Florida’s Hidden Manufacturing Hub | Tampa Bay Packaging Open House
- Tampa Bay Packaging Association
- Oct 21
- 2 min read
When most people think of Florida, they picture beaches, tourism, and logistics. But tucked behind the sunshine and shipping ports lies one of America’s best-kept industrial secrets, a thriving cluster of packaging machinery manufacturers in Tampa Bay.
A Regional Renaissance in Manufacturing
Tampa Bay’s industrial base has evolved into one of the most diverse manufacturing clusters in the country. Within a 30-minute drive, you can find companies specializing in shrink-wrap equipment, pouch filling systems, tray wrappers, case packers, labeling, and palletizing machinery, equipment used daily by food, beverage, pharmaceutical, and personal-care brands nationwide.
This concentration of OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) has turned Tampa Bay into a model for regional collaboration, a true manufacturing ecosystem where family-owned firms, automation startups, and global exporters share knowledge, talent, and technology.
"Tampa Bay has quietly become one of the most dynamic manufacturing hubs in the country. With more than 3,500 manufacturers and a 12 percent growth in manufacturing jobs over the past five years, this region is where packaging innovation meets real production. It’s a close-knit community of engineers and innovators building the future of packaging and we’re opening our doors so you can see it for yourself.” — Candace Watkins, Organizer of the Tampa Bay Packaging Open House
The Tampa Bay Packaging Open House: February 4–6, 2026
More than a dozen packaging OEMs will open their doors for the Tampa Bay Packaging Open House, a three-day regional event for plant engineers, maintenance managers, co-packers, and brand owners to see packaging lines in action. Instead of trade show booths, visitors experience machines right on the production floor with guided tours, live demonstrations, and direct conversations with the brillant minds behind packaging machinery.
The event also features:
Industry Panel Discussion on Preventative Maintenace in Capital Equipment Projects
Networking Reception at the Tampa Bay Automobile Museum
Tampa Bay Packaging Golf Invitational at Westchase Golf Club
Register to Experience It
Explore the Tampa Bay Packaging Open House, February 4-6, 2026. Drive between local manufacturers, see automation in action, meet industry leaders, and discover why Tampa Bay is Florida’s hidden manufacturing hub.
