interpack 2017: record-level international attendance
From 04.05.-10.05.2017 the internationally leading trade fair of the packaging sector and related process industries “interpack” brought more than 170 000 visitors to Düsseldorf/Germany; 74 % of the visitors came from abroad. The high percentage of German and international experts from a total of 168 countries made the trade fair a successful event for the 2865 exhibiting companies.
Visitors in turn benefitted from a multitude of innovations on display and a unique market overview. This was also reflected in the corresponding high scores they gave the trade fair: just under 98 % stated in the official survey that they were satisfied or very satisfied with their visit to interpack 2017. They took an interest in all ranges and segments of interpack but packaging media received significantly more attention than at the previous event.
Digitalization, Industry 4.0 and sustainability
Proving a top trend at many stands was the further digitalization of production processes on the way to Industry 4.0 applications. Production linked along these lines makes it possible to manufacture personalized packaging efficiently or to guarantee traceability, to name but two options. Furthermore, the modular design of packaging machines and process lines and optimized digital operating concepts play a pivotal role in order to reduce complexity in manufacturing and achieve the highest degree of flexibility possible for changing batch sizes or product versions. Some companies even focused on virtual reality applications that allow machines or equipment to be experienced holistically in order to manage complexity better even in the manufacturing process of machinery and equipment as well as in training and operation. The sustainability theme also remained “omnipresent” at interpack 2017. Companies presented improved resource efficiency in terms of both the material used with ever smaller wall thicknesses and of manufacturing processes. Moreover, alternative packaging materials are gaining ground.
The interpack special show of the same name organized in cooperation with the German Engineering Federation VDMA (Verband Deutscher Maschinen- und Anlagenbau e.V.) showcased the latest ideas and approaches and was received extremely well by visitors.
components: new concept received very well
The concept of “components – special trade fair by interpack”, which had been revised for interpack 2017, was received very well by visitors. According to the feedback received from the extremely satisfied exhibitors the quality of visitors was also high. “The decision to place the second ‘components’ after a more subdued debut three years ago, in a central location that the exhibition centre now and to hold it in parallel with the complete interpack, proved absolutely right. There had never been any doubts about the importance of this theme anyway since upstream suppliers with their components and software for packaging and process technologies play a key role for the digitalization of manufacturing processes all the way down as Industry 4.0 approaches. We will therefore also establish ‘components’ at trade fairs of interpack alliance abroad in future,” added Bernd Jablonowski, Global Portfolio Director Processing & Packaging at the Messe Düsseldorf.
The coming interpack will be held in May 2020 in three years’ time at the Düsseldorf Exhibition Centre – then with a completely new south entrance and a new Hall 1.
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