interpack Special: Home of the Innovation

The 2017 edition of the triennial trade show is set to be the biggest yet in its 55-year history, as interpack is set to host more than 2,700 exhibitors in Düsseldorf (May 4-10). The successful SAVE FOOD program returns and Industry 4.0 is among this year’s highlights.

Processes and machinery for confectionery and bakery will be hosted in the dedicated halls 1 to 4, with over 300 exhibitors who are listed under the “bakery” search word in the dedicated interpack mobile ap. Among product categories they bring to the show floor, exhibitors will display a comprehensive range, including single machines to complete lines, mixers, conveying and storage systems, dosing and mixing equipment, primary packaging and handling systems, cooling equipment, feeding and depositing systems.

As the global demand for baked goods is on the rise, Euromonitor estimates that around 202 million tons will be consumed this year, 5% more than figures reported with the occasion of the previous edition of the fair, in 2014. “Moreover, the percentage of industrial baking technology is also increasing,” according to Bernd Jablonowski, interpack global portfolio director for the processing and packaging sector, Messe Düsseldorf GmbH. He added, “The globally growing consumption of confectionery and bakery goods is creating a continuously positive demand development in the area of confectionery and baking machines, as was impressively demonstrated at interpack” three years ago, a trend that is expected to show even further growth on the show floor in May.

Components for processing and packaging

Following its debut in 2014, “components for processing and packaging” returns throughout the duration of the fair, with a revised concept. Visitors will find the event at a new site within the Düsseldorf Exhibition Centre, in the temporary Hall 18. Covering about 5,000 sqm, the hall will be situated at the heart of interpack, between exhibition halls 10 and 16, whose exhibition areas it supplements. Exhibitors here will include suppliers of drive, control and sensor technology; industrial image processing products; handling technology; industrial software and communication; and end-to-end automation systems for packing machinery.

Focus on Industry 4.0

interpack is a massive platform for businesses offering products and solutions in packaging technology and related processes, as well as packaging media and materials. Several innovative specialist areas provide a trendsetting complement to products and services presented at the fair. One of them is the focus on Industry 4.0, organized by interpack with the German Engineering Federation (VDMA).

The special show will comprise a Technology Lounge at the VDMA stand, featuring examples of solutions in packaging machinery and process engineering, to explore new opportunities for applications in security, traceability, copying and counterfeit protection, as well as in customized packaging.

The SAVE FOOD congress

The SAVE FOOD Initiative will be a part of interpack for the third time this year. At the international SAVE FOOD Congress on May 4, 2017 speakers from business, science and political spheres and civil society will get together to shed some light on the various facets of the food waste problem. India will be the theme in focus this year. In addition to a talk delivered by the Indian Minister of Food Processing Industries, Harsimrat Kaur Badal, a new SAVE FOOD Study will be presented, that analyzes the status quo of food losses in India using various case studies. This international convention is held in partnership with the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP).

New SAVE FOOD Packaging Awards

The World Packaging Organization (WPO) has extended its celebrated WorldStar Awards to include the category “SAVE FOOD Packaging Awards”. The WorldStar Awards commend best-practice approaches that have already proven themselves on the national level, and the awards will be presented at a ceremony during interpack 2017. “We are giving the WorldStar Awards a platform in keeping with the standing of these celebrated awards. After all, in terms of innovation density and internationality, no other event can rival interpack worldwide,” says Jablonowski.

The awards recognize packaging solutions distinguished by their capacity to reduce food loss and wastage – for instance, by prolonging the packaged product’s shelf life or with intelligent concepts for portioning or protecting the contents of packages once they have been opened. In the adjudication of the submissions, it is also important that the package’s production is resource-efficient and makes use of as little packaging material as necessary.

Overall, associations from more than 15 countries are participating in the staging of the awards, including ones in Africa and the Middle East. These selected national winners in a variety of categories in advance of interpack 2017. The national winners will then be competing at interpack 2017 for the WorldStar Award in the SAVE FOOD category and will be exhibited at the “innovationparc” special show.

The innovationparc joins SAVE FOOD theme

Building on its success in 2014, the SAVE FOOD project be again a part of interpack in 2017. The special show called innovationparc (InnovationPark) is dedicated to packaging ideas and solutions designed to reduce food losses and waste. These will include the winning innovations of the international competitions for the SAVE FOOD Packaging Awards, held by the WPO. The innovationparc will also include a presentation forum, which can be used by companies to showcase their ideas and solutions. The innovationparc is situated between halls 2 and 3.