Welcome to the April issue of Packaging Today, hot on the heels of another successful edition of the International Converting Exhibition, ICE Europe 2013.
Recording a marked 16% increase in visitors compared to the last show, 6,600 visitors from an impressive 64 countries descended on the Munich event to take in the latest developments in the field of web-based converting.
Nicola Hamann, exhibition director at ICE Europe was understandably positive following the show, which attracted more than 400 exhibitors that in total, accounted for more than 10,000m² of exhibition space.
"These are of course very positive results; we are particularly delighted to be able to report that ICE Europe has made another step forward as the leading international trade fair for the worldwide converting industry," she says.
What must also be encouraging to Mack Brooks, the show's organisers, was the high percentage of international visitors at this year's show: 44% of all visitors originated from outside Germany, with Great Britain, Italy, Austria and France among the major contributors.
This year, the ICE Europe show was co-located with new trade fair CCE International, the exhibition for the corrugated and folding carton industry.
According to the organisers, the exhibition launch was a success, attracting around 2,000 trade visitors that, importantly, were not included in its end-of-show total visitor count for ICE Europe.
"Many exhibitors had presented themselves this year with even more impressive stands. They showcased an enormous variety of new products and innovative solutions, and made this exhibition a magnet for converting specialists from all over the world," adds Hamann.
Elsewhere in this issue, we take a look at the diversity and functionality of modern rigid plastics. Following the 50th anniversary of the blister pack, we present a review of some of the latest machines, technologies and applications that make such packaging applications a reality.
In addition, Nessan Cleary offers an exciting insight into the innovative developments in the pharmaceutical sector, and we also look around the industry at the latest strides some major brands are taking to improve their green credentials and in turn, to run a more sustainable operation.
As always, to get in touch, please email on tim.sheahan@globaltrademedia.com or call on +44 (207) 936 6881.
Tim Sheahan
Packaging Group Editor
