Think packaging, think Interpack

You have read the projections. Printing-packaging is the future. But how the future looks like? Interpack offers you a comprehensive view while offering you the inspiration for the next three years. There is more to see in the 20 exhibition halls than can be fitted into seven days and nowhere else in the world can you get such a comprehensive, up-to-date overview of the competition. On each day of the trade show numerous additional events provide great inspiration for forward-looking and visionary concepts on the global demand for sustainability. After all, processes, packaging technology and ultimately the packaging itself all play a decisive role.

The last event, Interpack 2014 saw 2,700 exhibitors from 60 countries and 175,000 visitors from 190 countries. This should give you an idea how big the event is, and how important a role it plays in the international packaging industry. In short, Interpack is the essential event for the food, beverage, confectionery, bakery, pharmaceutical, cosmetics, non-food and industrial goods sectors. No other trade fair in the world presents the entire supply chain. At no other trade fair does the packaging industry provide all sectors with tailored solutions and innovative designs based on such a variety of materials, and it is, of course, THE event for the packaging industry.

Bigger than ever
According to Messe Dusseldorf, the organiser of the event, Interpack 2017 has recorded the highest demand among exhibitors in its history of over 55 years. By the official closing date, exhibitors had booked about 20% more space than was available at the exhibition centre with its 262,400 sq/mt in 19 halls. Around 2,700 exhibitors can therefore be expected again from about 60 different countries.

Where size and internationalism are concerned, Interpack is a unique platform for businesses offering products and solutions in packaging technology and related processes, as well as packaging media and materials for the various segments — food, beverages, confectionery and baked goods, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, non-food consumer goods and industrial goods. The products and services presented here will be supplemented by several innovative specialist areas.

Working together with the German Engineering Federation (VDMA), Interpack 2017 will put the focus on Industry 4.0, in particular. The special show will take the form of a Technology Lounge at the VDMA stand, featuring examples of solutions in packaging machinery and process engineering and opening up new opportunities for applications in security, traceability, copying and counterfeit protection as well as in customised packaging.

Innovation Park
As before, Save Food will play a role at Interpack 2017. A special show called Innovation Park (innovationparc) will be held, with packaging ideas and solutions designed to reduce food waste. This includes the winners of the international competitions for the Save Food Packaging Awards, held by the World Packaging Organisation (WPO). The prizes were awarded prior to Interpack, and the winners are now set to compete with one other for the WorldStar Awards at the trade fair. The innovationparc will include a presentation forum which can be used by companies to showcase their ideas and solutions.

Components
As before, another trade fair, entitled Components Special Trade Fair by Interpack, will be running in parallel. It will feature products from supplier industries of the packaging sector. Following its première in 2014, the general idea of this trade fair has been substantially revised for 2017. Visitors will now find it at a central location within the exhibition centre, in Hall 18, a temporary lightweight hall, approximately 5,000 sq/mt in size. It is situated between Halls 10 and 16, complementing Interpackfor its entire duration.

Hundreds of companies from the supplier industries will have their stands, offering products in drive, control and censor technology, industrial image processing, material handling technology and other (machine) components.

Resources
For visitors, www.interpack.com contains useful resources to prepare and plan each day at the trade fair. These resources include an exhibitors’ database with the option of compiling a personalised hall plan as well as a ‘matchmaking’ function to contact exhibitors and to receive news of companies represented at the trade fair.

In addition, a visitors’ app is available for iPhone and Android users. Its functions include the exhibitors’ and event database, updated on a daily basis, graphically optimised hall plans and exhibitors’ details, including contact details and product information, an appointment form and the option of adding customised notes to exhibitors’ entries.