With mainstay trades shows such as Drupa and Interpack postponed, W&H will be taking exhibits planned for those shows directly to customers’ computers around the world in the company’s first virtual expo to be held on 24 and 25 June 2020.

“This is an unprecedented and challenging time. And yet the flexible packaging industry is as busy if not busier than ever. It’s important that we take this opportunity to communicate with our customers and show them the new technologies and applications that are available now and can help run their production more efficiently,” said Peter Steinbeck, managing partner at W&H.

The three-hour virtual expo will highlight 30-minute machine demonstrations from the W&H Printing Innovation Centre, including the Novoflex II flexographic press featuring the new Ruby IoT system for analysing production data as well as the Heliostar II gravure press.

A number of technical sessions will also be offered, including handling solutions on the Novoflex II with print inspection from Ruby Check for flexible packaging printers. For industrial sack producers, the company will showcase the hidden potential in production data with Ruby Track and printing for industrial sacks with the Flexa II press. It will also highlight heavy duty sack film on the Optimex II FFS blown film line.

For film extruders, it will highlight all PE pouch film on the Varex II blown film line with MDO, heavy-duty sack film on the Optimex II FFS blown film line. The company will also showcase paper bag production with W&H subsidiary Garant.

The virtual expo is also expected to highlight its remote support system, which aims to improve customer service.

The W&H Virtual Expo will live stream the programme at several times on both days to accommodate visitors from different countries and time zones.

The product portfolio of W&H includes high-performance machines for film extrusion, printing and converting. As a global company W&H offers its clients everything from a single source: from expert consultation and engineering to the delivery of high quality machines and complete packaging production lines.

Machines from W&H are in use in over 130 countries and by more than 5,000 customers. In 2018 the Windmoller & Holscher Group with its headquarters in Lengerich, Germany reached sales of approximately EUR 895 million.