The Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Institute (PMMI) expects packaging machinery sales in the U.S. will grow 3% this year, to an estimated $5.854 billion.
PMMI's U.S. Purchasing Plans Study represents 446 decision makers responsible for 8,339 packaging lines in 1,123 plants throughout eight key market segments.
This will be the fifth consecutive year in which domestic demand will increase following the economic downturn of 2001. PMMI attributes much of the continued strength to the sustained growth of the U.S. economy, strong cash positions held by corporations, and higher rates of capacity utilization. PMMI sees the biggest spending boosts coming from personal care products (10 to 12%), followed by beverages (6 to 8%), and converters, printers, and all others (6 to 8%). Food and pharmaceutical/medical packaging should rise slightly as well. The study indicates that 62% of respondents plan to either increase spending or keep expenditures at their 2005 level.