FachPack 2018 recently brought about 45,000 trade visitors (2016: 41,014) to Nuremberg/Germany to learn about innovations and trends in the packaging industry. This represents an increase of more than 8 % compared to the previous event in the series. Visitor numbers from outside Germany grew particularly strong.

FachPack once again had a comprehensive range of products and services on offer, covering the packaging process chain from packaging materials and machines to printing and finishing, and logistics systems as well as services. The largest of these fields were packaging materials and accessories with about 780 exhibitors.

With a total of 1,644 exhibitors (2016: 1,542), the event occupied twelve exhibition halls for the first time, providing an opportunity for in-depth discussion of packaging solutions for consumer and industrial goods. Digitalisation, e-commerce, packaging design, and sustainability in particular provided the key subjects for discussion.

The exhibition management has announced that environmentally friendly packaging will be the key theme for FachPack in 2019. Exhibition Director Cornelia Fehlner called the reason: “It is clear that the packaging industry is in transition. In addition to challenges of a technical nature, the industry is especially interested in ways to find clever packaging solutions for complex requirements that will also serve the interests of both the environment and the consumer, while also keeping the entire product cycle in focus. In other words, the packaging of the future. This is what we will be concentrating on at FachPack 2019.”

At the heart of this year’s FachPack, once again, was the strongly performing German packaging industry, with 1,023 exhibitors. “Even so, there is a noticeable trend towards a greater European flavour,” Cornelia Fehlner observes happily. International exhibitors accounted for 38 % of the total. There was a strong presence from the neighbouring European countries, especially Italy, the Netherlands, Poland and Switzerland.

The supporting programme was well received. Many forums and special shows provided an opportunity for professional development and sharing knowledge on all aspects of packaging. A total audience of 7,500 listened to the 100 presentations from 120 speakers and discussion participants. The new Hall 8, covering the fields of package printing and finishing, and the centrally arranged special show on premium packaging, enjoyed immediate popularity. These accounted for about 40 exhibits, which viewers found captivating on account of their design and innovative materials.

An award ceremony recognised a total of 40 outstanding solutions covering the entire added value chain in packaging in the form of the 2018 German Packaging Award. A “pioneering and particularly innovative” product received both the German Packaging Award in the categories of sustainability as well as the German Packaging Award in Gold: the ther-moformimg packaging solution FlexiClose(re) from Schur Flexibles Group. This new packaging concept combines optimised product protection, consumer-friendly use, attractive optics and excellent recyclability. Used in combination with C-base PP bottom web, this state-of-the-art top film results in a fully recyclable reclosure solution with high barrier properties for MAP packaging. FlexiClose(re) films are ideal for any product that is not consumed after opening and needs to be resealed, like snacks or biscuits.

The next FachPack will take place at the Exhibition Centre Nuremberg from 24 to 26 September 2019.