Looking good

Providing a comprehensive two-in-one window onto one of the most dynamic sectors in the packaging business, the 10th edition of the annual PCD (Perfume, Cosmetics & Design) Congress will open alongside the 8th edition of the Aerosol & Dispensing Forum (ADF) during the first week of February, at the Espace Champerret exhibition centre in the 17th district to the west of the French capital.

As the impact and reputation of the simultaneous events continue to grow, organiser Oriex is expecting 3,400 visitors to attend thisyear, all experts in their own fields in branded and private label packaging. This year, travelling from more than 60 countries around the world, visitors will be able to meet more than 200 exhibitors: material suppliers, converters and injectors (paper, cardboard, textile, plastic, metal); suppliers of assembly technologies, TTS and decoration, BOV, valves, pumps, dispensing technologies and applicators, products and technologies; and custom packers.

Oriex likes to describe PCD and ADF as being relaxed and organised on a "user-friendly scale". And it's true: all in one hall, you never have to cover a long distance from one appointment to the next, yet the high calibre of the executives and design experts available to talk to on the stands means that every conversation can be a highly productive one.

"The high standard of discussions among experts fosters the emergence of new projects and innovation for a global cosmetics market due to double in volume in the next ten years," Oriex says.

An open meeting area is also located conveniently within the hall, for private seminars and discussions, adjacent to the two separate and enclosed conference areas. In the two days of conferences at this year's event, there will be ten sessions with 83 speakers, representing the highest levels of international expertise in their respective areas.

Driving the agenda
In addition to the customary focus on innovation, sustainability remains at the heart of the PCD and ADF 2014 exhibition and conference programmes, while also giving consideration to packaging suited to economies in emerging countries.

The ADF conference programme will address four sessions: Aerosol filling, clinching and sealing; Compatibility and predictability; Spray & dispensing technologies - preservation and dispensation; Aerosols, dispensing technologies - innovation in a complex world.

At the same time, PCD will boast six sessions of in-depth conferences: Cosmetics and make-up - current status of technical packaging innovations, prospects; Patents - practical workshop on 'reading patents'; Perfumes - packaging innovations and prospects; Innovation, open-innovation, purchases - what kind of strategy? ; Secondary packaging - recent advances; The environment and sustainable development in everyday life.

Conference highlights: PCD
5 Feb: the first morning session, chaired by Hervé Bouix of Estée Lauder USA, will be themed 'Cosmetics & make-up: current
status of packaging innovations, prospects', covering topics including technology transfers, synergy between materials, colour differentiation, injection and vertical rotational moulding, and advanced laser technology solutions.

Following a workshop on reading patents, the afternoon sessions on PCD's first day will cover 'Perfumes: packaging innovations, prospects' - including sustainable development; advances in recycled glass; glass art design, finishing and decoration; and new sublimated decorative effects with Surlyn by Dupont.

And the first day will close with a session on 'Open innovation' strategy. 6 Feb: the second day at PCD will begin with L'Oréal's Pierre Ducastin and Olivier de Lataulade chairing a session on 'Secondary packaging: recent advances, labels and inserts', including 'Colorimetry: consistency from formulation to pack' and 'The future of digital'.

Continuing the theme, speakers will go on to cover filler sleeves, folding boxes and presentation boxes, including 'Sheet-fed cold film transfer: an outstanding evolution' with Stéphane Royère of Leonhard Kurz Stiftung Germany, and 'Print your fragrance' with PO Group France president Benoît Frassaint and PR Service Graphique president Petra Roth.

Following a session led by Carrefour packaging expert Bruno Garnier on 'The environment and sustainable development of packaging in everyday life', the second afternoon will be dominated by the PCD Awards ceremony (see below).

Conference highlights:ADF
5 Feb: chaired by Henri-Marc de Montalembert of CFA France and Natalie Thys of GSK France, day 1 morning discussions at ADF will focus on 'Aerosol filling, clinching and sealing'.

Topics will include aerosol valve design; 'Pressure barrier aerosols: piston orpouch?'; functional design of gassing machinery & gassing nozzles; 'Considerations for a gas tight can-to-valve seal' with Malcom Large of Lindal UK; 'The art of crimping' with Ric Berger, Clayton Valve USA; online aerosol leak detection systems and aerosol sealing control.

In the afternoon, a busy session on 'Compatability and predictability' will be chaired by Pascale Mareri of L'Oréal France, and followed at 16:30 by the Paris Aerosol & Dispensing Awards Ceremony (see below). 6 Feb: Thursday's ADF sessions will begin
in the morning with 'Spray & dispensing technologies: preservation & dispensation', chaired by Bernhard Felten of Beiersdorf Germany.

A full agenda will include 'Airless: when less is more' with Dr Pascale Gauthier of the Faculté de Pharmacie de Clermont-Ferrand, France; BOVs for sensitive products; 'MicroJets: a new high precision dispensing technology' with Stefan Hellbardt of Aptar Pharma; 'Dispensing high viscosity products: yes we (the aerosol industry) can!' with Jean-Marie Poppe of Altachem Belgium; BOV propellant-free technology; and electronic spray formation systems.

Concluding at 15:45, the final session, 'Aerosols, dispensing technologies: innovation in a complex world', will be chaired by L'Oréal's Gilles Baudin, and will cover topics including creating a sustainable product pipeline; regulatory developments on plastic aerosols; a new dispensing concept, Intravalve; and securing facilities during aerosol recycling.

Recognition for the best - the annual awards Separate ceremonies will be held to present the winners of the PCD/ADF event's two annual awards, firstly on Wednesday 5 February at 16:30 for the Paris Aerosol & Dispensing Awards, chaired by CNE president Michel Fontaine; then on the Thursday at 14:15 for the PCD Awards, chaired by packaging expert Alain Béthune and Chanel's Michel Dupuis.

The Paris Aerosol & Dispensing Awards are designed to help promote technological innovations in aerosol & dispensing systems packaging, with prizes awarded by an independent jury of aerosol & dispensing systems experts representing packaging specifiers,
manufacturers and the media.

The PCD Awards will single out the best in 'Packaging innovations' and 'Formulation-Packaging compatibility' among products placed on the European market in the calendar year 2013, with prizes awarded by an independent jury comprising journalists and packaging
experts in the perfumes and cosmetics field.

Prior to the PCD Awards ceremony on Thursday 6 February, an opening keynote speech will be given by Francis Chaveau, deputy managing director in charge of industrial affairs at Hermès International, France, addressing issues including 'The environment at all stages, from product design to end-of-life' and 'Securing the future of our fields of activity'.

www.pcd-congress.com
www.aerosol-forum.com