Digital buyer journeys
What digital buyer journeys means for buyers and exhibitors in this sector.
Event overview
Overview
The PMCA Annual Production Conference is a premier technical conference for the confectionery and snack industry. Each presentation in our program is reviewed by a committee to ensure high-quality information on essential and trending topics.
This event provides an excellent opportunity for networking and learning from industry leaders. PMCA Annual Production Conference takes place in Lancaster, USA.
Venue: Lancaster County Convention Center.
TL;DR
- 1Dates and Venue: April 2027 at the Lancaster County Convention Center in downtown Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA. Confirm the exact show days on pmca.com before booking travel.
- 2Format: A technical conference for confectionery and snack manufacturing, paired with a supplier expo; registration separates full-conference attendance from expo-only access.
- 3Who Attends: Chocolate, sugar confectionery, gum and snack makers, with production, R&D, quality and packaging functions in the room rather than retail buyers.
- 4What Is Covered: Cocoa and compound coatings, sugar and gelatin confectionery, panning and mogul work, extrusion and seasoning of snacks, plus the processing and packaging equipment that runs those lines.
- 5Organiser: PMCA, the association serving confectionery manufacturing professionals, programmes the sessions and the supplier expo.
Why visit
Attendees will gain insights into the latest trends and technologies in the confectionery sector. Dates and Venue: The PMCA Annual Production Conference will take place from April 13 to 14, 2027, at the Lancaster County Convention Center in Lancaster, PA. Buyer Authority: Attendees include confectionery manufacturers, suppliers, and industry professionals looking to enhance their knowledge and network. Entry: Registration is now open for both full conference and expo-only.
Why exhibit
Exhibiting at the PMCA Annual Production Conference allows companies to showcase their products to a targeted audience of confectionery professionals. Exhibitors can connect with potential clients and partners, increasing brand visibility and generating leads. The expo provides a platform for direct engagement with attendees.
Attendees, exhibitors & solutions
Who this event is for
Visitor profile
Typical attendee groups you can expect to meet.
Product development and R&D scientists working on chocolate, sugar confectionery, chewing gum and savoury snacks
Process and project engineers specifying conches, refiners, enrobers, depositors, moguls, extruders and seasoning systems
Plant managers and operations leads comparing line throughput, changeover time and sanitation downtime
Quality assurance, food safety and regulatory staff tracking HACCP, allergen control and labelling requirements
Packaging engineers and buyers sourcing flow-wrap, primary packaging materials and case packing
Ingredient purchasing and procurement managers negotiating cocoa, fats, gelatine, pectin, polyols and seasonings
Co-manufacturers, private-label producers and contract packers scouting capacity and technical partners
Academics, students and technical consultants in food science and confectionery engineering
Exhibitor profile
Main supplier and exhibitor segments present at the show.
Ingredients suppliers: cocoa and chocolate, cocoa butter equivalents, dairy powders, gelatine, pectin, starches, polyols and high-intensity sweeteners
Flavour and colour houses presenting confectionery and snack seasoning systems
Processing equipment OEMs: conches, refiners, tempering units, enrobers, depositors, moguls and starch conditioning
Snack equipment suppliers: extruders, fryers, ovens, seasoning applicators and sheeted and pelleted snack lines
Packaging machinery and materials suppliers: flow wrappers, form-fill-seal, twist wrap, doy packs and barrier films
Laboratory, analytical and inspection vendors: moisture and water activity meters, particle size analysis, metal detection and X-ray
Sanitation, hygiene and food safety service providers for chocolate and sugar plants
Automation and controls integrators, plus engineering firms supporting plant upgrades and line commissioning
Product categories
Key solution areas showcased across the event.
Chocolate and compound coatings, including cocoa mass, cocoa butter and cocoa butter equivalents
Sugar confectionery: hard candy, chews, caramels, toffee, fondant, nougat and jellies
Chewing gum and bubble gum bases, coatings and panning systems
Gelatine, pectin, starch and hydrocolloid systems for gummies and moulded pieces
Panning and starch moulding (mogul) equipment and depositing lines
Enrobing, tempering, cooling tunnel and chocolate moulding machinery
Savoury and sweet snack processing: extrusion, sheeting, frying, baking and seasoning application
Seasoning, flavour and colour systems for snacks and confectionery
Primary and secondary packaging: flow wrap, twist wrap, pouches, cartons and case packing
Quality control, water activity, texture analysis, metal detection and X-ray inspection
Sanitation chemistry, allergen control and food safety auditing services
Plant automation, recipe management and process control for confectionery lines
Location & Facilities
Venue
Lancaster County Convention Center
Lancaster, USA
Facilities
Parking
Lancaster County Convention Center in Lancaster typically provides on-site or adjacent visitor parking during major trade fairs; confirm daily rates, payment methods and hall access on the organiser or venue website before travel.
Food options
On-site catering
On-site diningParking: Lancaster County Convention Center in Lancaster typically provides on-site or adjacent visitor parking during major trade fairs; confirm daily rates, payment methods and hall access on the organiser or venue website before travel.
Gate: Follow organiser signage to the main visitor entrance at Lancaster County Convention Center for badge collection; allow extra time for security screening during peak morning arrival.
Attend
Entry & tickets
Who runs the show
Organisers
PMCA
Intelligence
Market context
Key market insights, trends, news and related events to help you understand the bigger picture.
Lancaster, USA
Why it matters
Attending PMCA Annual Production Conference on 2027-04-13 to 2027-04-14 in Lancaster lets buyers and specifiers benchmark suppliers, see live demonstrations, and compress months of vendor meetings into one focused trade visit — worthwhile when your category roadmap aligns with the official exhibitor profile.
Industry trends
Key trends shaping this market and its wider industry.
Sustainability in procurement
What sustainability in procurement means for buyers and exhibitors in this sector.
Automation and labour efficiency
What automation and labour efficiency means for buyers and exhibitors in this sector.
Regional supply-chain resilience
What regional supply-chain resilience means for buyers and exhibitors in this sector.
Hybrid engagement models
What hybrid engagement models means for buyers and exhibitors in this sector.
Plan your trip
Travel & logistics
Local currency · USD
Arrival airports
Choose from the following airports, with convenient access to the event and venue.
Harrisburg International Airport
Closest commercial airport to the venue; limited nonstop network, so many attendees connect through Philadelphia, Charlotte or Chicago. Confirm current service and transfer options
TBA
to venue
Approx. 45-60 minutes by car via PA-283 and US-30
by car
Philadelphia International Airport
Widest choice of domestic and transatlantic flights; pairs well with the Amtrak Keystone service from Philadelphia to Lancaster station
TBA
to venue
Approx. 90-105 minutes by car via I-76 and US-30, longer at peak commute times
by car
Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport
Useful alternative for domestic and some international routings, with a straightforward drive north into Lancaster County. Confirm rental car and drop-off arrangements
TBA
to venue
Approx. 95-110 minutes by car via I-83 and US-30
by car
Lancaster Airport
General aviation and charter field rather than a scheduled airline gateway; check with your operator before planning around it
TBA
to venue
Approx. 15 minutes by car
by car
Hotel tiers
A range of accommodation options near the venue and across key areas.
Lancaster Marriott at Penn Square
upscale
Downtown Lancaster / Penn SquareCapture places this property about 280 ft from the Lancaster County Convention Center and connects it to the complex, making it the only walk-to-badge option in the set.
Eden Resort & Suites
upscale
Eden Resort corridor, approx. 2.2 mi from downtownFull-service resort mentioned in captures at roughly 2.2 miles from the venue; parking is typically on site, so a car or rideshare covers the short trip downtown.
Holiday Inn Lancaster
midscale
Central Lancaster, approx. 0.3 mi from the venueCapture lists this property around 0.3 miles from the convention center, a 5-10 minute walk for most attendees.
Fairfield by Marriott Inn & Suites Lancaster East at The Outlets
midscale
Lancaster East / The Outlets4.1
Limited-service property near the outlet district; a 10-15 minute drive to Penn Square, so plan a car or rideshare.
Fairfield by Marriott Inn & Suites Lancaster
midscale
Lancaster4.8
Highest guest rating in the captured set; still outside the immediate downtown blocks, so budget for parking or rideshare each day.
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Lancaster - Mount Joy, an IHG Hotel
midscale
Mount Joy4.4
Value option west of the city; rideshare coverage is thinner here in the evening, so pre-book return trips or drive in.
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Lancaster-Lititz by IHG
midscale
Lititz3.8
Lititz is a separate small town north of Lancaster; convenient if you are also visiting local manufacturers, less so for walking to sessions.
Comfort Suites Lancaster Amish Country
budget
Lancaster Amish Country4.4
Lowest nightly band in the capture set; the trade-off is a rural location that makes a rental car close to essential for show days.
Local transport
Get around the city with these convenient transport options.
Walk
Estimated costUSD 0 (approx. 280 ft on foot)
Best forLancaster Marriott at Penn Square to Lancaster County Convention Center
Captures place the Marriott at Penn Square roughly 280 ft from the convention center, so downtown hotel guests can walk to badge pickup and sessions.
City bus (Red Rose Transit Authority)
Estimated costApprox. USD 2-3 single journey; day passes cost more - confirm current RRTA fares
Best forDowntown Lancaster / Penn Square to surrounding neighbourhoods
RRTA runs the local Lancaster city network with a downtown transfer point near Penn Square; useful for hotel-to-venue hops outside walking range, but schedules are limited in the evening.
Amtrak Keystone Service
Estimated costApprox. USD taxi/rideshare from LNC to venue (estimate; confirm before travel)
Best forLancaster station (LNC) to Philadelphia 30th Street, also west to Harrisburg
Lancaster sits on the Keystone Corridor, making rail a realistic option for guests flying into Philadelphia or Harrisburg rather than driving. The station is a 10-15 minute walk or short rideshare from Penn Square.
Taxi / rideshare (short city trip)
Estimated costApprox. USD 10-18 one-way for a 2-4 mile trip; surge pricing at peak hours
Best forSuburban Lancaster hotels (Eden Resort, Lancaster East, Mount Joy) to the convention center
Captures list Eden Resort & Suites at about 2.2 miles and Holiday Inn Lancaster at about 0.3 miles; the short-trip band covers the 2-4 mile properties with no fixed shuttle fare published.
Rideshare / sedan transfer (airport)
Estimated costApprox. USD 60-90 one-way for roughly 35 miles; confirm the quote with the provider
Best forHarrisburg International Airport (MDT) to downtown Lancaster
Pre-booking is advisable for early arrivals and late departures, since airport pickups in Lancaster County are thinner than in Philadelphia.
Parking (downtown garage)
Estimated costApprox. USD 12-25 per day, event rates vary; confirm with the garage operator
Best forPenn Square / Queen Street city garages serving the convention center
Downtown Lancaster relies on city garages and surface lots rather than venue-exclusive parking; check whether the convention center offers attendee validation during the conference.
Weather
April is spring shoulder season in Lancaster County: outdoor temperatures swing between cool mornings and mild afternoons, and rain is frequent enough that a light waterproof layer is worth packing. The venue itself is indoor, so weather mainly affects the walk between Penn Square hotels, the Amtrak station and the convention center, plus any plant visits you add around the conference. Check a short-range forecast in the final week before travelling, since spring fronts in southeastern Pennsylvania can move daytime highs by 10 C in a day.
Plan for the climate
Check temperatures and pack accordingly
Venue connectivity
Downtown Lancaster has strong LTE and 5G coverage from the major US carriers, so calls and data work well around Penn Square and the convention center. International visitors should set up a travel eSIM or buy a US prepaid SIM on arrival rather than relying on home-network roaming. Conference venues in the US usually provide Wi-Fi in public areas, but assume bandwidth is shared during sessions and download any large files beforehand. US power is 120 V at 60 Hz with Type A and Type B plugs, so European, UK and Australian devices need a plug adapter and voltage check.
Ride-hailing
Taxis
Public transit
Car rentals
Cultural notes
Useful information to help you have a smooth and respectful visit.
Business dress
Business casual dominates a US technical production conference: collared shirts, trousers or smart jeans, closed shoes for the expo floor. Suits are rare outside opening sessions.
Tipping and payment
Card payment is near-universal in Lancaster, but tipping is expected: 15-20 percent at restaurants, a dollar or two per drink at bars, and a few dollars for hotel housekeeping or a shuttle driver.
Local courtesy in Amish Country
Lancaster County has a large Amish and Mennonite community. Ask before photographing people or private farms, drive carefully around horse-drawn buggies, and treat the area as a working community rather than a tourist set.
Punctuality and badges
Sessions start on time and badges are checked at hall entrances, so collect yours on the first morning and keep it visible for the rest of the week.
Small talk and follow-up
US suppliers move quickly to email follow-up; swapping business cards and sending a same-week note is normal practice and is how most show-floor conversations convert into quotes.
Practical guides
Visitor & Exhibitor Essentials
Everything needed to arrive prepared, navigate the event, and make the visit productive.
Flights
Book into Harrisburg International (MDT) if you value a 45-60 minute drive over flight choice, or into Philadelphia (PHL) if you need a nonstop long-haul service and can add an Amtrak Keystone leg from Philadelphia to Lancaster station. Baltimore/Washington (BWI) is a workable third option for a drive north. April is a normal business travel month in Pennsylvania, but book early once PMCA confirms the exact conference dates, and check whether your fare allows changes in case session days shift. Confirm rental car desks and rideshare pickup points at your arrival airport before landing.
Transport
Get to the venue and around the city with these options.
Airport → venue: Primary gateways: Harrisburg International Airport: Approx. 45-60 minutes by car via PA-283 and US-30; Philadelphia International Airport: Approx. 90-105 minutes by car via I-76 and US-30, longer at peak commute times; Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport: Approx. 95-110 minutes by car via I-83 and US-30; Lancaster Airport: Approx. 15 minutes by car. Allow road or rail time to Lancaster County Convention Center; on-site parking is usually available at major exhibition ven
Hotel → venue: Precinct hotels near Lancaster County Convention Center: Downtown Lancaster / Penn Square: Lancaster Marriott at Penn Square; Eden Resort corridor, approx. 2.2 mi from downtown: Eden Resort & Suites; Central Lancaster, approx. 0.3 mi from the venue: Holiday Inn Lancaster.
Ride-hail: Uber and Lyft both operate in Lancaster city, and a ride from a downtown hotel to the convention center is usually a short, low-cost trip. Coverage thins out in Mount Joy, Lititz and the Amish Country hotel corridor, where waits can run 20-30 minutes at off-peak times and may be longer after evening events. Pre-book return trips from suburban hotels or drive in and use a downtown garage instead. Confirm app coverage and pricing before you rely on it for an airport connection.
Public transit: Red Rose Transit Authority (RRTA) runs the Lancaster city bus network with a downtown hub near Penn Square, which covers hotel-to-venue hops and some suburban routes during the day. The stronger transit asset is rail: Lancaster station (LNC) sits on Amtrak's Keystone Corridor with direct services to Philadelphia and Harrisburg, roughly a 10-15 minute walk or short rideshare from the convention center. US transit does not run like European metro systems - frequencies fall off in the evening and on weekends - so check timetables before committing to a car-free plan.
Parking: The convention center sits in downtown Lancaster, where parking is provided by city garages and surface lots around Penn Square and Queen Street rather than a single dedicated attendee car park. Arrive early on the first morning, expect to pay by the day or hour, and confirm whether the venue or PMCA negotiates an event rate or validation. Hotel guests at the Marriott at Penn Square and Holiday Inn Lancaster have the shortest walk from car to badge pickup; guests at the Mount Joy, Lititz and Amish Country properties will drive in each day.
Weather
Plan and pack for the event climate.
Month: April 2027
Temperature: Daytime highs typically 15-20 C (59-68 F) with overnight lows around 4-9 C (39-48 F) in Lancaster in April. These are climatological averages, not a forecast - check a short-range forecast in the week before departure, since spring swings can push one day well above or below the band.
Seasonality: Spring shoulder season in southeastern Pennsylvania brings mixed sun and showers rather than a settled dry spell, with roughly 8-10 wet days across April being typical. Passing fronts can drop temperatures sharply within a day, and windy periods make the walk between Penn Square hotels and the convention center feel colder than the headline high suggests.
Packing: Pack layers: a warm mid-layer for cool mornings, a light waterproof jacket or compact umbrella for showers, and comfortable walking shoes for the downtown blocks between hotels, the Amtrak station and the convention center. Bring business casual for sessions and the expo floor, plus a plug adapter for 120 V Type A/B US outlets and a spare battery for long days on the show floor.
Plan your trip
Planning
Best day to visit: Day 2 (mid-show)
Mid-show days at PMCA Annual Production Conference usually combine full exhibitor attendance with scheduled B2B meetings, before early pack-down on the final day.
T-1
Days 14-10: Choose full conference or expo-only registration on pmca.com, confirm the badge name matches your passport, and download the programme once published.
T-2
Days 14-10: Decide your hotel strategy - Lancaster Marriott at Penn Square for a walk-to-venue stay, or a Mount Joy, Lititz or Lancaster East property if budget matters more than convenience.
T-3
Days 10-8: Book flights into MDT for proximity or PHL and BWI for choice, then reserve a rental car if your hotel is outside downtown Lancaster.
T-4
Days 10-8: If you are arriving by rail, book Amtrak Keystone to Lancaster station and plan a 10-15 minute walk or short rideshare to your Penn Square hotel.
T-5
Days 8-6: Build a session shortlist around your plant's live projects - coating and tempering faults, panning cycles, mogul conditioning, extrusion and seasoning pickup, or packaging seal integrity.
T-6
Days 7-5: Map the expo floor against those projects and pre-book meetings with the equipment and ingredient suppliers you actually need to see.
T-7
Days 5-3: Sort ground transport: rideshare coverage is thinner in Mount Joy, Lititz and Amish Country, so pre-book return trips rather than relying on a quick pickup.
T-8
Days 5-3: Check the Lancaster weather forecast and pack layers, a light waterproof jacket and comfortable shoes for the walk between downtown hotels and the convention center.
T-9
Days 3-1: Confirm your ESTA or B-1 visa status, carry a printed hotel confirmation and registration receipt, and check that your phone plan or eSIM covers US data.
Day 1
Collect your badge at the Lancaster County Convention Center before the first session, walk the expo floor while it is quiet, and keep the afternoon for follow-up meetings.
Sample visitor itinerary
Route-optimised day
Day 1 · morning
Registration and hall orientation at Lancaster County Convention Center
Day 2 · core sessions
Supplier meetings and product demos
Day 3 · wrap-up
Final negotiations and follow-up
Networking spots
2PMCA Annual Production Conference registration concourse
Lancaster County Convention Center
Central meeting point before and between hall appointments during show days.
Organiser B2B lounge (if offered)
Lancaster County Convention Center
Hosted matchmaking and buyer programmes when published by the organiser.
Budget
Costs & budget
Build your working budget
Adjust the inputs below to create a directional event budget.
Estimated budget
Live estimate
- Hotel × 2 nights$230.00
- Per diem × 2$150.00
Estimated total$380.00
This is a directional estimate. Please verify live rates before booking.
Decision
Visit, exhibit, or skip?
Should you go?
Use this quick check to decide whether PMCA Annual Production Conference fits your visit, exhibit or skip plan.
QUESTION 1 OF 6
What is your primary role?
Decision matrix
Compare participation options side by side to choose the best fit for your objectives.
visit
Your category focus aligns with the official product themes.
Best for
Buyers, researchers, and delegates evaluating the programme and networking value.
Min. budget
$400.00
Timeline
4-8 weeks before opening day for registration and travel.
Risks
Limited session times published - confirm agenda before booking.
exhibit
You have a clear lead-generation or launch goal for this market.
Best for
Suppliers and brands seeking qualified meetings with the event audience.
Min. budget
$2,500.00
Timeline
3-6 months for stand booking, freight, and marketing prep.
Risks
Booth pricing not published in captured sources - confirm with organiser.
skip
Programme, audience, or commercial goals do not match your plan.
Best for
Teams whose category or region fit is weak this edition.
Timeline
N/A
Risks
No major risks listed.
FAQs & glossary
Answers
Frequently asked
What is the PMCA confectionery and snack conference in Lancaster?
It is PMCA's technical conference for the confectionery and snack manufacturing industry, held in Lancaster, Pennsylvania in April 2027. The programme pairs presentations on production and ingredient topics with a supplier expo where equipment makers, ingredient houses and packaging vendors meet manufacturers.
When exactly does the 2027 edition take place?
The edition is scheduled for April 2027 at the Lancaster County Convention Center. Check pmca.com for the confirmed start and end days, plus short-course or workshop dates that may sit either side of the main conference, before you lock flights and hotel nights.
Where is the venue and is it walkable?
The Lancaster County Convention Center sits in downtown Lancaster at Penn Square. The Lancaster Marriott at Penn Square is attached to the complex, roughly 280 ft from the hall, so downtown hotel guests can walk to badge pickup and sessions without a car.
Can I attend the expo only, without the full conference?
Yes. Registration is split between full conference attendance and expo-only access, so plant teams can visit the supplier floor for a day while colleagues attend the technical sessions. Confirm the current rates and what each pass includes on the organiser site.
Who is the show aimed at - is it open to the general public?
The audience is trade: product development, process engineering, operations, quality, packaging and procurement staff from confectionery and snack manufacturers, plus their suppliers. It is a working technical and sourcing event rather than a consumer chocolate fair, so check the registration criteria with PMCA if your role sits outside manufacturing.
Which airport should I fly into?
Harrisburg International (MDT) is the closest commercial airport to Lancaster, roughly 35 miles and about 45-60 minutes by car. Philadelphia (PHL) and Baltimore/Washington (BWI) are each roughly 80-85 miles with far more nonstop options, so many international visitors fly there and drive or take a train connection.
How do I get from the airport to downtown Lancaster?
From MDT, the practical options are a rental car, a pre-booked sedan or rideshare, or a connection via Harrisburg to the Amtrak Keystone service. From PHL, Amtrak Keystone trains run to Lancaster station with a change at Philadelphia 30th Street or a direct regional connection. Allow extra time and confirm schedules before travel.
Do I need a car during the show?
Not if you stay downtown near Penn Square, where the venue, restaurants and the Amtrak station are within walking or short rideshare distance. A car is useful if you book the suburban and outlet-mall hotels in Mount Joy, Lititz or Lancaster East, where distances of 5-15 miles make rideshare or a rental the practical choice.
Where should I stay for the conference?
The Lancaster Marriott at Penn Square is the walk-to-venue option. Eden Resort & Suites (about 2.2 miles) and Holiday Inn Lancaster (about 0.3 miles) are the next closest in the current property set, followed by the Fairfield, Holiday Inn Express and Comfort Suites properties in Lancaster East, Mount Joy, Lititz and Amish Country - all cheaper but car-dependent.
Is parking available at the convention center?
Downtown Lancaster is served by city garages and surface lots around Penn Square and Queen Street, and the convention center is linked to the Marriott at Penn Square. Confirm current daily event rates and whether exhibitor or attendee validation is offered before driving in, since rates and access change by operator.
What technical topics are covered?
Sessions track the confectionery and snack production chain: chocolate and compound coatings, sugar and gelatin confectionery, panning and mogul work, gum, extrusion and seasoning of snacks, plus quality, food safety, packaging and line automation. Suppliers on the expo floor map directly onto these topics with equipment and ingredients.
Is there a supplier exhibition alongside the conference?
Yes. The expo portion brings ingredient houses, processing and packaging equipment OEMs, laboratory instrument makers and service providers together with the manufacturing audience, and it can be attended on an expo-only registration.
What should I wear and how formal is it?
Business casual is the norm for a technical production conference - collared shirts, trousers or smart jeans, comfortable shoes for walking the expo floor. Lancaster in April is changeable, so bring a layer and a light waterproof jacket for the blocks between hotel and venue.
Can I get a visa invitation letter?
International visitors requiring a US business visitor visa (B-1) or travelling under the Visa Waiver Program/ESTA should contact PMCA through pmca.com for a confirmation or invitation letter once registered, and apply well ahead of travel. Bring your registration confirmation and a printed hotel booking to the port of entry.
Glossary
- Conching
- A prolonged mixing and aerating step in chocolate making that drives off volatile acids and rounds off particle edges, improving flow and flavour. Conference sessions commonly treat conching time and energy use as a cost-versus-quality trade-off.
- Tempering
- Controlled heating and cooling that sets cocoa butter into the stable beta crystal form, giving chocolate gloss, snap and resistance to bloom. Tempering is one of the most common topics for enrobing and moulding equipment buyers.
- Enrobing
- Passing centres through a curtain of chocolate, then vibrating and blowing off excess before cooling. Enrober setup, curtain stability and cooling tunnel profiles are standard equipment-evaluation questions.
- Depositing
- Metered filling of moulds or trays with chocolate, fondant, caramel or jelly using piston or servo depositors. Deposit weight accuracy and changeover speed are the usual purchasing criteria.
- Mogul / starch moulding
- Casting jelly, gum or fondant shapes into trays of powdered starch, drying them in a conditioning room, then separating the pieces. Mogul capacity and starch conditioning humidity are key line decisions.
- Panning
- Building layers of coating on a core inside a rotating pan or drum, used for chocolate lentils, gum balls and sugar-shelled centres. Drying air and layer cycles determine shell quality.
- Water activity (aw)
- A measure of free water available for microbial growth. It governs shelf life and texture in jellies, caramels and fillings, and is a routine QA parameter discussed at production conferences.
- Fat bloom and sugar bloom
- Surface defects caused respectively by unstable cocoa butter crystallisation or by moisture dissolving and recrystallising sugar. Both are recurring troubleshooting themes for chocolate and coated-piece producers.
- Cocoa butter equivalent (CBE)
- Non-cocoa vegetable fats that are compatible with cocoa butter and used in compound coatings and cost-optimised recipes. Regulatory labelling and compatibility limits are frequent questions.
- Polyols
- Sugar alcohols such as maltitol, sorbitol and isomalt used in sugar-free confectionery. Their crystallisation and laxative-threshold behaviour change both recipe and process design.
- Extrusion (snacks)
- Continuous cooking and shaping of cereal, starch or protein dough through a die to make puffed, sheeted or shaped snacks, usually followed by drying, frying or seasoning.
- Seasoning application
- Dusting, slurrying or spraying flavour onto snack surfaces, with pickup rate and coverage uniformity as the main controls. Oil spray and tumble drum setup decide seasoning adhesion.
- Flow wrap
- Horizontal form-fill-seal packaging around a single bar or piece, widely used for chocolate tablets and snack bars. Film structure and seal integrity are central to shelf-life claims.
- HACCP plan
- A documented hazard analysis with critical control points covering roasting, metal detection, allergen changeover and sanitation. QA teams at the show compare how suppliers support validation and verification.
- FAT / SAT
- Factory acceptance test and site acceptance test, the staged equipment sign-offs before and after installation. Buyers use these milestones to tie payment to measured throughput and product quality.
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Also known as
Alternate names and search phrases for this event.
- PMCA Annual Production Conference 2027
- PMCA Annual Production Conference Lancaster 2027
- PMCA 2027
- PMCA Lancaster 2027
- Lancaster USA
- Wire and Cable Trade Fair Lancaster 2027
- Chocolate and compound coatings, including
- Sugar confectionery
- Chewing gum and bubble gum
- Gelatine, pectin, starch and hydrocolloid
1 more alternate names hidden
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Sources
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References
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Publishers
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Date checked
1
PMCA
- event_website
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Digital business cards for the show floor
Display a free company card at your booth, or share your professional card on the show floor.