7 Days, 7 Topics: “Spotlight Talks & Trends” at Interpack 2023

From e-commerce 4.0 and smart engineering to sustainability goals and political framework conditions: The lecture forum at interpack 2023 will address important issues for the future

The “Spotlight Talks & Trends” at interpack 2023 stand for seven days of information regarding the most important themes and trends in the area of processing and packaging. From May 4 – 10, 2023, experts from a variety of sectors will come together – machinery producers, packaging manufacturers, associations and organizations, universities, brand representatives, tech and logistic  companies  – in Düsseldorf, Germany. The seven theme days will cover a large spectrum across the most important and critical issues for the industry for the year 2023 and beyond. The program is jointly organized by interpack, dfv Conference Group and PackReport.

May 4: Logistics (powered by Markem-Imaje)

The demand for faster and more reliable deliveries, the scarcity of resources, regulations and standards of quality as well as the use of sustainable packaging materials – logistics pose many challenges for the packaging industry. To master these challenges, companies have to concentrate on efficient planning and use of their supply chains. The first trade fair day at the forum “Spotlight Talks & Trends” will focus entirely on logistics.

In his speech “Empower your logistics with intelligent packaging” during the first half of the day, Stephen Gryczka, Director Strategy and Corporate Development at Markem-Imaje, will describe how intelligent packaging solutions make production lines more efficient and more reliable. In addition to packaging, the focus will be on communication within logistics, which is made easier by many different steps: Coding, traceability and data intelligence. Dominik Moers, Business Development Manager at HeyCircle, will offer one possible solution for a circular economy in e-commerce at 2:50 pm. Further lectures will be contributed by Mosca about certification of loading units and PostPlus as packaging for saving on postage.

May 5: Circular economy (powered by Schütz)

Circular economy is growing in importance and the packaging sector and processing industry is contributing many new ideas and technologies. Speakers on Friday at interpack will focus on entirely different aspects of the issue. With “Green Lifecycle Management in Industrial Packaging”, Axel Schaefer, Global Head of Commercial Product Management & Marketing at SCHÜTZ, will offer an insight into the company’s solutions at 10:45 am.

The concepts that make the carbon footprint of BASF, one of the world’s largest chemical corporations, fit for the future will be explained by Sebastian Heitkamp, Global Industry Segment Manager Packaging BASF Plastic Additives, at 11:35 am. “Advancing performance for circular packaging applications” will deal with technologies which improve recyclability and shelf life. Morchem, Metsä Board Development, H.B. Fuller and Constantia Flexibles International will also share information regarding circular economy.

May 6: Reusable Packaging

The third trade fair day will focus on reusable packaging, especially on the European packaging regulation with its quotas for reusable packaging. The German professional association for the folding box industry (Fachverband Faltschachtel-Industrie (FFI)) will evaluate reusable packaging in terms of sustainability at 10:45 am. Following will be a panel discussion about the ecological, economic and hygienic consequences of the new PPWR (Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation). Represented on the stage will be, among others, the German forum for service packaging (Forum Serviceverpackungen (FSV)) and the European Paper Packaging Alliance (EPPA).

May 7: Sustainability

Responsible packaging – this  will be the topic for May 7 at “Spotlight Talks & Trends”. It will start at 11:15 am with the lecture “Smart Engineering – the key to sustainable processing and packaging” by Richard Clemens, managing director of the VDMA Food Machines and Packaging Machines. Afterwards, there will be a lecture from the perspective of a brand manufacturer. Sebastian Roth, Sustainable Packaging Manager Central Europe at Arla Foods will report on sustainable packaging within a multinational cooperative.

In the afternoon, the program will feature an on-stage discussion about “Sustainability goals 2025 – are we on track”. The question of how to realistically put political sustainability goals into practice will be examined from several perspectives. Participants in this discussion will be  Ron Puvak, Executive Director at Contract Packers of North America, Dan Coppins, Packaging Technologist KMI Brands, Marc van den Maagdenberg, Chief Commercial Officer Vetipak and Vincent Mooij, Director Circpack/Veolia. The discussion will be moderated by Paul Jenkins, Managing Director The PackHub. Other lectures on that day will be held by kpfilms and Energy-Nest.

May 8: Digital Technologies (powered by Siemens)

On Monday at interpack, the technology corporation Siemens will present a program focused on digitalization. Especially with special purpose machinery manufacturing, which is dominated by mid-sized companies, the classic business model of (only once) selling “goods for money” has been practiced with great success for decades. The digital transformation however not only opens up new technical possibilities, but also new economic and business opportunities, up to and including entirely new business models. But what is behind the successful entry into such new marketing concepts, and why does this allow for access to entire new markets and customer segments? One example for such a new business concept is “Pay per Outcome”. This will be discussed by Bernhard Wieczorek, Global Account Manager Jagenberg Group, Siemens AG, and Thomas Fuest, Head of Sales and Marketing at SN Maschinenbau, at 2:30 pm . Further digital innovations will be presented on the same day by Balluff, ROI-EFESO Mgt. Consulting, FlexBlow, Watttron and the Central Agency for Green Commerce.

For a political perspective Dr. Wolfgang Trunk, a representative of the European Commission, will report on “The EU Commission’s Proposal for a Regulation on Packaging and Packaging Waste – Ready for Digital Technologies?” at 11:35 am. During this lecture he will offer an overview of the political initial status of packaging and its waste and what this means for the producing industry in the future.

May 9: Product safety

How can automation of packaging processes help to increase productivity and to avoid food loss and waste? What innovations are there in the area of product safety? These are the questions the forum will discuss on May 9. Wim Hermans, Regional General Manager, North & Eastern Europe at Ishida Europe Limited, will demonstrate how Ishida can maximize efficiency in production while at the same time preventing food waste at an early stage.

Still in the prototype phase is a project by Bahçeşehir University (BAU) in Istanbul together with the SAVE FOOD Initiative. The results of the study for producing bio-based and compostable packaging from waste food or the byproducts of the food industry show a lot of potential and will be presented at the forum for the first time at 2:30 pm.

Additional lectures will be given by Mettler-Toledo, another member of SAVE FOOD, Pilz GmbH, FAO in Europe and Central Asia as well as the World Packaging Organization (WPO), which will present best practices.

May 10: E-Commerce

Developments in the growing e-commerce market will be the topic for the last day of the trade fair. Jonathan Manterfield, E-Commerce Business Development at H.B. Fuller, will start the day at 10:45 am with “Packaging Component Innovations for Tomorrow’s Box”. The manufacturer of industrial glue will present solutions that consider the dynamics of sustainability versus product safety.

A completely different perspective on the developments within e-commerce will be presented by Markus Reckling, CEO DHL Express, in his lecture “E-COMMERCE Beyond Retail 4.0” which will focus on logistics. The fast-paced technological development has catapulted retail to a new level over the last years. The consequences of Retail 4.0 for logistics on the “last mile” and the technological concepts that make sure shoppers nevertheless receive their orders in the shortest time possible, will be presented to visitors at 11:15 am by DHL Express.

At 2:30 pm, the multi-faceted program will end  with the lecture by Prof. Dr. Martine Peuser, professor for general economics with a focus on organization and project management at the Leibniz University of Applied Sciences in Hanover. She will talk about digitalization as a driving force for agile organization concepts in logistics and packaging.

The forum will take place on all days of the trade fair in the North Entrance area. All sessions will be held in English and interpack visitors can take part free of charge. For a program overview:   https://www.interpack.de/de/Besuchen/Specials/SPOTLIGHT_Talks_Trends

For further information about interpack 2023, contact Messe Düsseldorf North America; Telephone: (312) 781-5180; E-mail: info@mdna.com; Visit www.interpack.com  and www.mdna.com; Follow us on twitter at http://twitter.com/mdnachicago

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