Emballage is one of the major packaging exhibitions in the world. It is a multi-specialist exhibition which is valued for the expertise of its exhibitors and its contribution in terms of prospective and market analysis. Libby White spoke with Veronique Sestrières, Director of Emballage to find out about its history, core competencies and the anticipated upcoming show to be held this year.
Mrs Sestrières explains that Emballage provides a 360 degree view of the market, “This event symbolizes what markets packaging and intralogistics represent in terms of supply, innovation and development and proposes to combine the four key business sectors - Packaging, Processing, Printing, and Handling.”
For Emballage 2014, taking place at Paris Nord Villepinte on 17-20 November, Mrs Sestrières expects high attendance. “We welcome about 1,500 exhibitors, 400 journalists and 300 speakers. Overall attendance is predicted to reach 100,000 professionals over four days.”
Strengthened over time
The Emballage exhibition was established in 1947 to meet the new needs of the packaging and transport of the consumer goods industry and also after the end of the Second World War. As consumption resumed its sustained activity, the needs were many and the exhibition was a great success from the start.
Emballage developed in size over the editions now reaching an attendance of 100,000 professionals. Mrs Sestrières comments, “We have an international network that contributes to the development of the event and allows us to accommodate a hundred countries. The exhibitors represent nearly 45 countries and visitors are mainly from EMEA. This strong presence in Europe, the Middle East and African countries is one of the characteristics of Emballage.”
Another strong point is the development of innovation through many services such as Pack Innovations which is a true success in each edition. This space allows visitors and the press to access the very best news of all sectors at the show (such as raw materials, machines, related services and finished packaging).
Veronique Sestrières comments, “Finally, Emballage is a unique exhibition that offers differences such as specific sector areas which is a real plus for visitors who appreciate being able to quickly find a specific type of provider they are looking for in a designated area. This contributes to their satisfaction.”
Clear coordination
Emballage brings a synergy to the packaging industry where each exhibition room retains its own identity. Thanks to its sectored areas, Emballage allows rapid identification of various packaging users in halls four, five, and six by market focus.
“For example, Manutention 2014 focuses on internal logistics, equipment and automated warehouses in Hall 5a, in perfect harmony with the end-of-line packaging offerings - bringing a truly complementary single place sourcing an overview of useful innovation,” Veronique Sestrières comments.
In addition to the exhibition, Emballage allows for networking and communication through other mediums. Mrs Sestrières adds, “Before, during and after the show, we federate a community of nearly 500,000 professionals on the show, on www.all4pack.com and social networks.”
Global launches and expertise
In each edition, fifty European and global launches are announced. Mrs Sestrières notes, “In fact, there will be many more announcements from exhibitors who will reveal their innovations and news once the exhibition is open.”
Since 2010, Emballage has established a committee of Pack Experts, bringing international brands, buyers and users of packaging together in order to be always closer to the expectations and needs of the industry users. The committee meets throughout the year preceding the show and expresses the major issues and trends that drive brands in terms of innovation in packaging.
The committee will award exhibitors at Emballage 2014 with the Innovations Awards for new products. The official selection will be exhibited in the Pack Innovation space in hall six. Veronique Sestrières comments, “In 2012, during the previous edition of the show, 11 innovations were distinguished by the Pack Experts committee. Nine Innovation Awards and two special mentions were awarded.”
At its first working session in January the Pack Experts highlighted six key questions and areas of discussion: brakes and levers for innovation, how to create value, the package in the circular economy, the packaging of tomorrow, e-commerce, drive and the consequences for packaging, and packaging, logistics, intra-logistics and handling.
Highlights
Visitors and exhibitors at Emballage 2014 will benefit from a range of highlights at the show. For example an attraction for many editions, Pack Innovation is a dedicated space for the latest innovations and trends of the exhibitors.
Also, the Pack Vision Congress offers a programme of conferences on topical sectors with high-level experts speaking, and gives pride of place to promoting discussion. Veronique Sestrières comments, “Some topics discussed during Emballage 2014 will be: regulations and standards, results of the 2014 Packaging Observatory, the returnable packaging / urban logistics, the fight against waste: smart packaging and active mono-dose/uni dose, the circular economy, and packaging design (focusing on liquor).”
Also of note, a TV studio broadcasting live from the show will host a unique discussion platform, for example with the International CNE (National Council of the packaging) for France, Europe, Brazil and Canada on the theme of "the circular economy, eco-design and packaging".
Emballage 2014 will also host the Best Pack Design exposure by students for innovative solutions. A 200m² area will house students from six international schools from Germany, Spain, France, Italy, UK and Turkey including the Strata, School of design. “The challenge they face at Emballage 2014 will be to choose from each of the six sectors represented at Emballage (Beverages and Liquids, Food, Luxury, Beauty, Health, Multi-Industries) and design a package that is highly representative of their national market and offers a better alternative on the basis of the design process. Their proposals will be on display throughout the show,” Veronique Sestrières explains.
The result of their work will be broadcast live on the Emballage and Manutention TV platform on the last day of the show. The Best Pack ambition is to demonstrate the power of design as a process and leverage innovation for packaging. New to 2014, the students will face another challenge for the entire duration of the exhibition: to work in a dedicated workshop with on-site process issues related to current issues of the package.
The Dieline Awards
This year, Emballage also hosts the exhibition of the winners of the fifth edition of "Dieline Awards 2014", an international competition that rewards the product with the best packaging design. 42 projects in 13 categories were honoured last May in Boston (USA). An award for "Sustainable Packaging" was awarded to the most innovative project in the field of sustainable development. An "Editor's Choice Award" was selected by the founder of The Dieline, Andrew Gibbs. The project with the most points was awarded as "Best of Show" featured in hall six.
Launched jointly by the international Emballage exhibition and The Dieline, the first edition of "The Dieline Summit" - The Summit for Packaging Design – will be held at the Palais des Congrès in Paris on the 16th and 17th November. This one-of-a-kind forum is inspired by the theme "What is the future of package design?" It is aimed at professional designers, and packaging enthusiasts, aiming to reinvent packaging design in the presence of some of the sector’s leading stakeholders.
The guest of honour, Rebecca Costa, an American sociobiologist, author and radio host, will open the conference. She is best known for her controversial book "The Watchman's Rattle", which offers a futuristic explanation of the problems companies are currently facing, such as political deadlock, terrorism, obesity, the decline of education, violence, etc.
On Monday, November 17th from 9am to 5.30pm, workshops and a round table will enable packaging design professionals from EMEA to better understand the role of design in brand strategy and the key role of packaging design today and tomorrow. This will take place at the Palais des Congrès, Porte Maillot, Amphi Havane (level 3).
Visitors can register online, from July onwards at www.thedielinesummit.com and www.all4pack.fr. Participants will receive a badge by email, which is required to print their pass for "The Dieline Summit" at the conference venue. The pass for "The Dieline Summit" includes: the Networking evening on Sunday, November 16th 2014, the conference sessions on Monday, November 17th 2014 and free entry to the Emballage exhibition (open until November 20th): free shuttle bus on Tuesday, November 18th at 9am from Porte Maillot, opposite the Hyatt.
The Dieline Packaging Design Awards will be showcased at the Emballage exhibition in the Dieline Awards 2014, and through a program dedicated to the winners and moderated by Andrew Gibbs on the Emballage TV platform.
