New record: Nearly 3,400 visitors attend the Easyfairs packaging shows in Hamburg

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1 Press Release New record: Nearly 3,400 visitors attend the Easyfairs packaging shows in Hamburg Hamburg, 11 February 2015 With a total of 3395 visitors in 2015, the triple trade show Empack, Packaging Innovations and Label&Print set a new record in Hamburg. "That's 30 percent more visitors than in 2014 a really excellent result," says Martina Hofmann, Event Director for the Easyfairs packaging shows in the DACH region. "This success confirms that we're on the right track." On both show days (25 & 26 March), visitors informed themselves about the latest trends and innovations through diverse offerings along the entire packaging process chain. Exhibitors made intensive use of the show for networking and doing business. Siegbert Hieber, Managing Director (DACH) for Easyfairs, was also pleased with the outcome of the 10th edition of Empack, as well as with Packaging Innovations and the Hamburg debut of Label&Print. "The feedback we're getting from the public has been extraordinarily positive both from exhibitors and from visitors," he says. And furthermore: "We will certainly be closing the shows on a significant upswing." Martina Hofmann, Event Director, adds: "With this successful event, we've gotten the packaging year off to a very good start indeed! There was also an excellent atmosphere, which is great confirmation of our Easyfairs show concepts." In-depth technical discussions and real business deals The exhibitors at Empack, Packaging Innovations and Label&Print reported being very happy with their participation; many interesting business contacts including orders for new projects were made. The steady stream of visitors was met with general approval, as were the number of new prospects and the high calibre of the discussions that took place at the stands. A few exhibitor testimonials: Klaus Malscheski, Market Manager Europe CI-Vision, Mettler-Toledo Produktioninspektion Garvens GmbH, said his "impression of Empack was very positive" and praised the "superb quality of the contacts." The visitors had come with well thought-out questions, which, once followed up, could lead to real projects, he thought. Jörg-Peter Kober, Business Manager Graphics Solutions Hewlett-Packard GmbH, was also visibly pleased with the overall direction the show was taking. "We saw more trade visitors at our stand who fit our desired customer profile." His overall impression: "For HP, the show was good in terms of both quality and quantity." Easyfairs Deutschland GmbH Balanstr. 73, Haus Munich Germany T +49 (0) F +49 (0)

2 Lubomir Kroupa, Director of Product and Market Management for Packaging, Antalis Verpackungen GmbH, also expressed "satisfaction with the volume of customer visits" to their stand at Empack. "By noon on the second day, we had already had as many visitors as during the whole show in 2014." Volker Muche, Partner, pacproject GmbH,says he met in addition to visitors with technical background considerably more people from the areas of purchasing, sales and marketing. He concludes: "The mixture is interesting; this show fully lives up to our expectations. Packaging Innovations continues to grow into a very pleasant institution in Hamburg. Thorsten Bode, Manager New Business, Indeed Innovation GmbH, felt perfectly positioned at Packaging Innovations 2015: "In general, we find that innovative developments in packaging are always en vogue. And with all our contacts, the subject of conversation was always a real, concrete project." Dieter Hauser, Owner, HS Design was exhibiting for the third time; he has come ever since there was a Design Avenue at Packaging Innovations. "I'm utterly satisfied. The variety of exhibitors is what makes this show so interesting," is the conclusion he comes to. Jürgen May, Area Sales Manager North, Winter & Company, takes away an "all-round positive impression" of Packaging Innovations. "2015 was better than 2014, and there was more going on. Based on that, we'll be glad to come back next year and we're already looking forward to the lovely new location at the Hamburger Fischauktionshalle." Taner Taneri, General Manager TCG, Taneri Consulting GmbH, was back at the show for the fourth time, explaining: "It's growing both in importance and in size." He is delighted with the results: "We win a big new customer each year through Easyfairs. So, you see, my overall impression is very positive!" Successful premiere for Label&Print The first edition of Label&Print, the show for print, labelling and finishing techniques, was met with enthusiasm by visitors and exhibitors alike, including key industry players like Hewlett-Packard GmbH. "The topic of digital printing for packaging is really hot and there is demand for new solutions from all sides, whether from print service providers, end consumers or agencies. With our offerings, we're really striking a chord in the market," explains Jörg-Peter Kober, Business Manager Graphics Solutions Hewlett- Packard GmbH. In Hamburg, HP displayed among other things its new solutions for HDR technologies. "In 2015 we've enhanced these new technologies to include a system adapted to corrugated cardboard, with solutions for either direct or indirect printing in the pre-print area. The HP Scitex can automatically process pallets of corrugated paperboard. The brand new HP WebPress T 410 Corrugated increases productivity in the digital pre-print area by a factor of 10." In the packaging market, trends like finishing, consumer protection and sustainability can stimulate longterm demand. At Empack and Packaging Innovations, visitors could find a varied and broad spectrum of innovative solutions for future-proof products and services around these topics. Correspondingly, the exhibitors' stands drew large crowds. The companies expressed great satisfaction with the "good variety" of visitors. Besides specialists with technical backgrounds, in 2015 there were also many visitors from the areas of purchasing, sales, marketing design and advertisement. They asked about specific solutions to existing challenges in their production lines, which made it efficient and easy for exhibitors to make valuable contacts and get right down to business. 2

3 Positive resonance for expert lectures and workshops The focus of the lectures, live demos and workshops were innovations within the industry, such as 3D printing, printed electronics and intelligent packaging, as well as the latest information on changes in government regulations for example, the use of ink within the context of the new German regulations on packaging colours. The visitors showed great interest in the activities around the topic of finishing and refining, for example the workshop, "Value added printing - a multi-sensual, multi-experiential world of extraordinary print products," run by show sponsor Fachverband Medienproduktioner e.v., or in the workshop on new finishing possibilities and practical application thereof, provided by PrintCity GmbH. In cooperation with the Packaging Academy of the dvi (Deutsches Verpackungsinstitut e.v., German Packaging Institute), easyfairs also organised an Open Forum on the topic of "Packaging as a Marketing Instrument" at Packaging Innovations which also met with resounding approval. Live networking with LOOK&LIKE At Packaging Innovations, packaging was experienced not only palpably but also visually and via social media thanks to Sandra Tennemann and Laura Haberkorn with their packaging blog, LOOK&LIKE ( They continually fed visitors with the hottest news and highlights from the show, both online and offline. In particular, the "Packaging Circus", the innovative LOOK&LIKE stand in a special area, caught the visitors' attention: all components including walls, furniture and fittings of the stand concept, called "All-In Cardboard", were made entirely of corrugated cardboard. The concept captivated onlookers with its witty creativity for example, the realistic-looking palm tree as magazine rack. The sustainable, design-oriented and innovative stand solution, "All-In Cardboard", by the Viennese start-up, Design Studios Papertown, is to be employed more extensively at future Easyfairs shows. "The cardboard building blocks can be put up and taken down quite easily; they're meant to be reused. What a fresh and novel idea!" marvels Event Director Martina Hofmann. 2016: Empack and Label&Print to replace the "Pack" area at CeMAT In 2016 the Easyfairs show formats will continue on their development course. "The trade show business is in constant flux; moreover, without logistics packaging is unthinkable it simply wouldn't get to the point of sale," says Martina Hofmann, Event Director DACH for Easyfairs' packaging shows, of the enhancements planned for next year. For the organisation of Empack and Label&Print in 2016, Easyfairs and the Deutschen Messe AG have announced a strategic cooperation: The two Easyfairs shows will be extended to four days, from 31 May through 3 June, and will take place in Hannover as a "show-in-show" at CeMAT, the international reference event for intralogistics. In 2016, Empack@CeMAT in Hannover will fully replace the "Pack" area in Hall 13. "We want to provide a show format tailored exactly to the objectives of exhibitors and visitors, that they can use effectively and get real value out of. This placement at CeMAT has benefits for everyone involved," says Easyfairs Managing Director Siegbert Hieber. During his visit to the Easyfairs shows in Hamburg, Wolfgang Pech, Division Manager for the Deutsche Messe AG, called the cooperation a "historic moment in time," and said that this first partnership with an external event organiser like Easyfairs was an important step. Easyfairs Event Director Martina Hofmann also promises that "Empack and Label&Print will continue to take place annually, enhanced by special 3

4 events in the years between CeMAT shows. The new location in Hall 13 at the Hannover fairgrounds is situated centrally near the entrance and is therefore ideally placed for our packaging target groups." For the 2016 debut in Hannover, the organisers expect approximately 200 exhibitors on a show floor of about 10,000 square meters. Packaging Innovations 2016 in Hamburg at the Fischauktionshalle (Fish Auction Hall) Packaging Innovations will continue to take place in Hamburg in 2016 on 23 & 25 June but in a new venue: the Fischauktionshalle. With its raw industrial charm, the Fish Auction Hall is one of the city's landmarks and a real draw for the public. Packaging Innovations is conceived as an inspiring event that comprises an exhibition, a top-drawer show programme and a special evening activity. Consumer goods packaging will play an important role on a world-class stage. Exhibitors will display inspiration, creativity and the joy of innovation at their stands, engaging brand owners and marketing experts with rewarding exchanges and working together with producers and brand managers on new ideas. - END Locations and dates for 2016 shows in Germany, Austria and Switzerland: Empack, Packaging Innovations and Label&Print Zurich Messe, Halls 3-6 Empack, Label&Print Hannover, at CeMAT 2016 Packaging Innovations Hamburg, Fischauktionshalle Packaging Innovations Vienna, Hofburg Kongresszentrum About Artexis Easyfairs Artexis Easyfairs enables professional and private communities to "visit the future" at must-attend events that anticipate their needs and present solutions in the ideal format. The Group currently organises events in 15 countries (Austria, Belgium, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, Finland, Germany, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom) and manages eight events venues in the Benelux and Nordic regions (Ghent, Antwerp, Namur (two venues), Mechelen, Mons, Stockholm and Malmö). In the Group employed 396 people and generated revenues of 93 million. Artexis Easyfairs strives to be the most adaptable, agile and effective player in our industry by employing committed individuals, deploying the best marketing and technology tools, and developing strong brands. Visit the future with Artexis Easyfairs. 4

5 For further information, please contact: Easyfairs Deutschland GmbH Martina Hofmann Event Director DACH Balanstr. 73, Haus München Tel martina.hofmann@easyfairs.com Press contact: Büro für Kommunikation PR Texte Medienberatung Michaela Geiger Döltschiweg 20 CH-8055 Zürich Mobile CH: Mobile D: mail@michaelageiger.com 5