7 days, 7 topics: "Spotlight Talks & Trends" at interpack

From E-Commerce 4.0 and Smart Engineering through Sustainability Goals to Political Framework Conditions: Exciting Future Questions Are Discussed at the Lecture Forum at interpack.

"Spotlight Talks & Trends" at interpack 2023 means seven days of input on the most important topics and trends in Processing & Packaging. Experts from various fields come together in the lecture forum from May 4 to 10 – machinery manufacturers, packaging material producers, associations and organizations, universities, brand manufacturers, technology corporations, and logistics giants. The seven theme days cover a broad spectrum of the most critical questions facing the industry in 2023 and beyond. The program is jointly presented by interpack, the dfv Conference Group, and PackReport.

May 4: Logistics (powered by Markem-Imaje)

The demand for faster and more reliable deliveries, raw material shortages, regulations and quality standards, and the use of sustainable packaging materials – there are many challenges for the packaging industry in logistics. To master these, companies must focus on efficient planning and utilization of their supply chains. The first day of the forum "Spotlight Talks & Trends" is dedicated entirely to logistics.

Under the title "Empower your logistics with intelligent packaging," Stephen Gryczka, Director Strategy and Corporate Development at Markem-Imaje, describes how intelligent packaging solutions make production lines more efficient and reliable in the morning. In addition to packaging, communication in logistics is emphasized here, which is simplified through many steps: coding, traceability, and data intelligence.

At 2:50 p.m., Dominik Moers, Business Development Manager at HeyCircle, presents a solution approach for the circular economy in e-commerce. Other lectures include Mosca on the topic of certification of load units or PostPlus on packaging as a postage saver.

May 5: Circular Economy (powered by Schütz)

The importance of the circular economy is increasing, and the packaging industry and process industry have many new ideas and technologies related to it. The speakers on Friday at interpack deal with the topic from very different perspectives. Under the title "Green Lifecycle Management in Industrial Packaging," Axel Schaefer, Global Head of Commercial Product Management & Marketing at SCHÜTZ, provides insights into the company's solutions at 10:45 a.m.

Sebastian Heitkamp, Global Industry Segment Manager Packaging at BASF Plastic Additives, explains at 11:35 a.m. how BASF, one of the world's largest chemical companies, makes its ecological footprint future-proof with concepts. Under the title "Advancing performance for circular packaging applications," the focus is on technologies that improve recycling quality and durability. Much more exciting input is also provided on the theme day of the circular economy by Morchem, Metsä Board Development, H.B. Fuller, and Constantia Flexibles International.

May 6: Reusable Packaging

The third day of the fair focuses on reusable packaging. In particular, the European Packaging Regulation with its reuse quotas is discussed. There is a lot of need for discussion due to the guidelines. Is reuse really the only solution? The Fachverband Faltschachtel-Industrie (FFI) will speak at 10:45 a.m. on the assessment of reusable packaging in terms of sustainability. Following this, there will be a panel discussion on the ecological, economic, and hygienic consequences of the new PPWR (Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation). The forum service packaging (FSV) and the European Paper Packaging Alliance (EPPA) are among the panel members.

May 7: Sustainability

Packaging with responsibility – that is the focus on May 7 at "Spotlight Talks & Trends." The day begins at 11:15 a.m. with the lecture "Smart Engineering – the key to sustainable processing and packaging" by Richard Clemens, Managing Director of VDMA Food Processing and Packaging Machinery. This is followed by a presentation from the perspective of a brand manufacturer. Sebastian Roth, Sustainable Packaging Manager Central Europe at Arla Foods, reports on sustainable packaging in a multinational cooperative.

In the afternoon, a panel discussion titled "Sustainability goals 2025 – are we on track?" is scheduled. It explores from various perspectives how realistically political sustainability goals can be implemented in practice. Participants include Ron Puvak, Executive Director, Contract Packers of North America; Dan Coppins, Packaging Technologist at KMI Brands; Marc van den Maagdenberg, Chief Commercial Officer at Vetipak; and Vincent Mooij, Director of Circpack/Veolia. The discussion is moderated by Paul Jenkins, Managing Director of The PackHub. Additional lectures on this day include presentations by kpfilms and Energy-Nest.

May 8: Digital Technologies (powered by Siemens)

The technology company Siemens presents a program on digitalization at interpack on Monday. Especially in medium-sized special machine construction, the classic business model of (one-time) sales – "goods for money" – has been practiced very successfully for decades. However, digital transformation offers not only technical possibilities but also new economic and commercial opportunities, even leading to entirely new business models. But how does one successfully enter such new marketing concepts, and why does this enable access to entirely new market and customer segments? An example of such a new business model is "Pay per Outcome." Bernhard Wieczorek, Global Account Manager at Jagenberg Group, Siemens AG, and Thomas Fuest, Head of Sales and Marketing at SN Maschinenbau, discuss this at 2:30 p.m. Other digital innovations are presented on the same day by Balluff, ROI-EFESO Mgt. Consulting, FlexBlow, Watttron, and the Central Agency for Green Commerce.

The political perspective is eagerly awaited as well. Dr. Wolfgang Trunk, a representative of the European Commission, will give a lecture at 11:35 a.m. titled "The EU Commission's Proposal for a Regulation on Packaging and Packaging Waste – Ready for Digital Technologies?" He will provide an overview of the political situation regarding packaging and waste and what this means for the manufacturing industry in the future.

May 9: Product Safety

How can automation of packaging processes help increase productivity and prevent food losses and waste? What innovations exist in the field of product safety? These questions are addressed at the forum on May 9. Among the guests is Wim Hermans, Regional General Manager, North & Eastern Europe at Ishida Europe Limited. He will demonstrate how Ishida can maximize productivity in production while early preventing food waste.

A project of Boğaziçi University (BAU) in Istanbul, in collaboration with the SAVE FOOD initiative, is still in the prototype phase. The results of the study on the production of biodegradable and compostable packaging from food waste or by-products of the food industry have great potential and will be presented for the first time in the forum at 2:30 p.m.

Additional exciting lectures come from Mettler Toledo, also a SAVE FOOD member, from Pilz GmbH, FAO in Europe and Central Asia, and the World Packaging Organization (WPO), which will present best practices.

May 10: E-Commerce

Developments in the growth market of e-commerce are the topic of the final trade fair day. Jonathan Manterfield, E-Commerce Business Development at H.B. Fuller, starts the day at 10:45 a.m. with "Packaging Component Innovations for Tomorrow’s Box." The industrial adhesive manufacturer presents solutions at the intersection of sustainability and product safety.

Another perspective on developments in e-commerce is offered by Markus Reckling, CEO of DHL Express, who, with his lecture "E-COMMERCE Beyond Retail 4.0," focuses on logistics. The rapid technological development has propelled retail to a new level in recent years. Visitors will learn at 11:15 a.m. how Retail 4.0 impacts last-mile logistics and with which technological concepts shoppers can still receive their orders in the shortest possible time.

The diverse program of the seven trade fair days concludes at 2:30 p.m. with a lecture by Prof. Dr. Martine Peuser, Professor of General Business Administration and especially Organization and Project Management at Leibniz University of Applied Sciences in Hannover. Her focus is on digitalization as a driver for agile organizational concepts in logistics and packaging.

The forum will take place at the North Entrance station on all trade fair days and is free of charge for visitors of interpack. The content is offered in English. Here is the program overview:
https://www.interpack.de/de/Besuchen/Specials/SPOTLIGHT_Talks_Trends