While emptying my suitcase after arriving home from the 2024 International Production and Processing Expo (IPPE) earlier this month, I found myself mentally unpacking all that I saw and heard during this year’s robust event. This was the 22nd time I made the sojourn to Atlanta out of my 24-year tenure at MEAT+POULTRY, and it’s always interesting to reflect on the evolution of the exhibitors, the attendees, networking events and the presentations that make up what was known as the International Poultry Expo/International Feed Expo (The “poultry show”) back when I first started attending.

In 2013, the North American Meat Institute (then known as the American Meat Institute) announced it would co-locate at the trade show along with the US Poultry & Egg Association and the American Feed Industry Association, adding a helping of pork and beef to what was traditionally a poultry show. Since then, each event has given processors of a variety of species more reasons to flock and stampede to Atlanta to kick off the year with a festive show, spotlight new innovations, celebrate accomplishments and bring together stakeholders from across the broader meat and poultry processing community together to share ideas and look for the next big opportunity.

This year, I was especially struck by how the IPPE experience reflected many of today’s industry headlines and how many exhibitors’ technology and solutions addressed the challenges facing meat and poultry processors and food processors in general.

In talking with exhibitors this year about what issues their customers are challenged by in today’s industry, it was hardly surprising that labor, automation, artificial intelligence, and sustainability were mentioned consistently. What I heard from exhibitors and processors I visited with on the show floor affirmed many of the findings of the 2023-2024 Meat and Poultry Industries Capital Spending Trends Study, which was released in December 2023. According to the survey, almost 90% of processors in 2024 plan to match or increase their investments in processing equipment compared to 2023.

The fact that exhibit space at the show was reportedly sold out supports findings of the survey that 74% of processors plan to invest in new processing equipment or maintenance and replacement parts. This was evident at many booths where well-known suppliers anxiously shared details about their investments in stepped up training for their customers’ maintenance workers to proactively troubleshoot and perform preventative maintanance on equipment. Others are focusing on offering new equipment with features that include increased throughput using the least possible floor space and optimizing labor resources.

Investments in systems improvement via line integration and/or automation were the focus of 69% of processors in the survey, which was also reflected by suppliers at IPPE 2024. An increasing number of exhibitors demonstrated how they are expanding the scope of their technologies beyond a single process and have developed whole-line solutions instead of focusing on a single step in a process. Additionally, packaging as well as refrigeration/chilling/freezing were the top two categories processors in the survey said they plan to spend significant dollars on in 2024 (59%). Not surprisingly, these are two areas that have seen some of the biggest strides made in automation and robotics.

If the first big trade show of 2024 is any indication, meat and poultry processors’ concerns and areas of focus are on the front burners of the suppliers of technology and solutions to the industry. These positive signs from IPPE 2024 are worth unpacking.