IDE Online Magazine Mayo 2017 | Page 115

Each hall will host exhibiting companies organised into key industries centred around eight business communities: Food, Fresh&Convenience; Confectionary; Beverage; Pasta, Bakery & Milling; Industrial & Durable Goods; Health & Personal Care; Chemicals Industrial & Home, Fashion & Luxury.

A number of major cross-cutting themes relevant to all the business communities have been identified and will characterise both the exhibited products and the educational and conference topics at IPACK-IMA 2018. These are anti-counterfeiting, e-commerce, sustainability and Industry 4.0.

Innovative materials will also take centre stage in a new exhibition section entitled IPACK-MAT. Organised in collaboration with Material ConneXion Italia, it will be entirely devoted to innovative materials solutions including raw materials, semi-finished products and components for high value-added products and packaging and innovative containers. It will serve as a melting pot of ideas and creative inspirations for strategic corporate areas from R&D to Marketing.

IPACK-MAT will collaborate with PLAST-MAT and PRINT-MAT, the analogous satellite events of the shows PLAST and PRINT4ALL.

Another major feature of IPACK-IMA 2018 is its participation in THE INNOVATION ALLIANCE.

“This is a major new project that brings together five important shows: PLAST, PRINT4ALL, MEAT-TECH and INTRALOGISTICA ITALIA, as well as IPACK-IMA itself,” explained Domenico Lunghi.

“In an exhibition floor of 140,000 sqm the show will host a range of production sectors united by a strong supply chain vision: from processing to packaging, from plastics processing and industrial and commercial printing to customised graphic design of packaging and labels, through to handling and storage of consumer-ready goods.”

“Along with our own promotional campaign, the show will also benefit from that of The Innovation Alliance,” continued Lunghi. “This consists of a network of agents in 40 countries and communication activities across more than 70 countries to ensure an increase in numbers of domestic and international visitors.”

More than 150,000 visitors are expected at Fiera Milano during the five days in which the five shows will be held.

Companies in the industry have been responding enthusiastically to these new characteristics. A year before the show is due to open, 60% of the available exhibition space has already been booked by leading Italian and international shows, who have chosen IPACK-IMA as the ideal venue to present their latest innovations to the market.

The promotional activities carried out at Interpack confirm the strategic importance of the project. Large numbers of visitors are pre-registering so as not to risk missing the 2018 show and new exhibitors are booking space to be amongst the key players in this important exhibition project.

www.ipack-ima.com