[dropcaps style=’2′]Shanghai World of Packaging (swop) 2017, the leading processing and packaging exhibition in Asia, has attracted the greatest amount of attention from exhibitors since its inauguration. Just over 600 overseas and domestic exhibitors participated in the event held from 7 to 10 November, including Multivac, HPRPC and other leading processing and packaging manufacturers. 20,053 visitors from nearly 80 countries and regions, such as China, the USA, Russia, South Korea, Japan, India, Vietnam and Malaysia came to the SNIEC fairgrounds to see latest innovations.[/dropcaps]

The 4-day large-scale exhibition was organized by Messe Düsseldorf, Shanghai (MDS) and Adsale Exhibition Services Ltd. Visitors also benefited greatly from the event, learning not only about cutting-edge innovative technologies but also about the status of the packaging market. Whether in terms of exhibition topics, concurrent conferences or exhibitor demonstrations swop 2017 focused on innovation much more compared with the previous exhibition. In particular, the SAVE FOOD initiative, with its debut in China, and the newly upgraded FMCG Future Zone have been widely acclaimed.

“With the acceleration of urbanization and the rising consumption level of the middle class, the demand for modern processing and packaging in China is also on the rise. swop, with its four exhibitions and innovative themes, is the one-stop platform for the most advanced technologies and ideas”, said Hans Werner Reinhard, managing director of Messe Düsseldorf GmbH.

“As one of the newly-launched membership exhibitions of the interpack alliance based on interpack, the world’s leading trade fair for processing and packaging, swop has undoubtedly gained more exposure in the global market and attracted more top industry experts to visit China,” commented Bernd Jablonowski, global portfolio director processing and packaging, Messe Düsseldorf.

“This year, swop continues to feature the entire value chain of packaging, from packaging materials production and processing, primary packaging, secondary packaging, logistics/e-commerce packaging to packaging materials and containers, all in one fair. Also the exhibition serves eight industries mainly: food, beverage, bakery, confectionery, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, non-food consumer goods and industrial commodities. This makes swop the first ever one-stop sourcing platform covering the entire value chain”, said Stanley Chu – chairman of Adsale Exhibition Services Ltd.

Innovation in exhibits: Industry 4.0, intelligent, digital and sustainable
In following the ‘Made in China 2025’ blueprint, the intelligent manufacture of packaging is the trend of the times and many exhibitors have embodied this. For example, the connection of intelligent software with machines better meets individualized needs. At the exhibition venue, the theme of sustainable development was everywhere. Many companies have demonstrated their efforts in terms of reduced thickness of packaging materials, lower resource consumption and improved manufacturing processes. In addition, green and eco-friendly packaging materials have become an important trend.