Aran Group to Showcase Packaging Innovations at PACK EXPO and Cibus Tec 2026

October 2026 marks an important month for the food packaging and processing sector, as industry leaders gather at two of the world’s premier exhibitions: PACK EXPO in Chicago, USA, and Cibus Tec in Parma, Italy.

Together, the exhibitions are expected to draw nearly 90,000 professionals and 3,800 exhibiting companies, creating a valuable opportunity for food producers to explore new technological solutions and industry trends.

Aran will be present at both exhibitions, showcasing a portfolio of aseptic Bag-in-Box packaging solutions designed to meet the requirements of the American and European markets.

PACK EXPO 2026: Tackling North America’s Packaging Challenges

As one of the world’s largest packaging shows kicks off in Chicago, North American producers are facing two distinct challenges:

1. Persistent workforce shortages and skills deficits are forcing a fundamental shift away from maximizing raw throughput toward building greater “Operational Resilience”. To address this, manufacturers are prioritizing advanced automation and AI integration while adopting solutions that enable faster changeovers and more efficient production of smaller batches.
2. The industry is moving past the era of voluntary green pledges into an era of strict regulatory enforcement. As of 2026, seven US states – including California (SB 54), Oregon, Colorado, and Maryland – have enacted strict packaging Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) laws. Engineers are under pressure to Design for Recycling (DfR), reduce material weight and integrate PCR content without affecting performance.

To address these challenges, Aran Group will be at Booth W-44026 in the West Hall of McCormick Place to demonstrate its recent innovations. Among these will be the new SelfForm 1,000L aseptic bags, an alternative to traditional large pillow-style liners that require operators to manually pull, stretch, and adjust the plastic inside a container so it fills evenly. The SelfForm design utilizes a proprietary design that automatically unfolds and conforms to the box shape during the filling cycle.

SelfForm enables production rates of 15–20 bags per hour with a single operator, as opposed to  6–8 bags per hour for manual filling. It also has fewer touch points for lower contamination risk, while enabling evacuation rates of up to 99%. By comparison, pillow-style liners can trap an estimated 3–5% of product in corner folds and dead zones.

To meet the sustainability and regulatory requirements, Aran will be showcasing MonoFlex, a mono-material Bag-in-Box solution. Made with 95%+ PE and an ultra-thin EVOH layer of just 3%, it exceeds APR’s 90% recyclability threshold while showing a superior OTR (Oxygen Transmission Rate) for 12+ months. The bag can be produced with 10% PCR content, meeting the demands of both the North American and European regulators. Available in sizes ranging from 3-20 liters, this durable, recycle-ready, high-barrier solution is ideal for long-distance transit.

Recently, Aran has also expanded their facility in Greer, South Carolina, doubling its production capacity – including a new line for Post-Mix production. This significantly increases the availability of their products for the North American market.

The company’s portfolio, showcased in the exhibition, ranges from 0.5-gallon bags to 300-gallon IBC bulk solutions for fruit and vegetable purées and concentrates, sauces, dairy products, liquid eggs, and edible oils.

Cibus Tec 2026: Preserving Authentic Flavors and the Environment

Simultaneously, the European food processing sector is gathering in the heart of Italy’s Food Valley for Cibus Tec. When exporting the authentic flavors of Italy – such as rich tomato passatas, premium olive oils, and sensitive dairy products – packaging success depends on preserving product integrity across long global transit times.

At Hall 5, Booth 046 of the Parma Fair Exhibition Center, Aran is addressing the most pressing concern for today’s European food processors: the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR). With August 2026 substance limits already in effect and 2030 recyclability mandates approaching, compliance is no longer a suggestion – it is reality.

Aran provides documented PPWR compliance for the European market. Recent independent screening confirms that Aran’s PFAS levels are well below the strict PPWR threshold of 50 ppm, with total fluorine testing at less than 10 ppm. Furthermore, heavy metal migration tests confirm levels below quantification limits (<10 mg/kg), and the updated EU Declarations of Conformity per Annex VIII was already prepared.

Visitors to Cibus Tec will also see how the 2026 WorldStar Gold-winning MonoFlex bags give European producers an edge, aligning with PPWR Grade A requirements while maintaining excellent barrier properties.

Engineering for the Future

While different markets bring unique challenges, the right packaging delivers solutions that meet evolving requirements without compromising performance. At PACK EXPO and Cibus Tec, Aran will be showcasing solutions built for the demands of tomorrow.

Source: Aran Group