Interpack

There is only one “place to be” for everyone involved in the packaging and processing of products: the interpack in Düsseldorf. Under the motto "Welcome Home", the trade fair welcomed visitors from all over the world. The joy of finally meeting again as an industry was great.

It kept what it promised and exceeded the expectations of the exhibitors: the largest and most important packaging trade fair in the world again set standards from May 4th to 10th, networked the industry on a global level, was both a marketplace and a content hub. Visitors from 155 countries, many of them with definite investment intentions, came to interpack 2023. 2,807 exhibitors presented the power and creativity of the packaging industry with their technologies and solutions. What remains are numerous impulses, ideas and concrete business deals that will be implemented in the coming years.

“With interpack, we were finally able to hold one of the most important events at Messe Düsseldorf again. It reported back impressively and underlined its position as a global platform for the exchange of information between all players in the packaging industry, the related process industry and all user industries. Our goals were far exceeded,” said Bernd Jablonowski, Executive Director at Messe Düsseldorf at the end of the trade fair.

A total of around 143,000 visitors came to interpack in Düsseldorf, two thirds of them from abroad. In addition to many European countries, the largest visitor nations were India, Japan and the USA. Around 75 percent belong to the middle and upper management levels.

"Finally interpack again!" was a phrase that was often heard in the halls, because after a six-year break, the large community was able to meet here again in person. The joy was correspondingly huge. "interpack 2023 will linger on for a long time, both professionally and personally," said director Thomas Dohse after seven days of the fair. “The atmosphere in the halls was great and the intercultural exchange enriched everyone. It was again 'simply unique'.”

This is underscored by the positive feedback from visitors, over 96 percent of whom stated that they had achieved their trade fair goals. The exhibitors were just as satisfied, and their expectations were exceeded in many cases. “We would like to thank Messe Düsseldorf for the excellent organization. I'm sure I speak on behalf of all companies. interpack 2023 is simply a must for suppliers and users from all over the world to exchange experiences and do business,” says Markus Rustler, President of interpack 2023 at the end of the event.

Transformation as chance

If you look at the current market developments, the enormous challenges, but also the much greater opportunities, this interpack was certainly one of the most important in its history. The need for automation, the desire for sustainability and changing consumer habits are expressions of the transformation. The strategic focus of interpack on the four hot topics of circular economy, resource conservation, digitization and product safety found concrete expression in numerous innovations. The trade fair, which is traditionally an important building block in the innovation cycle of the packaging industry and the related process industry, more than lived up to this claim this year.

Sustainable packaging technologies

Sustainability in all its facets was the absolute top topic at interpack. The exhibitors presented high-end technologies and holistic concepts that take into account efficiency and sustainability along the entire production line. "Many companies in the consumer goods industry have set their own sustainability goals," says Richard Clemens, Managing Director of VDMA Food Processing and Packaging Machinery at interpack. "In recent years, companies in the packaging machine construction sector have succeeded in enabling the implementation of sustainable packaging concepts through appropriate technical adjustments and newly developed machine solutions. The interpack is the showcase for innovations and at the same time the starting point for further development in the direction of a sustainable circular economy,” summarizes Clemens.

Among the many solutions that celebrated their world premiere at interpack were numerous packaging materials and packaging materials in all their diversity. More than 1,000 exhibitors presented themselves in this area alone, a new record.

Future-oriented content

interpack is not only a business but also a content platform for the industry, live and digital. 50 talks alone took place in the Tightly Packed TV studio of interpack and packaging journal, giving the top topics and trends additional visibility and reach through live streams. More than 200,000 viewers tuned in during the trade fair alone.

The Spotlight Talks & Trends Forum was a magnet for visitors and addressed seven topics over seven days, including logistics, circular economy and e-commerce. The program was jointly presented by interpack, the dfv Conference Group and PackReport.

New and fresh formats

The other specials such as the interpack start-up zone, the joint stand co-packing, several award ceremonies with exciting packaging innovations, the "save food highlight route" with new approaches in the fight against global loss and waste of food and promoting women in “women in packaging”. Around 200 women from the international industry created a special spirit at this premiere, exchanging ideas and establishing new networks at interpack.

The components, which took place as a parallel event in a separate hall with 80 exhibitors, was also very well received by the visitors. The supplier industry with components and software for packaging and process technology plays an important role in the digitization of production processes.

The next interpack will take place from May 7th to 13th, 2026 in Düsseldorf.