interpack 2017 is recording the highest demand among exhibitors in its history of over 55 years. By the official closing date for registration, exhibitors had booked about 20 per cent more space than was available at the exhibition centre with its 262,400 square metres in 19 halls. Around 2,700 exhibitors can be expected at the show from 4 to 10 May 2017, coming from about 60 different countries.
Working together with the German Engineering Federation (VDMA), Interpack 2017 will put the focus on Industry 4.0. 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.
A special show called ‘innovationparc’ (Innovation Park) will be held, with packaging ideas and solutions designed to reduce food losses and waste. They will include 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. ‘innovationparc’ will be held in a marquee situated between Halls 2 and 3.
The first day of the trade fair will also feature the third international ‘Save Food’ convention, held in partnership with the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
Following the première of ‘components for processing and packaging’ in 2014, a parallel event by interpack featuring products from suppliers to the packaging industry, the general idea of this trade fair has been substantially revised for 2017. ‘components’ is targeted at companies that supply drive, control and sensor equipment, products for industrial image processing, handling equipment, industrial software and communication, and complete automation systems for packaging machines. Visitors will now find ‘components 2017’ at a central location within the exhibition centre, in Hall 18, a temporary lightweight hall, approximately 5,000 square metres in size. Situated between Halls 10 and 16, ‘components’ will be freely accessible to all interpack visitors and exhibitors.
