represented.
For production managers, engineers, procurement teams and business owners, PPMA Show 2026 provides three days in which to compare equipment, examine potential investments and discuss practical production challenges with specialist suppliers.
Bringing the Full Production Line Together
PPMA Show 2026 is designed around the complete manufacturing and packaging process. Visitors can explore equipment and systems used for processing, filling, weighing, inspection, conveying, labelling, coding, wrapping, packing and palletising. The show also includes robotics, machine vision and automation technology that can help manufacturers reduce manual handling, improve quality control and increase production output. This broad scope makes the exhibition relevant to companies planning a new line, replacing ageing machinery or looking for targeted improvements to an existing process.
Instead of arranging separate visits with multiple suppliers, visitors can compare different approaches in one location and discuss how individual machines could fit within their existing production environment.
More Than 350 Exhibitors and 1,500 Brands
The scale of the event is one of its main attractions. More than 350 exhibitors will represent over 1,500 brands from across the processing, packaging and automation industries. These will include established machinery manufacturers, specialist engineering companies, technology developers and suppliers of supporting products and services.
Visitors will be able to examine new product launches, compare alternative systems and speak directly with the people responsible for designing, manufacturing and supporting the equipment. This direct access can be especially useful for engineering and production teams with detailed technical questions about capacity, changeover times, hygiene, energy consumption, controls, maintenance requirements and system integration.
Live Machinery Demonstrations
One of the strongest reasons to attend PPMA Show 2026 is the opportunity to see machinery working rather than relying on brochures, videos or specification sheets. Exhibitors will provide live demonstrations throughout the show, allowing visitors to assess equipment speed, construction, controls and operating performance.
A live demonstration can reveal how easily a machine can be adjusted, cleaned or maintained. It can also help visitors understand whether the equipment will handle their required product formats, packaging materials, production speeds and quality standards. Technical specialists will be available to explain how systems work, what installation requirements need to be considered and how new equipment can be integrated with existing production lines.
Processing and Packaging Innovation
Manufacturers are responding to changes in packaging materials, regulation, consumer expectations and production demands. The show will provide a chance to examine new approaches to recyclable and fibre-based packaging, alternative materials and systems capable of handling a wider range of pack formats. Packaging teams are also facing practical challenges around Extended Producer Responsibility, the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, flexible production runs and growing numbers of products and stock-keeping units. PPMA Show 2026 will allow visitors to compare machinery and control systems designed to respond to these requirements. This may include equipment that supports faster format changes, lower material use, improved inspection and more accurate product handling.
Robotics, Automation and Vision Systems
Automation will be a major part of PPMA Show 2026. Visitors can expect to see industrial robots, collaborative robots, automated handling equipment, control systems and machine vision technology. These systems can support tasks such as product placement, pick-and-place operations, packing, inspection, sorting and palletising. They can also help manufacturers reduce repetitive manual work, improve consistency and maintain output where labour availability is a concern. Industrial vision systems provide another important area of development. Cameras, sensors and inspection software can be used to identify packaging defects, check labels, verify codes and detect missing or damaged products.
For manufacturers considering automation, the show provides the opportunity to discuss realistic applications with suppliers rather than viewing the technology in isolation.
Industry Seminars and Technical Insights
The exhibition will be supported by an expert-led seminar programme covering issues affecting processing and packaging businesses. Expected subjects include sustainability, smart manufacturing, operational efficiency, eco-friendly packaging and the use of artificial intelligence within production environments. The programme is being developed following the success of the redesigned Seminar Theatre at the 2025 event.
These sessions will give visitors access to views from manufacturers, technology specialists, end users and other industry professionals. The value of the seminars lies in their connection to practical manufacturing decisions. Visitors can hear how other organisations are approaching regulation, investment, energy use, skills shortages, automation and changes in customer demand.
Sectors Represented at PPMA Show 2026
The exhibition attracts visitors and exhibitors from a wide range of manufacturing industries.
These include:
- Food processing and packaging
- Beverages
- Pharmaceuticals
- Confectionery
- Cosmetics and personal care
- Pet food
- Household goods
- Fast-moving consumer goods
- Warehousing and logistics
The event is therefore relevant to companies producing everything from chilled foods and confectionery to medicines, drinks, cosmetics and household products. Attendees typically include production managers, engineers, procurement teams, operations leaders and company owners. This mix creates useful opportunities for technical discussions as well as wider conversations about investment and production strategy.
New and Returning Show Features
PPMA Show 2026 will include several features designed to help visitors navigate the exhibition and make useful industry contacts. New Industry Sector Icons will allow visitors to identify the markets served by each exhibitor more quickly. This should make it easier to find suppliers with relevant experience in sectors such as beverages, food processing, cosmetics or pharmaceuticals. The show will also include a VIP Lounge, providing a quieter area for invited visitors to meet contacts and hold discussions away from the main exhibition floor.
PPMA Show TV will capture machinery, interviews and activity from around the venue, while the PPMA Show app will include tools intended to help visitors collect information and manage contacts made during the event.
Networking at the PPMA Show
The show is also an opportunity to meet suppliers, engineers and peers dealing with similar production challenges. An informal networking reception will take place after the first day of the exhibition, on Tuesday 22 September from 16:30 until 18:30. It will give visitors and exhibitors additional time to discuss projects and establish contacts outside the normal pace of the show floor.
For manufacturers researching a future investment, these conversations can be as useful as the machinery demonstrations. They may lead to introductions to specialist suppliers, examples of similar installations or a clearer understanding of the options available.
Why PPMA Is Relevant to Newsome Customers
Many of the industries represented at PPMA Show 2026 depend on reliable process cooling and controlled production environments. New machinery can create additional heat loads, cooling requirements and ventilation demands. Increasing line speed or adding automation may also affect internal temperatures, electrical demand and the amount of cooling required by production equipment.
Food, beverage, pharmaceutical and confectionery manufacturers may need particularly close control of temperature and humidity to protect products, maintain hygiene standards and ensure consistent processing. This means that a new production line cannot always be considered separately from the building services and process cooling systems that support it.
Process Cooling for New Machinery
Equipment such as moulding machines, lasers, filling lines, compressors, food processing systems and automated production cells may require a stable chilled water supply. When manufacturers invest in new machinery, Newsome can calculate the associated cooling load and assess whether the existing chiller system has sufficient capacity. Where an upgrade is required, our engineers can design and install process cooling systems based on the required temperatures, flow rates, pressures and production conditions.
Newsome can also provide temporary chillers during machinery trials, planned shutdowns or the installation of permanent plant.
Maintaining Production Conditions
The introduction of new equipment can change conditions within a manufacturing area.
Additional heat generated by motors, control panels and production processes may raise internal temperatures. Changes to production layouts can also affect air movement, extraction and operator comfort. Newsome designs industrial HVAC, ventilation and humidity-control systems around the actual needs of the production process.
Our work can include chillers, air handling units, ventilation systems, ductwork, heat pumps, boilers, controls and temporary hire equipment. We can also provide maintenance support after installation.
Improving Energy Efficiency
Operational efficiency is expected to be a major theme at PPMA Show 2026.
Manufacturers are looking for machinery that can improve output while reducing waste, labour requirements and energy consumption. The same principle applies to the cooling and HVAC plant supporting production.
Newsome can assess existing systems and identify opportunities to reduce energy use through better controls, correctly sized equipment, free cooling, EC fans, heat recovery and more efficient chillers. Matching cooling output to the real production demand can also reduce unnecessary compressor operation and improve the long-term performance of the system.
Plan Your Visit to PPMA Show 2026
PPMA Show 2026 takes place at Hall 5 of the NEC Birmingham on the following dates:
- Tuesday 22 September: 09:30 to 17:00
- Wednesday 23 September: 09:30 to 17:00
- Thursday 24 September: 09:30 to 16:00
The exhibition is free to attend for industry professionals.
Visitors will have access to more than 350 exhibitors, live machinery demonstrations, product launches, technical seminars and networking opportunities covering the complete processing and packaging production line.
For anyone involved in production, packaging, engineering, procurement or operations, it provides a practical opportunity to examine new technology and discuss upcoming manufacturing projects.
Talk to Newsome About Your Next Production Project
Investing in new processing, packaging or automation equipment may create additional requirements for process cooling, temperature control, ventilation or temporary HVAC support. Newsome works with manufacturers to assess these requirements and provide systems that support reliable production.
Our team can assist with initial calculations, equipment selection, system design, installation, commissioning, temporary hire and planned maintenance.
Contact Newsome to discuss how your cooling and HVAC infrastructure can support a new production line, machinery upgrade or factory expansion.