GILPIN CEO PAUL MCCLURE Chosen as Jurist for the 2026 METPACK Innovation Awards

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama (April 1, 2026) – – Paul McClure, CEO and President of GILPIN + Company, a global provider of integrated packaging solutions including metal easy-open ends, has been chosen to serve on the international jury of experts for the 2026 METPACK® Innovation Award. This is the third time McClure has been named a jurist for what is the most prestigious award competition in the metal packaging industry.

The METPACK Innovation Award is held in conjunction with the premier trade event for the metal packaging industry, METPACK, in Essen, Germany, May 5-8, 2026. Adding to the award’s magnitude is that it is only presented once every three years to the three “best of the best” innovations in the world in Gold, Silver and Bronze categories. Winners will be announced Wednesday, May 6, at the METPACK Awards Ceremony.

McClure’s International Expertise in Metal Packaging

McClure’s selection as a 2026 METPACK Innovation Award jurist is based on the breadth and diversity of his professional experience. His 33-year career in metal packaging spans engineering, manufacturing, market development, sales, and supply chain development and execution; first for global packaging company Sonoco and later as CEO and President of GILPIN + Company, which he acquired in 2008. 

McClure’s experience working internationally with global packaging companies and consumer brands gives him an unparalleled eye for innovation. Weathering every type of challenge imaginable—global pandemics, tariffs, supply shocks and sustainability demands, port disruptions—has heightened his knowledge and ability to adapt to market pressures and create opportunities that enable GILPIN to continue to deliver customer success.

Selecting the World’s Best Innovations in Metal Packaging

Commenting on his upcoming duties as 2026 METPACK Innovation Award jurist, McClure said, “I am honored to serve as a jurist and have a role in selecting the very best innovations in metal packaging design, sustainability and manufacturing. Due to the endless flexibility of metal packaging and its sustainability, our industry is in the midst of a surging renaissance. I look forward to reviewing all of this year’s entries. The creativity and collaboration of the international metal packaging community is inspiring, reminding me why I love this business.”

Entries for the 2026 METPACK Innovation Awards will be accepted through April 10, 2026. Companies with sustainable and cost-efficient solutions for the production, refinement, painting, and recycling of metal packaging are invited to apply here. Winners will be announced May 8 at an awards ceremony in the Talk in Can lecture area in Hall 2 at Messe Essen. The world’s only innovation prize in the metal packaging industry, the METPACK Innovation Award has been conferred since 1996. 

About GILPIN + Company

Founded in 1963 and acquired by Paul McClure in 2008, GILPIN + Company, Inc., is a packaging solutions integrator that serves an international clientele of consumer and industrial products companies. GILPIN partners with respected packaging companies around the world to provide a comprehensive portfolio that includes metal ends, closures, caps and plugs; thermoformed and injection molded cups and containers; flexible packaging and labels; composite cans; and specialty packaging. GILPIN also provides sophisticated support that spans packaging engineering; equipment sourcing, installation, trials and training; logistics; and supply chain management. Learn more.