Coming on the heels of Drupa 2016, this year, according to print-packaging.com, the organiser of the show, the show was 30% bigger than the previous editions. What’s more, the show was sold out. Yet, barring a few (such as QuadTech, Bobst, HP, Domino, Convertech, among others), most multinational companies skipped the event, opening the floor to Asian manufacturers, especially the local manufactures.

This is expected, as PackPlus is usually seen a show suited for medium and small packaging converters, and those who want to explore the packaging market. This explains why a large number of big packaging/ label converters, such as Any Graphics, Rave Packaging, Pragati Pack, A&A Labels, Anupam Art Press, Ajanta Print Arts, Uflex, among others, attended the show as exhibitors. Curiously, the stalls of these packaging converters were the best looking stalls and attracted most visitors.

Even the Indian manufactures, from Autoprint to C Trivedi to Canara Flex, to Pelican, among others, ruled the roost. Meanwhile, the fascination for rigid boxes continued at PackPlus, with the companies showcasing their products.

PackPlus is billed as the total packaging, processing and supply chain event, and it comes complete with sister events such as SupplyPlus and CartonTech. Thus, we had lots of manufactures displaying supply chain technologies, from basic conveyor belts of robotic hands lifting packages on the conveyor belt.

In all, over 325 exhibitors, international, domestic and startups, had an element of interest for every visitor.  The more than 200 running machines of different applications and several innovations and product launches had the veteran attendees also riveted.  The Automation Industry Association (AIA) knowledge pavilion focusing on Package 4.0 was a special attraction.

“PackPlus is a platform where one not only gets to see the latest technology from across the world but also gets to network with people from the packaging industry. We never miss a single edition, as the show been very beneficial for us,” said Rajesh Lalwani, a visitor from Pioneer Packers, New Delhi.

The event also hosted a daylong international packaging conclave on 29 July on ‘Print optimisation and colour management for flexible packaging.’ More than 25 experts and more than 200 delegates, including brand owners, package converters, packaging technologists, procurement professionals, print specialists, managers, pre‐press and media professionals, designers, material and equipment suppliers and consultants attended the event.

Leading players in all the traditional segments reported strong enquiries and deals. Ishida India, Nichrome, Bosch, Hayssen Flexible Systems, Uflex Limited, Hilda Automation, Parle Agro and many others confirmed unprecedented response. The Packaging Product Pavilion occupied the entire Hall No. 12 was expectedly looking the most vibrant with arrays of packages, ranging from labels, decorative sleeves, tin containers, cartons and other specialised products. Ajanta Print Arts, A&A Labels, Any Graphics, Decorative Sleeves, Pragati Pack, Pearl Polymers, all hosted a large presence of the brand owners.

The flexible packaging converting machinery suppliers, without exception, were busy attending to the steady flow of converters. Pelican, Uflex, SP Ultraflex, Expert, Sudha and others were busy attending enquiries. Kody and C Trivedi and company reported closing several on venue sales.

The CaronTech show, which debuted this year, featured companies like Zhongke India, Autoprint, APL Machinery, Sodhisons, Ample Graphics and Xhuai India, and all of them had busy four days. HP had unique presentations for the brand owners on setting new standards for their brands with the use of digital printing.

“The show has been growing over 30% year-on-year, since our return to Pragati Maidan in 2014. We expect the trend to continue next year and will have the coming edition spread over Hall 8 to 12A in a gross area of over 16,000 sq/m,” said Neetu Arora, director, Print-Packaging.com,

PackPlus 2017 will be held from 3-6 August 2017 at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.