Under the tagline "Welcome Home", this year's Interpack 2023 welcomed visitors from all over the world. A total of around 142,000 interested people from 155 countries came to the trade show in Düsseldorf, two thirds of them from abroad. In addition to many countries in Europe, the largest visitor nations were India, Japan and the USA. Around 75 percent belonged to middle and upper management. Even though the fair welcomed around 27,500 fewer visitors than in 2017, many came with firm investment intentions and found what they were looking for.
2,807 exhibitors presented the power and creativity of the packaging industry with their technologies and solutions. What remains are numerous impulses, ideas and concrete business deals that will be implemented in the coming years. This is underlined by the positive feedback from visitors, more than 96 percent of whom stated that they had achieved their trade show objectives. Equally satisfied were the exhibitors at Interpack 2023, whose expectations were exceeded in many cases.
Voices from Interpack 2023
Dr. Johannes T. Grobe, Manager of sales und service of KHS Group, said: "Interpack is an important source of impetus for the transformation to more environmental protection and efficient production processes in the packaging industry. These are precisely the points we are targeting with our holistic solutions - whether with resource-saving packaging systems, comprehensive service offerings or forward-looking machine technologies. The strong interest shown in our solutions at interpack proves to us that we are on the right track." "Process and packaging technology for a better life - that's what visitors experienced at the Syntegon stand. This included numerous solutions with answers to market trends such as automation, digitalisation and sustainability. And the feedback from our customers showed that we have met their requirements. Whether new machines, entire lines or services, the interest was great. The first interpack with our Syntegon brand was a complete success for us." added Dr. Michael Grosse, CEO of management board of Syntegon.
The organizer, Messe Düsseldorf, was also satisfied: “Interpack at last!” was a phrase frequently heard in the halls, because after a six-year break the big community was finally able to meet again in person. And this was reflected in the joy on people’s faces. “Interpack 2023 will reverberate with us for a long time both in business and personal terms,” says Director Thomas Dohse after seven trade fair days adding: “The mood in the halls was great and the inter-cultural exchange enriching for all sides. It was ‘simply unique’ again.”
Transformation as an opportunity
Considering current market developments, the enormous challenges but also the even bigger opportunities, this interpack definitely proved one of the most important ones in its history. The need to automate, the will to act sustainably and changed consumption habits are all expressions of transformation. Interpack’s strategic orientation towards the four Hot Topics: Circular Economy, Resource Management, Digital Technologies and Product Safety found concrete expression in numerous innovations. The trade fair, which has traditionally been a key cornerstone in the innovation cycle of the packaging industry and related process industries, also more than lived up to this claim this year.
Sustainable packaging technologies
All facets of sustainability were top themes at interpack. Exhibitors presented high-end technologies and holistic concepts that consider efficiency and sustainability along their entire production line. “Many companies in the consumer goods industry have set their own sustainability targets,” says Richard Clemens, Managing Director of the Food Processing and Packaging Machinery Association within VDMA at Interpack. “Over the past few years, packaging machinery manufacturers have succeeded in implementing sustainable packaging concepts by means of corresponding technical adaptations and newly developed machinery solutions. Interpack is the showcase for innovations and, at the same time, the point of departure for developing further towards a sustainable circular economy,” says Clemens summing up. The many solutions celebrating a world premiere at Interpack also included a host of packaging materials and supplies in all their diversity. In excess of 1,000 exhibitors were showcased in this segment alone, making for a new record.
New formats Start-up Zone, Co-Packing joint stand, awards ceremonies and Save Food highlight route
Specials such as the Interpack Start-up Zone, the Co-Packing joint booth, several award ceremonies with exciting packaging innovations, the "Save Food Highlight Route" with new approaches in the fight against global food loss and waste also attracted a great deal of attention. Components, which was held as a parallel event in its own hall with 80 exhibitors, was also very well received by visitors. The supplier industry with components and software for packaging and process technology plays an important role in the digitalization of production processes.
Interpack 2026
The next Interpack will be held in Düsseldorf from May 07 to 13, 2026.
