Final visitor numbers were unavailable at the time of writing but Easyfairs event director Gerry Sherwood says the quality of visitors continued to improve, as those who do attend have had to justify their time out of the office.

The event, which incorporates Contract Pack and EcoPack as well as Empack and Label & Print, featured a range of new product launches as well as an extensive seminar programme.

“There were lots of lively debates and busy aisles so all in all I think it was a big success,” says Sherwood.

While some exhibitors primarily turned up to make the most of networking opportunity and create new leads, many other stands had plenty on offer to showcase the future direction of the packaging sector.

One prominent trend was the continued rise of personalised packaging, with several exhibitors showing what can be created using the latest digital presses.

Glossop Cartons presented its new personalisation service, with a range of personalised cartons printed on its Xeikon 3500.

“We’re trying to get over to people that they can do whatever they want with this service and really let their imagination run wild,” says Glossop Cartons internal sales executive Shaun Unsworth.

HP also showed a range of personalised packaging, including examples of branded consumer goods from around the world that use personalised print as the basis of a marketing campaign, or to stand out on the supermarket shelf.

“There is a lot of innovation in packaging design but it’s also important that brands get a return on investment on anything that they do,” says HP UK & Ireland marketing manager Oana Manolache.

“Coca-Cola sales rose by 4% following the ‘Share a Coke’ campaign – this shows the value of packaging and what it can bring.”

Most exhibitors were full of praise for the event. Kite Packaging took the largest stand ever seen at the show, alongside Audion Swissvac, to showcase a range of its machinery. 

“The show has been fantastic for us. It’s a good opportunity to meet people and network and to increase interest and attract new prospects,” says Kite Packaging technical consultant Mark Bannister.

Parkside showed a range of food-on-the-go and cook-ready packaging. Managing director Nick Smith says: “These are areas that we haven’t focused on as much before and they had some real interest.

“A number of major retailers and suppliers to large retailers came to our stand so it was interesting in terms of both people we don’t deal with and people that we do but who hadn’t necessarily seen some of these solutions.”

CFH Docmail managing director Dave Broadway visited the event to look at the inkjet equipment on offer for digital short-run label production and short-run colour envelope production. 

He successfully located what he wanted in this area but had some reservations about whether the show wholly fulfilled its purpose. 

“We were also looking for a particularly challenging requirement to inkjet a small plastic container and then enclose into an envelope alongside a matched document. We didn’t manage to find anything for that so no packaging innovations in that direction,” says Broadway.

“My overall impression is that there was plenty of packaging, but not too much innovation.”

Packaging Innovations was generally well received by exhibitors and visitors alike but organisers are looking for future improvements. Sherwood says he would like to see more interactive content.

“The debates were good but it’s quite difficult to get people engaged so it would be good to try and have a more workshop-based format.

“We could do more around materials by getting materials associations and materials people involved with the show,” he concludes.  

Packaging Innovations new product highlights

CS Labels showed its new stand-up pouches, printed digitally using Xeikon technology

Glossop Cartons presented its new personalisation service 

Herma UK introduced its Herma Basic label applicator to its existing range, as a lower-cost entry point

HP showed a new fluorescent pink ink, which glows under UV light. It will be commercially available from March

BW presented two new devices: the AF 0020 Auto liquid filling machine and the GER 50 labelling machine

Linpac and Graphic Packaging International (GPI) joined forces to display a range of new patisserie packs. GPI created the carton board trays and bases while Linpac developed the series of compatible rPET lids

Roisbros unveiled the Special Delivery series, its new range of boxes for hot and cold food portions, salads and oily products