Thousands of packaging and processing professionals gathered in Chicago for PACK EXPO International 2014 last week to see and explore the industries latest technologies.

But just how many people were in attendance?

Well according to show organizer PMMI, the Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, preliminary numbers for this year’s show topped 48,000 attendees and PMMI anticipates recording a 6.5 percent attendance growth from 2012 numbers.

“PACK EXPO International 2014 was definitely a success,” says Jim Pittas, senior vice president, PMMI, “Exhibitors sold machines right off the show floor and collected high quality leads from the steady flow of attendees.”

The 2014 event covered more than 1.2 million net square feet of exhibit space with 2,352 exhibiting companies, a 19 percent increase from 2012.

In February, PMMI will host PACK EXPO East at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia. More information can be found at Packexpoeast.com.