interpack 2021 will not take place - drupa also cancelled

Messe Düsseldorf has decided to cancel interpack and components 2021 after all. Despite some audible criticism from exhibitors, the organisers had assured until the last minute that the trade fair would take place. Following renewed coronavirus restrictions until January, this hope has been dashed.

After consultation with its partners from associations, industry and the trade fair advisory board, Messe Düsseldorf has decided to cancel interpack and components 2021 from 25 February to 3 March due to the restrictions imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic.

„We have made every effort to do justice to the outstanding importance of interpack for the processing & packaging industry, even in times of pandemic - especially because we have received some encouragement from the industry for a presence trade fair and have a tried-and-tested hygiene concept to protect everyone involved.“
Wolfram N. Diener, Chairman of the Board of Management of Messe Düsseldorf

In the end, the uncertainty among exhibitors was too great. There was an increasing amount of feedback that dashed the organisers' hopes. Because this much was clear even before the final cancellation: interpack could not live up to its claim of being the leading international trade fair.

Now that the German Prime Minister and Chancellor have extended the current coronavirus protection measures until January, the last chance for interpack has evaporated. A „lockdown light“ until next year does not give hope for a significant improvement in the coming months, according to the trade fair boss. This would have an impact on all Messe Düsseldorf events in the first quarter.

The organisers are now focusing on the next regular edition of interpack in May 2023, which will be supplemented by expanded online offerings.

drupa 2021 also cancelled

(Image: Messe Düsseldorf, Constanze Tillmann)

Following close consultation with exhibitors and partners, drupa, the world's leading trade fair for printing technologies, has also had to be cancelled. The next event will take place as scheduled from 28 May to 7 June 2024. Until then, the organisers are bridging the time window with „virtual.drupa“, a four-day digital event. The date of „virtual.drupa“ is in the period originally planned for drupa: 20 to 23 April 2021.

Reactions

Christian Trautmann (Image: MULTIVAC)

„In addition to the unique coverage of the market, interpack is characterised above all by the direct exchange between market-leading companies and top decision-makers from brand owners from all over the world. The persistently high infection figures, even in core Europe, and the associated and ongoing travel restrictions and quarantine regulations are now preventing precisely this to a large extent. We therefore welcome Messe Düsseldorf's decision to cancel interpack 2021 and look forward to interpack 2023“
Christian Traumann, President of interpack 2021 and Managing Director & Group President at Multivac Sepp Haggenmüller SE & Co. KG

Richard Clemens, Managing Director of the VDMA Food Processing and Packaging Machinery Association (Image: Uwe Nölke/VDMA)

„For the industry, personal encounters and live experience - especially of complex technology - remain extremely important. This enables a direct market comparison and generates ideas, new leads and networks. Online formats only partially achieve this in this form. We are now looking forward to a successful interpack 2023, when the industry can meet again at the world's leading trade fair in Düsseldorf“
Richard Clemens, Managing Director of the VDMA Food Processing and Packaging Machinery Association