Over one thousand representatives from the Corrugated Board Industry gathered in Geneva from 9 to 11 October to explore the many opportunities in the packaging and board sector at the FEFCO Technical Seminar in Geneva.
Brilliant innovations in packaging and inspiring ideas were on show at the FEFCO Technical Seminar, which again continues to grow. 153 stands and 97 exhibitors were showing their products and services (up from 126 and 87 respectively in 2017). The Seminar programme continued to generate huge interest, with 24 experts speaking during the conference sessions, and 60 separate spotlight presentations.
FEFCO President Jan Klingele said the event showed how the corrugated sector was growing and adapting to a fast-moving business environment. “The world is changing, and we are changing too. We are innovating, we are responding to consumer demands, and we are making our business even more sustainable,” he said. “The future will be great because corrugated cardboard is an excellent product.”
FEFCO – the European Federation of Corrugated Board Manufacturers – organised the Technical Seminar around the theme of ‘Mastering our processes’: how to take the industry to the next level, improving and innovating.
The event brought together buyers and suppliers from Europe and beyond to debate innovations in areas like sensors, conveyors, labelling, coding, and digital printing. There were discussions on how to build lighter, stronger and more environmentally friendly boxes. industry trends from personalised printing to precision laser cutting were in the focus as well. And they looked at how corrugated can adapt to the new wave of environmental activism and regulation to produce boxes with less waste and fewer natural resources.
Other core issues:
• how artificial intelligence, big data, and intelligent automation can be deployed in the industry,
• how predictive maintenance can improve reliability and safety,
• the best ways to control temperature and moisture,
• how digital technologies can drive improvements and add value,
• and how e-commerce is opening new opportunities in corrugated.
FEFCO Secretary General Angelika Christ said the event showed the value of bringing together buyers and suppliers in a single venue to learn about innovations and developments. “We are happy to see that the concept of the conference, exhibition and spotlights worked better than ever this year. It pays off for members to be part of the most interesting marketplace for Corrugated Board Packaging in Europe,” she said.
