ICE flows onwards

ICE shows no signs of cooling off. Nimble shows & media, the company organizing the International Converting Show in Munich has announced plans to extend the ICE brand.

Said director Michael Boyle: "Following research, we are about to launch a two-day event in the UK Midlands, probably in the autumn of 2006".

The announcement came at the same time as he revealed that ICE 2005 has grown to almost double the size of the show held two years ago.

"There is a likelihood of potential exhibitors having to go on a waiting list by this June," reported sales manager Franz Hermann. "ICE currently has 180 exhibitors from 16 countries filling two and a half halls (4,500m² space). All three halls are expected to be sold out by June and there is definitely no further hall space available. This would be the first time that this has happened since the show was launched in 1996."

The exhibition opens in Munich's MOC from November 22-24. Visitor numbers are expected to increase from 1,800 to 2,500.

"Twenty five per cent are new companies, 65 per cent of exhibitors are re-bookings and, significantly, 15 per cent are previous clients who have returned to ICE,"revealed Franz Hermann. The latter sector includes AFS, Fife-Tidland and Vetaphone.

He is also convinced that further growth will come from exhibitors in the materials sector. "We are proud to have won several materials suppliers, including adhesives, selfadhesive tapes and film."

Walter Krämer, project engineer Extrusion Coating Film Division of Reifenhäuser told Converting Today: "We are convinced ICE is right for us; we are a big supporter of the show. In fact the initial contact with the customer who placed our latest order was made at the last ICE."

He added: "Coating people have been a bit like an industry Cinderella. It is time they woke up and came out of hiding. That this is happening is demonstrated by the growth of the show. And there is still enormous potential."

Commented president of CMC Carlo Cevenini: "For the first time we are seeing the majority of the log slitting brands at one show." He is happy that this goal has been achieved and intends to show a brand new economical machine as well as a new generation of faster equipment with enhanced safety features in November.

Seminars

Dr Michael Gerstenberger, ICE marketing manager, said: "It is also our goal to attract even more technical converting staff from across Europe by offering an expanded technical programme". The Fraunhofer/EMA will jointly hold a technical conference on film coating and converting; AWA will hold two sessions – one on labels markets and the other on the paper and film market for packaging.

Nimble's own sessions, free of charge, include Selfadhesive Tape Converting (being organized with the help of tesa), Introduction to Converting and a new Eastern European Forum with speakers from economics, politics and industry discussing developments, problems and opportunities.

A new feature at this year's event is the Converting Innovation Awards. Open to all exhibitors, it will highlight new products, processes or materials. Entry closing date is June 30. An independent jury will shortlist six entries, which will be displayed and finally judged during ICE. Prizes will be awarded at a dinner during the exhibition.

Michael Boyle puts the show's success down to its focus "in terms of technology and markets – that is paper, film and foil converting – excluding package print. We are by no means ruling out integrating areas such as package print back into ICE, but such measures will only be carried out in the best interests of the show and the industry."

Overseas sales manager Maria Wallace, who interviewed 60 converting suppliers to UK customers recently, reported: "Our goal was firstly to determine the level of interest in a UK converting event and secondly to find out what would make it ideal for exhibitors.

"Ninety two per cent expressed an interest in participating. They saw it as a two-day event to be held in the spring or autumn every two years, but an annual event came a close second." The exhibition is likely to be accompanied by a conference and possibly an awards dinner, and it will likely include flexo printing suppliers.

"We are currently putting together a steering committee, but we don't need a long lead time as this is going to be a low cost, probably table top style event in the autumn of 2006," explained Michael Boyle. Organizing partner for the UK is Angel Business Communications.

"We are also looking at the possibility of similar events in Spain, Turkey and Poland," he added. "Like the UK these countries have strong identities. They all have big markets and, apart from Poland, are more isolated geographically."