Packed-out Packaging Innovations show rated a huge success

Last week saw another extremely successful edition of one of the UK’s biggest packaging shows. Boasting 160 new product launches and a series of new show features, not to mention a huge number of potential business deals taking place on an international scale, Packaging Innovations, running alongside Label&Print and Empack, closed its doors on Thursday to hundreds of visitors across two packed NEC halls.

Gerry Sherwood, event director for Easyfairs’ UK Packaging Events, commented: “The show has once again proven that it is the go-to event for all packaging and print professionals. We want to extend a thank you to all of those who attended, giving the show a real buzz and making it such a success.

“This year more than ever we welcomed the best and brightest from within the industry, along with key trends and the very latest innovation on an international scale. We also had a phenomenal 73 per cent of our exhibitor’s rebook stands for next year’s show, which just highlights how important the shows are to them. Bring on 2017!”

Paul McKendrick, General Manager at Creative Whisky Company visiting the show, remarked: “This is my first trade show ever, and it has been a real eye-opener for me. It has been really positive in terms of organisational focus; I would rate the show as a huge success!”

The sell-out show featured a packed Learnshops programme, with speakers from Innocent Drinks, Kraft Heinz, Britvic, Taylors of Harrogate, John Lewis, Wilkos, JML Group, The Body Shop, SABMiller plc, Quorn Foods and many other leading brands.

The show also launched its first ever Great Innovation Debate, which saw experts from Britvic Soft Drinks, Essentra, Innocent and Bacardi discuss ‘What is Innovation?’ One key theme touched upon was finding new packaging innovation. The panel agreed that a more modern approach must be adopted, looking at crowd-sourcing and social media in order to find the next innovations; as well as being open to collaborations and looking at ways we could unsettle the marketplace.

Also new to the show was The Rising Star Scheme, which provided an opportunity for organisations still in their infancy to achieve their packaging goals; and The Innovation Showcase, that highlighted the very latest innovations in the industry. The Drinks, Pharmaceutical and Retail Symposia were also back by popular demand, presenting visitors with the chance to hear real-life stories, offering advice and unveiling the latest concepts sweeping the relevant industry.

Many of the exhibitors used this year’s show to launch products to the UK market, including Fantastak, which launched its SuperRoller, and Dantex Graphics presented its PicoColour II UV inkjet digital press, and AG/CAD debuted its DYSS X5 digital cutter.

Gavin Ashe, managing partner at Kite Packaging, commented: “It is such a great event. We have had a huge footfall of visitors to our stand, who were all keen to look at our new and innovative products. Our PaperJet Delivery System in particular attracted some really quality visitors, as did our Auto Airshock Machine. What a fantastic two days!”

Also at the show was returning exhibitor Simon Dix, sales director at Vetroplas Packaging, who agreed: “We always look forward to exhibiting at Packaging Innovations. It’s a fantastic platform to showcase our packaging solutions for the skincare and cosmetic markets, particularly the premium glass packaging we’ve become renowned for. It’s also been an excellent opportunity to catch up with those we’ve already had the pleasure of working with.”

You can read our full review of the Packaging Innovations event, with exclusive exhibitor comment, in our upcoming March issue of Converter.

The next Easyfairs packaging event will be Packaging Innovations & Luxury Packaging London, which takes place at London Olympia in September.