With European governments moving fast to ease Covid and travel restrictions, Event Organiser Mack-Brooks Exhibitions has confirmed that their co-located spring exhibitions for the Converting, Paper and Print Industry will go ahead as planned. All three events – ICE Europe, CCE International and InPrint Munich – will take place side-by-side and face-to-face, from 15-17 March 2022 at Munich Trade Fair Centre in Germany.
Spring is the season of new beginnings: Amid positive signs of general recovery, the upcoming March editions of ICE Europe, CCE International and InPrint Munich mark a long-awaited return of unrivalled business and networking opportunities for the converting, paper and print industries and the various markets they serve.
“We can’t wait to welcome everyone back to the show floor”, says Patrick Herman, Event Director of the Converting, Paper and Print Events at Mack-Brooks Exhibitions. “Of course, we can’t rule out all eventualities, but an awful lot would have to happen to make us postpone. This means that for the first time since the start of the pandemic, industry professionals involved in the converting, printing and finishing process will finally get the chance to meet and re-connect with their technology suppliers and peers again.”
3-in-1 event providing more value
New this year, ICE Europe, CCE International and InPrint Munich will take place in parallel, creating a tremendous offering for the converting, corrugated and printing community in various manufacturing sectors. With full access to all exhibition stands on a net floor area exceeding 13,500 square meters, attendees will benefit from a breadth of solutions and increased synergies between suppliers. In total, more than 460 international companies will present their latest machinery, accessories and services, aimed at optimising the production process or enhancing product features.
A large proportion of ICE Europe, CCE International and InPrint Munich visitors work for the same industry sectors, such as packaging, plastics and paper, consumer electronics, pharma and cosmetics, food and beverage, transport and logistics, engineering, textile and furniture. And they all share the same challenge: To always be ready to react quickly to ever-changing market trends and demands, fuelled by the constant acceleration of retail and e-commerce.
“There is ongoing need for creative and customised products that meet specific performance attributes for specific end uses, often involving digital elements. To achieve this, producers need to invest in new solutions, for example a new surface treatment or mechanical process to add functionality or enhance specific product features. Efficiency and sustainability are also important key drivers, both in regard to the manufacturing process as well as to the finished product”, explains Patrick Herman.
“So a typical ICE Europe or CCE International visitor might initially be searching for a clever converting solution to produce a fully recyclable packaging blank, but they will also be looking at technical challenges further down the line, trying to keep the overall production process lean and clean, for example by adding an integrated print solution to label or decorate their finished foil, paper, or carton product – which they will find at InPrint Munich on the same show floor!”
New Matchmaking Service across all three exhibitions
To ease the time-consuming task of finding suitable tech suppliers, a new AI-powered matchmaking service will assist buyers in making smarter networking decisions by suggesting relevant people to meet. This will help attendees to prepare their show visit and use their time on-site efficiently. The new matchmaking service covers all three exhibitions, ensuring visitors can connect with any supplier of interest across ICE Europe, CCE International and InPrint Munich.
Exciting Supporting Programme to boost buyer-supplier connections
A diverse supporting programme, featuring the ever-popular InPrint Conference, ICE Awards, and CCE Open Seminars, offer additional touchpoints between buyers and tech suppliers. The supporting programme runs through all three exhibition days, offering a clear roadmap to a successful future for all converting, processing and industrial printing specialists. Attendance is free of charge to all registered exhibitors and visitors. Please see exhibition profiles below for further information.
Delivering a milestone event under safe conditions
All three shows follow a robust programme of measures to support the health and safety of everyone on-site. Over recent months, Mack-Brooks Exhibitions and venue partner Messe Munich have built a strong track record of successfully delivering large trade events in a Covid-safe environment, including the inter airport Europe exhibition in November with more than 10,000 attendees. “Thanks to our rock-solid event management experience, our show teams can proactively prepare for Covid-secure events in accordance with current Government guidelines, and we are able to change safety and entry procedures at short notice if needed”, explains Patrick Herman, “We are fully committed to deliver a milestone event safely and responsibly for all attendees and team members.”
