Running from 19 -21 March, more than 400 exhibitors from nearly 20 countries will descend upon Munich for the eighth edition of the international converting exhibition. Technology and products from the fields of flexo, rotogravure, finishing, slitting, rewinding and coating, as well as many others will line the halls of the Munich Trade Fair Centre during the three-day event.
It will be interesting to find out the presence flexo technology has at the exhibition. The latest report from Smithers Pira into the flexible packaging market forecasts that the sector is set to grow by an average of 5% per annum from 2012 to 2017, at which point it will account for 37 million tonnes of material.
The research also cited the retail market as a key driver of demand, with a considerable 55% of flexible packaging papers being used in the construction of packaging for the wealth of products that flood our shelves on a daily basis. Flexo is still big business, so it'll no doubt be well represented during ICE.
In this issue, we analyse the latest developments in the field of web treatment and also take a look at packaging printing inks and the ongoing enhancements taking place within that market to meet diverse, increasing market demands.
Companies such as Sun Chemical, Fujifilm, Linx and Huber are formulating inks across the offset and digital spectrums that offer qualities varying from low migration levels and strong adhesion to heat resistance, excellent lightfastness and quick drying.
Finally, we preview the American leg of this year's ICE exhibitions, ICE USA 2013. Set to take place hot on the heels of this month's German event, the April show is expected to be more than 25% larger than the 2011 event, with more than 100 first-time exhibitors present. If you are attending or exhibiting at either event, I would be interested to hear how successful they were for you.
You can get in touch by e-mailing tim.sheahan@globaltrademedia.com, or by calling on +44 (0) 207 936 6881.
Tim Sheahan,
Editor
