With the May 2000 completion of two new halls offering a combined 306꺜 sq’ of exhibit space, interpack 2002 will encompass 1.6 million sq’ of net exhibit space, says show sponsor Messe Düsseldorf, whose U.S. subsidiary is Messe Düsseldorf North America (Chicago, IL).
This 16th International Trade Fair for Packaging Machinery, Packaging, and Confectionery Machinery runs April 24 to 30 in Düsseldorf, Germany. It will attract some 2괌 exhibitors from 60 countries, 63% of whom are from countries other than Germany. Italy is the leading foreign exhibitor, with 403 companies. Great Britain has 138, France 130, the Netherlands 116, and the U.S. 90 exhibitors. Germany will be represented by 806 companies.
The number of U.S. exhibitors includes 45 companies exhibiting within the North American Pavilion, organized by Messe Düsseldorf North America and the Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Institute (Arlington, VA).
The exhibits at interpack 2002 will again be arranged according to product categories. Packaging materials will be showcased in Halls 8 to 11, and packaging machinery exhibits will be located in Halls 4 to 7 and 11 to 17. Confectionery machinery and equipment will be housed in Halls 1 to 3.
New for interpack this time around is www.interpack.com, an Internet portal for the packaging community. It provides current trends and market information on the international packaging machinery and materials sectors, as well as information from confectionery machinery manufacturers. In addition, the portal includes lists of interpack 2002 exhibitors and their products, facts on international manufacturing and packaging end-user associations, an international trade press directory, and a listing of worldwide trade fairs for the packaging business.
A special feature of the new portal is the interpack navigator, a new guidance system that helps visitors find solutions to their packaging problems. Enter the product to be packaged and the navigator supplies information about interpack 2002 exhibitors with the appropriate machinery/material.
The portal also contains relevant information about interpack 2002, including a layout of the fairgrounds, travel information, and a listing of Messe Düsseldorf offices around the world. For exhibitors, the portal offers the Online Order System to order technical services for exhibitor booths. Visitors can use the portal to register for interpack.
Also new for interpack 2002 is a free public transportation service. Visitor, exhibitor, and press entrance passes allow free use of all public transportation within Düsseldorf for the duration of the show. The passes provide free public transportation on all buses, streetcars, underground trams, urban railways, and German rail service.
