ICE Europe and CCE International 2019 will take place in Munich from 12 to 14 March 2019. Just over a month before the start, both events are recording growing exhibitor numbers. According to organiser Mack Brooks Exhibitions, 429 exhibitors took part in ICE Europe and 150 in the parallel CCE International in 2017. The packaging journal enquired with trade fair director Liljana Goszdziewski about the current booking figures and the reasons for the trade fair's success.
pj: Mrs Goszdziewski, what is the current booking status?
Liljana Goszdziewski: More than 450 exhibitors from 23 countries have set up their stands at the ICE Europe 2019 This means that the trade fair has grown to a net exhibition space of over 11,000 square metres for the first time this year. The CCE International is currently approaching the 5,000 square metre mark in net exhibition space with 150 exhibitors from 22 countries. Both trade fairs are therefore experiencing sustained growth and are once again very international. In terms of exhibitor origin, Italy is the largest exhibitor country at both trade fairs alongside Germany, followed by other European countries. The USA and China are also among the top ten exhibiting countries at both trade fairs.
pj: What are the reasons for the success of the trade fair duo ICE Europe 2019 and CCE International 2019?
Liljana Goszdziewski: The success lies in the fact that both ICE Europe and CCE International are highly specialised trade fairs. ICE Europe is the world's largest trade fair for the Converting industry. With this event, the industry has a meeting place that focuses exclusively on technologies and solutions for finishing and processing paper, film, foil and nonwovens.
CCE International also offers a highly specialised portfolio of Machines, equipment and services, which covers all areas of corrugated board and folding carton production and processing. The trade fairs therefore each stand on their own, but also offer an excellent synergy for packaging specialists, for example, to obtain information at both trade fairs with one admission ticket.
pj: Although it is only its fourth edition, the CCE International has already achieved a considerable reputation. What makes it so special?
Liljana Goszdziewski: There is no other trade fair in Europe that is aimed exclusively at the Corrugated board and folding carton industry turned. The good response makes it clear that a specialised industry event is important for an industry that is currently booming and changing at the same time. For a long time, this sector Innovation cycle relatively long compared to other industries. Today, it is important to regularly identify trends and to modernise and adapt production processes. CCE International offers a targeted platform for this every two years.
Industry providers are leading the way in digitalisation
pj: The megatopic of digitalisation plays a prominent role at both trade fairs. Will this change the exhibitor structure?
Liljana Goszdziewski: Digital processes are playing an increasingly important role for many machine and system providers in the field of converting and corrugated and folding carton production. This extends from planning to process control and maintenance through all production steps. Of course, there will also be a number of new companies on the exhibitor side that are making inroads into various sectors with their digital solutions. From our point of view as trade fair organisers, however, the current situation is that the high degree of specialisation in a sector such as the converting industry makes it difficult for non-specialist providers of digital solutions to gain access. At the moment, it is mainly the industry suppliers who are able to present their products and systems through the Digitisation develop further.
pj: The demand for sustainable packaging solutions such as folding cartons and corrugated board is increasing. Does this harbour growth potential for CCE International?
Liljana Goszdziewski: Due to the further increase in Online trading and the general trend towards environmentally friendly materials, the corrugated cardboard and folding carton industry is currently experiencing a boom. The innovation for the sector, however, is that these materials can now also be processed, printed and customised with high-quality functions. Folding cartons and corrugated cardboard boxes are no longer just functional packaging. They are advertising ambassadors, carriers of information and security functions and are becoming increasingly colourful and customised. The technologies for production and processing are becoming more sophisticated, can be used flexibly and enable manufacturers to produce modern products at low cost for an ever-increasing demand. There is indeed enormous growth potential here.
[infotext icon]Products should be customised and sustainable
Please also see our preliminary report on ICE 2019 and CCE International 2019:
ICE Europe and CCE International will also take place at the same time in Munich in 2019
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