Kerala corrugators to host annual conference in Kochi this November

The Mumbai-based federation has entrusted the task of hosting this year’s conference to Kerala Corrugated Box Manufacturers Association.

 

The theme of the three-day conference is ‘Packaging tomorrow, futuristic, ideas and solutions’ and will be held in Ernakulam’s Hotel Le Meredian in Kochi.

 

The FCBM comprises of 12 associations with over 2000 members. “The FCBM has affiliate associations in all major cities of India, and every year the annual conference is organised in different states. This time, it’s Kochi,” said Suresh Rajendran (Reddiar), chairman of the 44th conference  and exhibition. “We anticipate about 1000 to 1200 delegates from all over India to attend the conference,” he added.

 

As has been with these annual FCBM conferences, a concurrent packaging and printing exhibition will also be held during the period. Leading packaging machinery manufacturers and mills have agreed to participate in the exhibition, said Rajendran.

 

The Indian corrugation industry, according to a study by FMCB, presently produces 4.60 million tonnes of corrugated boxes annually. And experts expect an estimated growth of 12-15% per annum in the next five years. Today, 35% of the entire corrugation box production in the country is produced in North India, followed by 30% from West, 25% from South, 6% from the East and 4% from Central India.

 

Talking about Kerala’s packaging industry, Rajendran, who is also the managing director of the ST Reddiar & Sons, a 120-year old printing company, said, “Kochi is the industrial capital of Kerala. The packaging and printing industry in Kerala is on the verge of rapid progress and hundreds of units are either being upgraded or are in the process of modernisation.”

 

The conference will also see FCBM release a Smart Book highlighting the developments in the packaging industry and articles presented at the conference.

 

“The conference and exhibition, being held for the first time in Kerala, will give valuable exposure to the packaging industry in South India and up the production capacity of the region,” Rajendran concluded.

 

PrintWeek India is the Media Partner for the event.