Once again in 2014, interpack is emphasising its role as the world’s most important trade fair for the packaging sector and related processing industries. At the official deadline for registration at the end of February 2013, all the available spaces in the Düsseldorf exhibition centre with its 19 halls were already booked out (as at the previous fair in 2011), so that not all exhibitor wishes could be met. From 8 to 14 May 2014 about 2,700 exhibitors are therefore again expected from industries ranging from food and beverages, confectionary and baked goods to pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, non-food consumer goods, industrial goods and related services. The companies are coming to Düsseldorf from about 60 countries and are occupying about 174,000 square metres of net space.
New parallel event: “components for processing and packaging”
interpack is reinforcing its leading role by offering visitors innovative special topics alongside the extensive range of offerings provided by exhibitors. “components for processing and packaging” is an event being staged for the first time in 2014 as an additional exhibition for suppliers to the packaging industry. Companies who are engaged in drive, control and sensor technology, products for industrial image processing, handling technology, industrial software and communication, and complete automation systems for packaging machinery, are exhibiting in the Düsseldorf “Stadthalle” in Congress Center South (CCD Süd). Plus manufacturers of machine parts, components, accessories and peripherals as well as those who manufacture components and auxiliaries for packaging means. About 75 companies are taking part overall. The event is accompanied by a daily lecture forum. Visitors can find the current programme at www.packaging-components.de.
“components” is taking place during the first three days of interpack from 8 to 10 May in the direct vicinity of the lead fair in the Stadthalle at the Congress Center South (CCD Süd). interpack visitors and exhibitors have direct access to “components for processing and packaging”. And, of course, the same applies vice versa.
SAVE FOOD Congress
On 7 May 2014, one day before interpack opens its doors, the SAVE FOOD Congress will already commence in the Congress Center South (CCD Süd). This two-day event is directed at both non-profit organisations and industry. It highlights the topics of global food loss and food waste and explores the aspects involved, addressing a broad public audience. Building on the foundation established in 2011, interpack will thus again provide a unique international platform for exchanges between all those concerned with this critical issue. The SAVE FOOD initiative is a co-operation between the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and Messe Düsseldorf. It was originally launched in 2011 with a very successful congress staged parallel to interpack and is now being supported by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Among other things, the 2014 event will present the results of new FAO studies conducted in developing and emerging countries to investigate local food losses. In addition, companies from the entire food value chain will be presenting best practices.
The congress supports the fundamental aims of the initiative, which seeks to network key actors in business, politics and research to instigate a constructive dialogue between all parties. The ultimate goal is to develop solutions that will reduce food loss and waste along the food value chain. “All the industries involved in the food, packaging and logistics sectors have an especially important role to play in the SAVE FOOD initiative. Ultimately, it is the products developed by these companies which offer concrete approaches to solving the problems we all face. We want SAVE FOOD to act as a catalyst for establishing contact with other enterprises and organisations to carry these approaches further,” explains Director Jablonowski, the author of this initiative.
INNOVATIONPARC PACKAGING and the SAVE FOOD theme
Now a regular feature at interpack, the special show INNOVATIONPARC PACKAGING (IPP) 2014 will therefore also be staged under the motto of SAVE FOOD. The over 20 participating SAVE FOOD members, companies and associations from all stages along the value chain are showcasing their solutions for avoiding food loss and food waste. The special show presents practical approaches from areas such as food processing, packaging design, packaging materials and machine construction to fight the problem in concrete ways. An additional exhibition highlights the dimensions of international food losses along the food value chain. Since early 2012, the SAVE FOOD initiative has been open to corporate members and private individuals who wish to support its aims both through financial sponsorship and by providing new ideas. Alongside individual companies in the packaging industry, almost all the leading trade associations in the sector have joined this initiative.
The IPP will be staged in a prestige marquee on an area of around 2,500 square metres on the outdoor space between Halls 2 and 3. Throughout the fair, a programme of lectures will be held on an integrated stage. In the catering zone, which is also available, the foods provided have been selected in cooperation with Tristam Stuart. Stuart is the initiator of the “Feeding the 5,000” project, which has made a name for itself by organising several public and free feeding events for several thousand people using food that would otherwise be disposed of. Visitors can find the Innovationsparc lecture programme and a stand plan at www.interpack.de.
METAL PACKAGING PLAZA 2014
interpack 2014 will again feature the METAL PACKAGING PLAZA in Hall 11. This special theme also premiered at interpack 2011 where its metal-inspired stand concept created a new meeting point for the international metal packaging community and its supplier industry. The proven concept of this special exhibition will be continued at interpack 2014 by the organisers VMV (the German Metal Packaging Association) and Empac (the European Metal Packaging association). For the first time, exhibitors here will include packaging steel manufacturers such as ThyssenKrupp Rasselstein and ArcelorMittal under the umbrella of APEAL, the Association of European Producers of Steel for Packaging. In addition to the showings of the roughly 40 exhibitors, the METAL PACKAGING PLAZA 2014 offers an information platform with a forum, bar-lounge and meeting points.
Online services covering every aspect of a trade fair visit
The interpack website, www.interpack.com, has been completely reorganised and given a facelift. At this site, visitors can find useful tools to help them plan their trade fair agenda efficiently. Examples include the exhibitor database where they can generate a personalised hall floorplan, a matchmaking function for establishing contact with exhibitors, and information on all new developments being presented by the participating companies. The interpack services can also be accessed by mobile via http://mobile.interpack.com. Visitors will appreciate the downloadable iPhone and Android apps. These offer daily updated exhibitor and event databases, graphically optimised halls maps and exhibitor data, including contact details, product information, forms for arranging meetings and a possibility to compose notes on individual exhibitors. Visitors can also use the app to synchronise their trade fair planning between a desktop computer and their handheld device. All individual editing, such as personalised display of favourites in the hall floorplan or notes made about companies, will then be available on both platforms no matter where it was originally done. The interpack home page additionally offers the possibility to arrange hotel bookings as well as providing tips on cultural attractions in Düsseldorf to plan one’s stay in the city.
Opening hours and prices
interpack will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. from 8 to 14 May 2014. Tickets will be on sale from mid December 2013 onwards. Via online presales at www.interpack.com, a one-day admission ticket costs €49 (€60 at the gate). Schoolchildren, students and apprentices/trainees pay a reduced rate of €13 at the gate. A three-day ticket can be purchased via online presales for €99 (€120 at the gate). Visitors can print out all eTickets they purchase online from their own computer. All admission tickets and exhibitor passes to interpack 2014 entitle the bearer to free travel to the trade fair and back on the buses, trains and trams of the regional public transport network VRR (Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr) which also serves towns in a large radius around Messe Düsseldorf.
