Successful Staging of Pack Print International and Corrutec Asia 2023

The concurrently held PACK PRINT INTERNATIONAL and CorruTec ASIA 2023 trade fairs, organized by Messe Düsseldorf Asia in partnership with Thailand’s prominent industry associations – The Thai Packaging Association, The Thai Printing Association and the Thai Corrugated Packaging Association – concluded successfully last month at BITEC in Bangkok.

A total of 12,200 visitors attended the events, with 20% coming from outside Thailand – particularly from neighboring Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore, Cambodia, and Vietnam as well as China, India and Japan. Among them were representatives from renowned companies such as Amarin Corporations, Inter Eastern Container, Sunshine Press, U L Printing and Packaging. The strong visitor turnout underscores the trade fairs’ status as must-attend marketplaces for the packaging, printing and corrugated packaging sectors.

Over 300 exhibitors from 25 countries, including national group exhibits from Germany, China, and Taiwan, showcased innovative technologies and solutions. The atmosphere on the show floor was optimistic and dynamic, with meaningful engagements and discussions. Gernot Ringling, Managing Director of Messe Düsseldorf Asia, emphasized the role of PACK PRINT INTERNATIONAL and CorruTec ASIA 2023 as sourcing, business and networking platforms: “These events serve as an essential meeting place for the industry, exposing participants to emerging technologies and market shifts. They empower Thai businesses to adapt strategies, integrate new technologies, and champion a future that is more sustainable, digitally inclined, and smartly automated. While also providing both local and international companies a platform to strengthen their market presence, fostering strategic alliances and promoting expansion beyond domestic borders.

Growing interest in the Southeast Asian market

Thailand’s packaging, printing, and corrugated packaging sectors are gaining significance, not only within the Thai economy but also on a regional scale. The country’s robust position as a printing and packaging hub is increasingly drawing international attention. Leonard Dϋrr, Head of Sales at CONPRINTA GmbH & Co. KG, remarked about the growing interest in Southeast Asia, particularly in Thailand and Vietnam: “We are very focused on the Southeast Asian market. This event provides us with a unique opportunity to engage with potential customers, share our new developments, and gain a better understanding of the market.” Exhibiting in the German Pavilion, the company unveiled its cutting-edge Conprinta IMD 1700 machine, designed to offer preprint solutions for corrugated boxes and folding cartons.

For Oki Systems (Thailand), digital printing technology expert offering a variety of solutions to help optimize printing and document sequencing, PACK PRINT INTERNATIONAL presented a strong platform to showcase their larger industrial printers. “It was also a good chance to raise brand awareness beyond our printing expertise but also for our consumer category. We received good footfall to our booth which was very relevant to our products and business,” said Managing Director Akio Kotake.

Korapat Wongananchai, Division Manager, Commercial & Industrial Printing at Ricoh (Thailand), agreed: “This year we saw more visitors on the show floor and had some very good traffic at our booth and managed to sign several contracts to buy our machines. In fact, we sold ten big machines. In addition, the enquiries, and potential leads we received have been very promising.”

Katsuya (Kurt) Tode, Director, Regional Commercial & Industrial Printing Division at Canon Singapore, emphasized the pivotal role of both consumables and printers in technology and practical applications: “In fact, some of our customers had been eagerly awaiting the chance to observe one of our printers in action here before finalizing their purchase decisions, and they were delighted with the experience. This platform effectively serves as a means to win over our customers and showcase the breadth of our technological capabilities.”

Both domestic and international visitors were pleased with two co-located trade fairs. Ranazar Hang, A&D Office, a first-time visitor from Cambodia, reported that he identified product lines that could significantly enhance business efficiency, particularly in the realm of printing automation, which he was looking for. Local business owner Varissara Taechawichian of Infinite Paper Lab shared the positive experience: “There were many new innovations on display, and I managed to get many new ideas to develop my product. I found a lot of new suppliers for my packaging business, so it has been a very good experience for me.”

Sustainability and the #GreenZone

Sustainability was a leading topic at PACK PRINT INTERNATIOAL and Corrutec ASIA 2023. At the new #GreenZone, more than 20 companies showcased eco-friendly technologies and solutions, such as plant-based and fiber-based packaging, recyclable or reusable options, green consumables and zero-waste to energy-efficient solutions. Italian paper producer Fedrigoni Paper officially launched their ‘Materia Viva 2 collection’ to the Southeast Asian market at the exhibition. According to Kervin Valero, Marketing Manager – Asia Pacific, this plastic to paper collection can help brands and printers become more sustainable, by offering plastic-like features for product packaging but at the same time offering alternatives which make the paper recyclable and thus more sustainable. “Overall, we have had a very positive experience – good footfall and new leads from new markets including Malaysia, Indonesia, Laos, Cambodia, and of course new Thai printers, too,” he added.

With the title “Pursuit of sustainability and the challenges facing the printing industry”, the regional forum was held in conjunction with the World Print & Communication Forum (WPCF) Board Meeting. Professor Kamal Chopra, President, said: “Balancing sustainability with cost-effectiveness, integrating new technologies, and changing consumer behavior pose ongoing challenges. The future of the printing industry lies in innovative solutions that address these hurdles while maintaining environmental responsibility.”

This was the first time that Thailand hosted leaders of the world’s major printing associations. The WPCF Board Meeting had previously been held in cities such as Singapore, San Francisco, Rio de Janeiro, Adelaide, Cape Town, Shanghai and Mumbai. Thailand as a choice location was yet another testimony to the vibrancy of the industry and Thailand’s status on the world stage.

In the corrugated packaging sector, Thailand’s importance continues to increase – this year more regional industry associations send group delegations to visit the trade fair, including members from the China Packaging Federation (CPF) Paper Products Professional Committee, Federation of Corrugated Box Manufacturers (FCBM) of India, Taiwan Paper Containers Industry Association and the National Federation of Paper Containers Business Association of the Republic of China.

The exhibits were complemented by seminars and forums, discussing current important  industry topics, including:

• “Sustainaovation Packaging: The Key to Circular Living”, with speakers representing leading packaging manufacturers and FMCG brands.
• “Sustainable and Carbon Footprint for Packaging”, organized by GS1 Thailand, a division of The Federation of Thai Industries
• Asian Packaging Excellence Awards – recognizing the achievements of the best packaging printers, and the SHIFT23 Asian Packaging Conference
• Seminar on “How to Minimize the Loss in the Process of Corrugated Packaging Production Process – Digital Printing” by the Thai Corrugated Packaging Association (TCPA)
• Design Seminars — with award-winning designer and branding experts offering insights and case studies on world-class packaging design.

PACK PRINT INTERNATIONAL and CorruTec ASIA will return to BITEC, Bangkok from September 17 – 20, 2025.   For further information on visiting or exhibiting, contact Messe Düsseldorf North America; Telephone: (312) 781-5180; E-mail: info@mdna.com; Visit www.pack-print.de, www.corrutec-asia.com and www.mdna.com; Follow us on https://www.linkedin.com/company/mdnachicago/