The global packaging industry came together in Chicago for PACK EXPO International 2026, bringing together packaging equipment manufacturers, material suppliers, and brands from around the world.

WiAIR® showcased its range of paper-based cushioning materials and equipment, connecting with customers across markets to explore practical solutions for product protection, packaging efficiency, cost optimization, and plastic reduction.

For WiAIR, international trade shows are about more than presenting products. They offer an opportunity to understand real-world packaging challenges, explore new applications, and build long-term partnerships. Paper-based packaging is not simply an alternative to plastic. With the right structures, equipment, and combinations of materials, it can address a wider range of product protection needs.

Three Key Solutions for Different Packaging Needs

3D Honeycomb Paper Mat | Cushioning for Heavy-Duty Products

The 3D Honeycomb Paper Mat attracted considerable attention at the show. Visitors were particularly interested in how a paper-based material could provide both structural support and cushioning for industrial components, heavy goods, and irregularly shaped products.

Through live demonstrations and discussions, visitors could see how its three-dimensional honeycomb structure works and explore its potential for applications where conventional paper cushioning may fall short.

Honeycomb Paper Sleeve | 360° Protection Around the Product

For products such as glass bottles, ceramics, and cosmetics, Honeycomb Paper Sleeves offer another approach to protective packaging. Their three-dimensional structure wraps around products to provide 360° coverage, helping reduce direct contact between the product and the outer packaging during transit.

At the show, discussions focused on product sizing, fit, wrapping performance, and how the sleeves could be incorporated into different packaging workflows.

Paper-Bubble | Paper-Based Cushioning with Less Reliance on Plastic

As businesses look for ways to reduce conventional plastic cushioning materials, Paper-Bubble drew interest for its versatility across different packaging applications.

It can be used for wrapping products, protecting surfaces against scratches, and cushioning corners and edges. Custom logo printing also gives brands an opportunity to incorporate their identity into the protective packaging itself.

Together, these solutions demonstrate how different paper-based materials can serve different protection needs rather than relying on a single material for every application.

Materials and Equipment Working Together

Effective sustainable packaging depends on more than the material alone. Production speed, labor requirements, material consumption, and ease of use all influence whether a solution works in day-to-day operations.

WiAIR develops its own equipment alongside its paper-based cushioning materials, helping customers connect material production with practical packaging applications.

By coordinating materials, machinery, and application requirements, businesses can adapt packaging processes to product dimensions and order volumes. The right setup can help reduce unnecessary material use and manual handling while maintaining the protection products need in transit.

The goal is not simply to replace one material with another. It is to find a packaging approach that works across product protection, operational efficiency, and overall cost.

From Chicago to the Next Opportunity

Thank you to everyone who visited WiAIR at PACK EXPO International 2026. Every conversation offered valuable insight into customer needs, new applications, and opportunities to improve paper-based protective packaging.

WiAIR will continue to bring together equipment development, material manufacturing, and application expertise to help customers explore flexible and efficient packaging solutions for different products and industries.

Our next stop is Shanghai. We look forward to meeting you in person and exploring more possibilities in paper-based protective packaging.

Meet WiAIR in Shanghai

Event: Shanghai International Packaging Exhibition

Dates: November 16–18, 2026

Venue: Shanghai New International Expo Centre

Booth: W2P43

Join us in Shanghai to discuss your packaging challenges and discover solutions tailored to your products and operations.Correct the Shanghai event detailsAdd stronger product selling points