Why Engineers Are Turning to U.S. OEMs for Their Next Packaging Line
- Tampa Bay Packaging Association
- Oct 24
- 2 min read
If you manage capital equipment or maintenance planning, you’ve likely felt the ripple effects of global tariffs this year. According to PMMI’s latest Q3 2025 Tariff Survey, nearly nine out of ten packaging OEMs say they are still being impacted by tariffs, and almost half have seen component prices climb 11 to 20 percent since the start of the year
Add to that the long lead times and unpredictable shipping costs, and many engineers are asking the same question:
Why keep waiting on overseas equipment when U.S. manufacturers can deliver faster, more reliable solutions?
That’s exactly what you’ll see at the Tampa Bay Packaging Open House, February 4–6, 2026 — three days of live demos, plant tours, and networking across more than a dozen OEMs within a short drive of each other.
When Global Supply Chains Slow Down, Local OEMs Step Up
The PMMI survey found that 70 percent of packaging companies are now diversifying their supply chains or partnering with domestic manufacturers to control costs and lead times.
For engineers, this trend translates into real-world benefits:
Shorter project cycles from design to delivery
Local access to technical support and spare parts
Less downtime from shipping or customs delays
Direct collaboration with the people who build your machine
A U.S.-built line also means your next upgrade, retrofit, or changeover can happen on your timeline, not on the cargo ship’s.
Why the Tampa Bay Open House Is Worth Your Time
At the Tampa Bay Packaging Open House, you can meet face-to-face with OEM engineers, see running equipment, and compare solutions side by side. You’ll find a wide range of systems on display, from shrink bundlers and tray packers to robotics, inspection, filling, and end-of-line automation, all designed and built here in Florida.
This is also your chance to ask the technical questions that matter most:
How are these systems designed to handle changeovers faster?
What maintenance data or diagnostics can I track?
Can components be sourced domestically if tariffs spike again?
Because the event is regional, you can visit multiple facilities in a single day and talk directly with the teams behind the machinery.
Industry Insights and Real-World Discussion
The Open House also features a panel on Preventive Maintenance and Capital Equipment Projects. Experts will share practical ways to extend machine life, plan for component shortages, and keep uptime high even when budgets are tight.
A Smarter Way to Source Your Next Machine
The takeaway from PMMI’s data is clear: engineers who rely on U.S. OEMs are better positioned to stay on schedule and in control.
When you buy equipment built and supported in the U.S., you reduce your risk, simplify logistics, and gain partners who understand your production demands. The Tampa Bay region is home to some of the most innovative packaging manufacturers in the country, and this event gives you direct access to them.
Join Us
The Tampa Bay Packaging Open House runs February 4–6, 2026, across multiple OEM locations, with a networking reception at the Tampa Bay Automobile Museum and the Tampa Bay Packaging Golf Invitational at Westchase Golf Club.
Learn more and register at tampabaypackaging.com.
