PACK EXPO International 2026 allows attendees to see the latest packaging and processing equipment and technologies up close and in person. But the show also provides an opportunity to take a broader look at the challenges and trends impacting the industry.

With that in mind, Processing asked PACK EXPO International exhibitors about the products and technologies they will have on display at the event, along with the biggest processing or operational challenges their customers are facing today. We’ll be publishing their responses in the weeks leading up to the show, which takes place October 18-21 at McCormick Place in Chicago. In this installment, we hear from Chris Waibel, product manager at Industrial Magnetics.

Q: What products, technologies, or live demonstrations will visitors be able to see at your booth during PACK EXPO International 2026, and which applications or manufacturing challenges do they address?

A: Visitors to the Industrial Magnetics booth will get a hands-on look at our full lineup of tube and line magnets, including our Mid and Large Tube Housings, Bullet Magnet, Pneumatic Line Magnet, Exposed Pole Tube Magnet, and Liquid Line Magnet, available in both EZ Clean and Manual Clean configurations. We'll be running live demonstrations, sprinkling various product materials over the magnets to show exactly how they capture contamination and how easy it is to clean. It's a simple demo that speaks to real plant-floor problems: capturing fine, hard-to-catch ferrous particles, keeping product flowing smoothly through bridging- and clumping-prone lines, and staying ahead of compliance and food safety requirements. 

Q: What are the biggest processing or operational challenges your customers are facing today, and how are your latest solutions helping manufacturers improve efficiency, product quality, flexibility, safety, or sustainability?

Q: What technology or industry trends are having the greatest impact on processing equipment design and investment decisions today?

A: Three forces are driving change on the plant floor. First, manufacturers are turning to stronger rare-earth magnetic technologies to catch increasingly fine ferrous particles and weaker magnetic stainless-steel wear fragments. Second, rising production rates are pushing the need for separators that hold performance steady even as volumes and speeds climb. And third, ongoing labor shortages are reshaping equipment priorities, with customers wanting self-cleaning, low-maintenance separation solutions that don't demand extra hands to keep running.

Q: If a process engineer, operations manager, or plant executive visits your booth, what are one or two key insights, best practices, or innovations you hope they take away from the conversation?

A: First, the earlier tramp metal is removed from your process, the lower your maintenance costs and risk of unplanned downtime. Separation is most valuable upstream, not as a last line of defense. Second, placement and application design matter more than magnet strength alone. The right magnet in the right spot, engineered for your specific process, will consistently outperform simply reaching for a "stronger" magnet.