Clear objectives

22 December 2011



The 15th Hispack international packaging show, will take place in Barcelona this May, as David Longfield reports


Hispack organiser, Fira Barcelona, says that sustainability, innovation, and design will be “the keys to reactivating packaging demand”. The 2012 show promises representation from 1,200 firms exhibiting packing and packaging machinery and equipment, design and branding, solutions, point of purchase advertising (POPA), new materials and packaging manufacturing processes, as well as all types of packaging for industrial and consumer sectors.

For the second time, Hispack is being held concurrently with the Barcelona Food Technologies Fair, Bta., aiming to maximise “synergies and business with the food industry, the main consumer of packaging”, and bringing the forecast attendance of the two shows up to 45,000 trade visitors. And 250 directly related companies have confirmed their participation, 20% of them from nine countries outside Spain.

Hispack organising committee president, Javier Riera-Marsá, says: “No other sector event is more favourable and opportune at this time for the Spanish packing and packaging industry, since the show will put emphasis on innovation, sustainability and exports, especially promoting the entry of our companies into emerging markets.”

International profile

Hispack has set out three clear objectives for its 2012 show. Firstly, “to expand the scope of its exhibits to show the entire packaging lifecycle”, emphasising design, branding and materials in addition to the industrial manufacturing process aspects; secondly, to continue increasing the numbers of international exhibitors and visitors attending; and thirdly, to concentrate efforts on attracting buyers from the main sectors of demand for packaging and POPA machinery, equipment and products, from the national market and emerging countries.

In conjunction with Bta., efforts have been combined to attract buyers from international markets, in a promotional plan coordinated by AMEC. In addition to the major European markets, direct promotion activities are targeting Latin American and Mediterranean countries through AMEC offices and representatives.

There will also be meeting rounds with end customers, agents and distributors to facilitate business and cooperation exchanges between exhibitors and selected buyers from China, India, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Angola, Russia, Senegal, Peru and Ukraine.

Features and events

Hispack will be hosting various seminars and conferences on the scientific, technological, commercial and design aspects of packaging, involving some of the leading experts in this sphere.

The R+D+I zone will feature technology centres, research institutes and research departments from national and international universities, while the PACK exhibit will reflect the cultural dimension of packaging in its series of exhibitions ‘Pack – the History, Culture and Memory of Packaging’.

The Líderpack Awards – Spain’s most highly respected recognition of advancements in innovation, design, creativity and sustainability in the packaging and point-of-sale advertising sectors – will pick the works to represent Spain at the international WorldStars for Packaging competition, organised every year by the World Packaging Organisation.

And other notable events will include the third Hispack R+D Meetings on Packaging, organized by the Institute of Agrochemicals and Food Technology (IATA – CSIC) with the collaboration of ITENE; ‘Branding Aperitifs’ seminars on the latest in packaging design; seminars on innovation and sustainability in packaging, organized in conjunction with BTA; and Young Packaging seminars aimed at students.

Turning point

Hispack director Xavier Pascual says that the show is acquiring, more than ever, “the added value of opportunity”, in the light of the ongoing difficulties being felt, particularly by the Spanish economy, as a result of the global credit crunch and recession. He adds: “The event aspires to be the turning point needed by the Spanish packing and packaging industry to recover its dynamism.”


15th Hispack International Packaging Exhibition: the essentials

Dates: 15-18 May 2012

Alongside: Bta. – Barcelona Tecnologías de la Alimentación

Venue: Gran Via Exhibition Centre, Av. Joan Carles I, 58. 08908 L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, near Barcelona

Organiser: Fira de Barcelona (in collaboration with Graphispack Association)


Javier Riera Marsa Javier Riera Marsa

Javier Riera Marsa Javier Riera Marsa


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