Va. United States

ARLINGTON, Va.—United States packaging machinery shipments reached $6.110 billion in 2006, a 6 percent increase from the $5.765 billion in equipment shipped in 2005, according to PMMI’s 2007 Shipments and Outlook Study. This marks the fifth consecutive year of industry growth since 2001. Sixteen of the 17 machinery categories that PMMI monitors in this annual report experienced growth in 2006. Two categories, wrapping (+18.6 percent) and capping, overcapping, lidding and sealing machinery (+11.2 percent) enjoyed double-digit growth. Converting machinery was the only machinery category with a modest decline of -0.6 percent. Exports of packaging machinery surpassed the $1 billion mark for the third consecutive