“When it comes to exports to Europe of packaging equipment manufactured here in the United States, it is currently a very positive story,” said Guido Corbella, managing director for Ipack-Ima spa.
As the accompanying chart shows, U.S.-made machinery exports to the European Union’s 27 countries is up 11.8%. That follows a 14.2% rise the previous year. The figures are provided by the U.S. Department of Commerce, as of the end of August 2008.
Speaking at a press luncheon promoting Ipack-Ima 2009 during Pack Expo Tuesday, Corbella said, “It used to be that for an American packaging equipment manufacturer to go to an exhibition in Italy or Germany, it was like going into the lions den. They were wary of having to compete with Italian and German manufacturers on their home turf. I can tell you that at this point in time, American equipment manufacturers are doing quite well in Europe, and are feeling emboldened with the help of the Euro versus Dollar exchange.”
Ipack-Ima will be held March 24 – 28 in Milan, Italy. As of the time of the press conference, more than 1,000 companies have signed contracts to exhibit in 2009, of which 20% are international exhibitors. Ipack-Ima is a general processing, packaging, and material handling exhibition for the food, beverage, pharmaceutical, and consumer products industries.
