UPAKOVKA/UPAK ITALIA & interplastica Remain Stable

Published: March 09, 2016

CHICAGO, IL | Visitor participation at UPAKOVKA/UPAK ITALIA 2016, 24th International Trade Fair for Processing, Packaging and Printing, and interplastica 2016, 19th International Trade Fair Plastics and Rubber, not only remained stable but increased slightly, reports organizer Messe Düsseldorf North America. 

A total of 20,900 visitors from Russia and neighboring countries attended both events, held in late January, to see the latest innovations for their sectors presented by 828 exhibitors from 35 countries at the EXPOCENTRE in Moscow.

According to Messe Düsseldorf, while the political situation, the fall of the oil price, and the weak ruble make investments difficult, especially for small businesses, Western technology for the production of packaging and related processes as well as for plastic and rubber goods is highly valued by Russian companies. There is still considerable investment needed in Russia and neighboring nations, especially due to the demands in the domestic consumer goods, food, and packaging industry to optimize production processes and product quality in order to substitute imports. 

“Russia is still a potentially significant market currently experiencing difficult times, says Matthias Werner Dornscheidt, president and CEO of Messe Düsseldorf. “At the moment, for small and middle-sized Russian companies in particular, it is not easy. However, the market has in no way come to a halt. There is still a high level of interest in high quality and innovative machinery, systems, and materials. Companies want to invest and are also making efforts to realize planned projects. In such a situation, trade fairs play an important role.

Organizers say Russian food and drink manufacturers still look to Western technology: Every second confectionery machine used in Russia is German-produced and the same applies to brewery and drink bottling machines, reports Bernd Jablonowski, global portfolio director of Processing & Packaging at Messe Düsseldorf. “In particular, it is large agricultural holdings and retail firms wanting to act independently from their suppliers who invest in the development and expansion of local food production, not least due to the import ban on foods and state subsidies.”

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