And packaging sales volumes are been driven still higher in Asia by the booming economies of China and India. The food and beverages industry ranks as the biggest customer for all packages and packaging machines, absorbing 60 per cent of the global output.

The positive economic environment and the industry’s bright prospects for the future characterised the mood at its most important trade fair, the interpack 2011 in Düsseldorf, which ended with resounding success on 18 May. At this foremost marketplace for innovations, the main emphasis was on the showings of the more than 2,700 exhibitors, but the group stand of the packaging trade fairs that Messe Düsseldorf organises around the world with partner companies and its own subsidiaries also drew a great deal of attention. Between now and interpack 2014, export-oriented companies in the segments of packaging machinery, process technology, package printing, production of packaging materials and packaging means will thus find a range of excellent platforms in interesting markets.

“We wrap the world” is the motto of Messe Düsseldorf’s worldwide product family of packaging trade fairs. These include:

Pack Print International, Bangkok, Thailand, 31 Aug – 3 Sept 2011

China Pharm, Shanghai, China, 25 – 28 Oct 2011

Process Expo, Chicago, USA, 1 – 4 Nov 2011

Upakovka/Upak Italia, Moscow, Russia, 24 – 27 Jan 2012

Embax, Brno, Czech Republic, 28 Feb – 2 Mar 2012

indopack, indoplas, indoprint, Jakarta, Indonesia, 11 – 14 Apr 2012

Fispal Tecnologia, Sao Paulo, Brazil, 12 – 15 Jun 2012

International PackTech India, Mumbai, India, 6 – 8 Nov 2012

In Russia, one of the biggest markets for consumer goods worldwide with some 143 million consumers, Upakovka/Upak Italia will be staged for the 20th time this coming January. At this leading trade fair, innovative solutions and technologies for the entire packaging sector will be showcased from 24 to 27 January 2012. Once again, some 900 international exhibitors will be participating in Upakovka/Upak Italia and the concurrent Interplastica 2012, International Trade Fair for Plastics and Rubber. All of them will benefit from the marked recovery of the Russian economy, with rising consumer spending and a falling inflation rate stimulating the packaging market. The interest in production methods and materials is high, and Upakovka/Upak Italia will be serving this need, with a special focus on converting and package printing which will be a main theme at this anniversary edition of the fair.

The most prominent platforms for process technology, the packaging and process industries, package printing and the beverages industry on the Indian subcontinent are International PackTech India and drink technology India, which are being jointly organised in 2012 by Messe Düsseldorf and Messe München for the second time. Thanks to their focused cooperation, the two events were already a big success in 2010. An achievement that the organisers fully intend to repeat from 6 to 8 November at the Bombay Exhibition Center in Mumbai.

In India, sales of modern packagings are steadily rising, and the large proportion of young people in the population with their enthusiasm for Western lifestyles is turning this country into a highly promising market. Another important contributing factor is the expanding and free-spending middle class with above-average purchasing power. The demand for processed and hygienically packaged food and beverages, changing lifestyles and consumer habits as well as changes in the retail sector all combine to hold out excellent prospects for business. All branches of industry searching for suitable packages for their products will find solutions to match their needs at International PackTech India, Exhibition and Conference for Processes, Packaging and Printing, and drink technology India, International Trade Fair for Beverage and Liquid Food Technology. The premiere of this trade fair duo in 2010 was attended by more than 200 exhibiting companies and over 6,000 trade visitors.

Doing justice to the growing significance of the Indonesian market for packaging, plastics and print products, Messe Düsseldorf, Messe Düsseldorf Asia and their Indonesian partner PT Wahana Kemalaniaga (WAKENI) will be increasing their involvement here as of 2012 with a trio of trade fairs: indopack, indoplas and indoprint. The industry associations Food Processing and Packaging Machinery, Plastics and Rubber Machinery, and Printing and Paper Technology within the German Engineering Federation (VDMA) will be supporting this engagement.

With a population of more than 240 million, Indonesia is the fourth-largest nation in the world. Its economy is flourishing: in 2010, the gross national product rose by 5.9 per cent, with an average 6 per cent annual growth rate being predicted for the coming years. A growing middle class with good purchasing power and rising expectations regarding standards of living is favouring the development of consumer goods industries in particular. indopack, indoplas and indoprint will all be held at the Jakarta International Expo centre from 11 to 14 April 2012.

(Photo: www.freedigitalphotos.net, Contributor: Felixco, Inc.)