With that in mind, Processing asked PACK EXPO International 2026 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 Ryan Long, director of sales, Americas at Akona Process Solutions.

1. 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?

Visitors to Booth LL-10332 will be among the first to see Akona’s new Rotary Batch Mixer. Designed for powders, granules, pellets and fragile materials, it uses a gravity-driven tumbling action to deliver consistent blends while minimizing particle damage, segregation and heat generation. Its shaft-free internal design also supports faster cleaning, easier changeovers and reduced maintenance.

We will also have an operational Cablevey tubular drag conveyor in the booth, allowing visitors to see how its enclosed cable-and-disc system gently transports fragile and specialty materials. The system helps manufacturers reduce product breakage, dust, contamination risk and material loss while offering flexible routing around existing equipment and restricted production layouts.

2. 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?

Manufacturers are under pressure to increase throughput and maintain consistent product quality while managing labor constraints, frequent product changeovers and increasingly demanding hygiene requirements. They also need equipment that can accommodate new recipes and production volumes without creating unnecessary complexity or downtime.

Akona’s latest solutions address these challenges through gentle product handling, simplified sanitation and dependable, repeatable performance. The Rotary Batch Mixer reduces mechanical complexity and cleaning requirements while delivering uniform blends, including applications containing minor or trace ingredients. Cablevey conveyors provide enclosed, low-energy product transfer that protects material integrity and helps create a cleaner production environment. Together, these technologies can improve uptime, reduce product waste and give manufacturers greater flexibility.

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

Automation, process visibility and production flexibility are having a major influence on investment decisions. Manufacturers increasingly want equipment that integrates into automated lines, provides greater control over recipes and batch accuracy, and adapts to changing products or production requirements.

Hygienic design, cleanability and product protection are equally important. Processors are looking beyond headline production speeds and considering the total cost of ownership, including cleaning time, maintenance, energy consumption and product loss. This is driving the development of simpler, more efficient equipment that delivers consistent performance while reducing the operational demands on production teams.

4. 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?

We want visitors to consider how the method used to mix or convey a material can affect the entire production process. Gentle handling is not simply about protecting a product's appearance; it can also reduce waste, improve batch consistency, simplify cleaning, and support greater overall efficiency.

We also hope visitors recognize the value of evaluating processing equipment as part of a complete system. By considering how materials are received, conveyed, weighed, mixed and discharged, manufacturers can identify bottlenecks and develop an integrated solution that delivers better performance than addressing each stage in isolation.