India has been a fertile ground for the phenomenal growth of various sectors. Among all the other sectors in India, Indian packaging industry is expected to be the fourth-largest packaging market in the world, with revenues of US$43.7 billion in 2016.
Flexible plastic packaging is the fastest-growing packaging category in India, achieving a growth of 16.6% CAGR. The packaging industry benefited from strong growth in the Indian retail market and food processing in its forefront.
The growth of the market and fierce competition in the retail market has replaced the rigid packaging applications into the flexible packs to offer product durability and save space. Taking a step further and to add up to the growing industry aptly, the seventh edition of PackPro Expo is to be held at Chennai Trade Centre, between February 25 and 27, 2016, in the fast-developing and lucrative regions of South India, Chennai. This year, the event will have a special feature of 125 live demonstrations of working packaging machinery. Formerly known as SouthPack, PackPro Expo will have equipments and host of technologies and solutions designed to make packaging more efficient and cost-effective.
Thematic expositions
The expo will be organised by Intel Trade Fairs & Expositions Private Limited (ITFE), India's leading organisers of B2B exhibitions, conferences and events. Since 1990, ITFE is organising events like SouthPack which is for the first time bifurcated into distinctive thematic expositions focussing on packaging and food processing industry (PackPro Expo). The second focusses on the printing, packaging, converting and signage (PrintExpo). The third focussing on packaging, which is India's largest, longest running packaging exhibition (Intelpack). The other expositions include PharmaPack, FoodTek, and WLS expo coming in the next year.
Flexible packaging
Flexible product packaging has set a new trend in the packaging industry, especially in the food sector. Bottle packaging for beverages is now being replaced by flexible packs. Flexible packaging has become an instant hit as it saves the space, taking the shape of the product and is much durable.
“India has fast emerged as one of the most important markets in the world for packaging and processing and it will continue to be one of the most lucrative markets in the world. In this context, the first edition of PackPro Expo to be hosted in the fast-developing and most lucrative regions in India is vital. PackPro Expo is a dedicated packaging and processing show and no other show in South India has this one point focus to get the latest cutting-edge technologies to the show and the region. There is a better place in this region to see all the advanced technologies under one roof and all at one time,” said Aditya Neelkant, CEO & director, Intel Trade Fairs & Expositions Pvt. Ltd.
Special feature
The expo will have live working models of several packaging applications to distinct sectors. “Trade visitors in the expo will witness more than 125 live demo of working packaging and processing machinery and equipment and a host of technologies and solutions designed to make packaging and processing business more efficient and cost-effective. PackPro Expo has managed to attract who’s who of the industry as exhibitors. The database of pre-registered visitors is very attractive and high profile,” stated Neelkant.
Exhibitors and visitors
A wide distinctive exhibitor profile will put up the expo with staunch conviction. The expo will feature several packaging solutions to the sectors like sealing, perishable goods, flexible packaging solutions from packaging industry. The event will feature around 100 direct exhibitors and over 150 international brands and more than 7,500 buyers and decision-makers.
With rising importance to safe food, even the packaging players are now conscious about bringing safe packaging solutions to ensure food that is packed is safe. Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) is one of the widely recognised norms within the industry which are ensured by Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and are also verified by using advanced technologies.
The expo will feature packaging industry and the new technologies through its exhibitors, but this year it has taken a new step as this is the first edition of the new name - 'PackPro.' There will be exhibitors from the processing industry too. The processing industry will have companies exhibiting their machinery & equipments from dairy, bakery & confectionery, labelling, sealings, refrigeration and cooling systems, cleaning & hygiene, drying & frying, food ingredients and additives, ventilation & heating, safety process, QAQC, conveying systems, logistics and transportation, storage and preserving facilities.
Speaking about visitors this year, Neelkant said, “We expect about 7,500 visitors to attend the exhibition. For us organisers, the show is both fantastic and exciting to create a platform for visitors and exhibitors to interact, share knowledge, make business more efficient and cost-effective, network and to do business in taking the packaging and processing sectors forward.”
Industry-take on the expo
Veripack Solutions India Pvt. Ltd, a solution provider of sealing & packaging and an exhibitor in the expo, said, “This is our third participation, Veripack participated in 2012, 2013 & 2015. In terms of technology, one can explain our offering as globally proven & ideal for MAP (modified atmosphere packaging) and vacuum packaging which increases the shelf life of packed product. The Indian packaging industry has a long way to go but with the new trends in retail and the emphasis on packaging, these trends are positive for the lndian companies who would look to play a pan-Indian role where the product shelf life is the key. Veripack would like to cater to such Indian companies. According to us, the Indian market is still highly price-sensitive to import packaging machinery but things are definitely changing. Veripack is highly focussed on the Indian market and this market will be the key for our whole growths across Asia. We expect some good customer footfalls from food, FMCG and medical segments as this is the 25th year of PackPro Expo.”
Facilitating multi-application in the packaging industry
“The growth of packaging industry is a result of various applications of it in various sectors like food processing and pharma. If we consider food processing, the flexible packaging machines have developed its effective applications in the customisation area. For example: There are flexipack machines which can also be modified to add up filling and sealing application to the same flexipack machine.
