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.”

In Brief: Exhibition Profiles and Supporting Programmes

About ICE Europe
ICE Europe, the International Exhibition for Paper, Film & Foil Converting, is the world’s leading exhibition for the conversion of flexible, web-based materials, such as paper, film, foil and nonwovens. The show attracts industry experts from a wide range of sectors, including packaging, printing, plastics, textiles and nonwovens, paper, engineering, chemical, medical and pharma, automotive, aviation, food and electronics.

Exhibits include technical solutions for coating and laminating, slitting and rewinding, special converting materials, flexographic and rotogravure printing, quality control and measurement, drying and curing, special films and extrusion.

More details on exhibiting companies and their products can be found in the ICE Online Show Preview which also features a search function by main exhibit categories.

The prestigious ICE Awards celebrate the achievements of the many inventors, pioneers and change-makers amongst the exhibitors in the converting technology section. The 2022 competition received entries from a wide spectrum of start-ups and leading brands, all demonstrating innovative application of technology to transform and grow businesses. The converting community is invited to vote online in the following three categories: Digital Converting Solutions, Sustainable Products, and Efficient Production Solutions. The winners will be announced at the Official ICE Awards Ceremony on Wednesday, 16th March 2022, during show hours.

About CCE International
CCE International is Europe’s key event for the corrugated and folding carton industry, covering the entire supply chain in the production and processing of corrugated and carton material. The show addresses technology buyers and users from the corrugated and cartonboard industry and their target markets, such as carton and boxes manufacturers, tubes and cores suppliers, packaging designers, plant managers, technical engineers and company leaders.

Exhibits include corrugating line equipment, converting and printing machinery, cutting, creasing, slitting and other processing machines, design and CAD/CAM tools, handling and warehousing equipment, production scheduling tools, raw and paper materials, consumables, and related accessories.

More details on exhibiting companies and their products can be found in the CCE Online Show Preview which also features a search function by main exhibit categories.

The CCE Open Seminar Sessions feature case studies, technical talks and panel discussions on the latest trends and developments in the corrugated and cartonboard industry. This year’s topics cover technical solutions and services aimed at optimising the production process and value creation, including bespoke digital platforms connecting people, processes, and tools, flexible storage solutions, optical inspection instruments, new die-cutting methods and machinery, key digital print innovations, print quality control in packaging, and strategies to optimise glueing processes.

About InPrint Munich
InPrint Munich is Europe’s flagship event of the highly successful InPrint brand for the emerging community of printing professionals and manufacturers looking to maximise on new business potential for print applications in the industrial production sector. The exhibition is targeted at high-level trade professionals from the printing industry and from various industry sectors, such as aeronautics and aerospace, packaging and containers printing, architecture and design, automotive, consumer goods manufacturers, medical equipment and many more.

Exhibits on display focus on printing machinery, print heads and components, inks, fluids and chemicals, UV technology, drying and curing equipment, metrology and quality assurance, software for colour and process management, and special custom-built systems for packaging and labels, printed electronics, fabrics and textiles, surface finishings, additive manufacturing, security printing, 3D print, and many more.

The popular InPrint Conference, packed with inspirational keynote presentations, expert panels and spotlight sessions, takes the audience through a wide range of approaches to successfully implement new print technology in complex manufacturing processes. With more than 60 sessions on two bespoke conference stages, there are plenty of topics to choose from, including the latest applications in printed electronics, smart packaging, pharma/bio and 3D. Sessions are delivered by top industry experts, including representatives from Adobe, AGFA, Canon, Colorgate, EPSON, Fraunhofer IAP, FujiFilm Dimatix, Global Graphics, HP, Inkatronic, IPCO, Konica Monolta, MABI Robotics, METEOR, Seiko, UNILIN, Xaar, and Xenox.

Key visitor information, tickets and opening times
ICE Europe, the 12th International Converting Exhibition, CCE International, the 5th International Exhibition for the Corrugated and Folding Carton Industry, and InPrint Munich, the 5th International Exhibition of Print Technology for Industrial Manufacturing, all take place from 15–17 March 2022 at Munich Trade Fair Centre in Germany.

The three co-located events will occupy Halls A4, A5 and A6, with visitors accessing the event from the east entrance (“Eingang Ost”). Opening times are Tuesday and Wednesday from 9am to 5pm and Thursday from 9am to 4pm.

Day and season tickets can now be purchased from the Online Ticket Shop. Visitors who buy their tickets in advance will benefit from a reduced price and fast track admission. Day tickets cost €26 online or €40 on-site; season tickets cost €36 online or €52 on-site. Ticketholders enjoy full access to all three exhibitions plus supporting programme.

Further updates and information, e.g. on travel, accommodation, visa arrangements and Covid safety measures, as well as the latest exhibitor list and speaker line-up, can be found on the event websites which are updated regularly.

www.ice-x.com/europe 
www.cce-international.com 
www.inprintmunich.com