For the 5th year in a row, PCL was a proud sponsor of the[PACK]out. This year’s event brought together packaging engineers, industry leaders, and even medical device manufacturers for sessions spanning regulatory strategy, emerging technology, and hands-on case studies. We sat down with one of this year’s presenters, Devon Buckley, to get her insights on the event.
You presented on transitioning from non-sterile to sterile packaging with Tony Metzinger from OrthoPediatrics, how was that?
It went really well, honestly. I’ve lived this project for a long time and it was great to get up and present to a group of almost 300 people. Afterward, I had so many people come up with specific questions, which told me they were engaged and genuinely curious about what we worked on, it was a nice feeling.
What was the overall atmosphere like?
There was a great energy. Being around industry leaders and packaging professionals all in one place is something you just can’t replicate over email or a virtual meeting. You get face-to-face time with people you may have only met online, can reconnect with others you haven’t seen in a while, and start to see how other people’s projects might align with what you’re working on. The networking aspect was probably one of the biggest highlights for me.
Were there any sessions that really stood out?
A few really stuck with me. The FDA engagement session was excellent. A group had actually met with the FDA ahead of the conference and then brought that insight back to share with attendees. As packaging engineers, regulatory hurdles are something we deal with constantly, so hearing real-world perspectives on challenges and opportunities there was incredibly valuable.
There was also a great session on bridging knowledge gaps between engineering and user perspectives, which actually connected closely to the case study I presented on. And then a presentation on AI and new technologies in the industry was really interesting. The speaker didn’t just say “go all in on AI.” He emphasized keeping the human element, understanding the tools you’re using, and not shutting your brain off.
What are your hopes for the future of the[PACK]out?
I think there’s still a real opportunity to bring in more medical device manufacturers (MDMs) the way we did with OrthoPediatrics this year. Packaging may not be their primary world, but they benefit from seeing the other side of it. Tony actually said he was surprised how much he learned, even though it’s not his main area of focus. He made new connections he didn’t expect to make. It’s a really niche community, and that kind of cross-pollination is valuable. I’d love to see more of that built into future events.
Key Takeaways
This year’s [PACK]out gave attendees practical insights they could bring back to their own work. It reinforced the value of bringing different perspectives into the same space. When people from across the industry gather in person, the conversations that happen are incredibly valuable. Whether it was new connections, renewed relationships, or a fresh way of thinking about a project, the[PACK]out delivered the kind of experience that’s hard to replicate anywhere else.