Sustainability, conservation, waste reduction, optimization of processes to enhance efficiencies, digitalization, automation, safety, security, a tumultuous supply chain—these topics and more resonated thorough the 18 fully booked exhibit halls at interpack 2023.
- Printers talked about how they challenged operations
- Package buyers demanded adherence to sound business principles
- Suppliers touted solutions designed to meet the needs being expressed
The event was staged at the Messe Dusseldorf Fairgrounds, May 4-10, under the theme, “Welcome Back”—alluding to the unplanned, pandemic-associated postponement of the 2020 installment. The secondary billing, “Simply Unique”—referred to the highly valued intercultural exchange offered. It attracted 143,000 members of the packaging and processing machinery universe, hailing from 155 countries.
Impressively, it drew 2,800 exhibitors to populate booths on the extensive trade floor—1,000+ attributed to the packaging sector. And those exhibitors reported visitors approached their stands with concrete projects ready for launch.
interpack got everybody talking about top priorities. Pre-event publicity addressed the focus, on-site seminars spurred interest and shed light on emerging and evolving technologies, but the buzz on the floor said it all.
Transformational change is in the air. And the atmosphere is certainly providing a boost to innovation. To master the modifications required, printers, suppliers, and customers alike all resolved to concentrate on efficient planning and effective utilization of their supply chains.
Thomas Dohse, director of interpack, described the seven-day extravaganza as, “an important building block in the innovation cycle of the packaging and processing industries.” His assessment: “Requirements and framework conditions are constantly changing. … The focus is on digital technologies and sustainable products. We notice great determination to actively shape this transformation process.”
He further observed, “Conditions, like scarcity of resources and disrupted supply chains, pose great challenges to the industry, while simultaneously, factors such as increasing demand, new technology and a growing awareness of evolving circumstances offer big chances to take huge strides forward.”
Upheaval, Not Stability
Pre-event research assessments, conducted by B+P Management Consulting and briefed at the show, forecasted “profound, far-reaching upheaval in the packaging market that has become increasingly complex and dynamic.” Analysts proclaimed, “’Stability was yesterday!’ An energy crisis, inflation, recession fears are dominant issues.” Digesting all that’s happening into checklist format, they offered 10 trends to be aware of:
- Consumers are demanding sustainable products
- Changing purchasing behavior is addressing sustainable concerns
- Fluctuating and rising commodity prices are a sticking point
- Changing investor expectations are resulting in uncertainty
- Government health and safety regulations are being enacted and their impact is felt
- Trademark and consumer protection—anti-counterfeiting—concerns abound
- Growth in emerging markets is occurring at record pace
- Circular economy and climate neutrality are critical action points
- Digitalization drives progress
- Market consolidation—small firms, lacking a unique niche, are ripe for takeover
First-Hand Experience
Opinions and observations voiced—right out out in the open on floor of exhibit hall after exhibit hall–affirmed the accuracy of predictions. In the process, they also offered in an-depth report and first-hand account of what’s happening. Statements made proved both valid and valuable. Among the declarations voiced were the following:
- “Bioplastics that are biodegradable or biobased, such as those made from sugar cane, palm leaves or corn, can be seen everywhere”
- “Development of recyclable films, monomaterial solutions, and the use of recyclates or reusable packaging were stressed”
- “The need to conserve resources is being amplified to help to make production processes efficient”
- “Big data, augmented reality and remote machine maintenance have long since found their way into daily life”
- “Digitization is all about communications—married to product safety, product protection, e-commerce, tracking and tracing”
- “Ever more pressing shortage of skilled workers, now widely recognized as a troublesome labor shortage, makes it necessary to expand the degree of automation in-plant”
- “Striving to realize additional efficiencies, given massive increases in energy and raw materials prices—is driving fast amortization. Sustainability continues to attract investment in technology”
Jim Pittus, president, Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Institute (PMMI), put things in perspective.
“Read between the lines. High speed applications, cost effective use, sustainable materials, remote access, and augmented reality are here to stay. …Closing workforce skills gaps requires embracing Industry 4.0. Robots and cobots are advancing technologies—sensor to software. Innovations are powerful, efficient, safe and ecologically mindful.”
Synergistic Twist
Synergies with drupa were clearly evident and often referred to; so much so that drupa management staged a press call to promote a return to Dusseldorf, May 28–June 7, 2024. The theme, “We Create the Future.” Yet, the underlying message expressed atop every page of the note pads distributed as publicity minded take-aways, was inescapable, “Think digital.” “Be sustainable.”
Talk about forging consensus! Major trade events—one after the other, FTA’s included—have succinctly decreed, “Digitalization drives growth, productivity; addresses turnover and inspires innovation.”
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