The standalone staging of PACK PRINT INTERNATIONAL 2013, 4^th International Packaging and Printing Exhibition for Asia, recently closed in Bangkok with a record breaking 30% growth in visitor attendance and the largest number of visiting delegations since its inaugural staging in 2007. When last held in 2011, the trade show was held concurrently with the plastics trade show TIPREX. Jointly organized by Messe Dusseldorf Asia, The Thai Packaging Association and The Thai Printing Association, PACK PRINT INTERNATIONAL 2013 featured an extensive display of cutting-edge live machinery and product demonstrations from more than 200 exhibitors from 20 countries.

According to preliminary statistics, this year’s staging attracted 17,000 visitors from more than 50 nations. The majority of the overseas visitors were from China, India, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Northern and Southern Thailand and Vietnam. The visitor delegations came from China, India, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam. Delegates from the Asean Packaging Federation consisting of business leaders from Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and the Philippines also attended the trade fair.

All visiting delegations, including those from HAFECEN, Vietnam, the Ho Chi Minh Printing Association, the Myanmar Printer and Publishers Association and the Vietnam Printing Association, expressed positive feedback on the wide array of technologies and machinery displayed on the show floor. Kongfha Panpikun from Santipab Pack-Print (part of the Northern Printing Business Club delegation), remarked: “Compared to the last show in 2011, I was able to see more machinery and technologies at this year’s exhibition. I am impressed with the range of exhibits on display.” Kamal Chopra, Secretary General, North India Printers Association, said: “Thumbs up for PACK PRINT INTERNATIONAL, this is a superb exhibition!”

As the preferred exhibition for leading and emerging companies to showcase their newest technologies, PACK PRINT INTERNATIONAL featured numerous innovative products displayed by companies such as James Burn International, Polyplex (Thailand) Public Company Limited, Riso, SKP and Worakulchai. Ricoh (Thailand) Limited presented three machinery models for the first time in Southeast Asia.

Fuji Xerox’s official Asia Pacific launch of the iGen4 Press Diamond at PACK PRINT INTERNATIONAL received many positive reviews. Pichai Thanyawacharakul, Production System Business Director at Fuji Xerox (Thailand) Co. Ltd, stated: “Our participation presents a good opportunity for businesses to adopt new printing technologies in order to support their business and enhance their competitiveness in the printing industry both on local and international levels.” Frank Bahmer, Sales Director of MBO Germany, added: “This is our first time participating at PACK PRINT INTERNATIONAL to launch our new cooperation with KBA for the MBO folding system in Asia. We are here to meet with decision makers who are not afraid to make new investments and have been happy with the visitors that we have met.”

C.G.S Thailand’s display of packaged products made from Sweden’s eco-friendly packaging material Re-board was a huge success in advocating sustainable printing and packaging. “We are pleased to promote the 3R concept to encourage visitors to make the world green through the creative usage of Re-board materials here at PACK PRINT INTERNATIONAL,” noted Mr. Noppadol, Managing Director of C.G.S Thailand Co. Ltd.

Commenting on PACK PRINT INTERNATIONAL’s overall success, Pornchai Rattanachaikanont, President of The Thai Printing Association, remarked: “We are honored that top companies in the two industries have chosen to launch their new products at PACK PRINT INTERNATIONAL, which emphasizes the show’s significance as a prominent exhibition that presents the best current technologies reflecting the real trends and capable of fulfilling market demands.”

Exhibitors were very pleased with their business results at PACK PRINT INTERNATIONAL 2013. SANSIN Holdings International Group Co. Ltd. attracted buyers with their live machineries on the show floor. The company’s Sales & Marketing Director, Patrick Ng, commented: “We have displayed over 25 of the latest machinery in print finishing, the largest range of live machineries on exhibit at PACK PRINT INTERNATIONAL and are happy that visitor inquiries came not only from within Thailand but also from across the region. We sold 20 machines during the four days of PACK PRINT INTERNATIONAL and will return to exhibit in 2015.”

Among the companies reporting multiple sales was Hewlett-Packard Asia Pacific. “We sold much more than we expected and met many new prospects. We have achieved our objectives in leads generation and increasing brand awareness for Hewlett-Packard Asia Pacific,” commented Roy Eitan, Director & General Manager of HP Indigo and Inkjet Press Solutions, Printing and Personal Systems, Asia Pacific and Japan. First time exhibitor John Anderson, Managing Director of Nilpeter Asia Pacific, added: “We are very impressed with the efficient and organized management of PACK PRINT INTERNATIONAL.”

Reacting to the positive comments from visitors and exhibitors alike, Gernot Ringling, Managing Director of Messe Dusseldorf Asia, stated: “We are delighted to have fulfilled our objective in delivering “better business beyond borders” - a platform that empowers the world’s best market leaders to generate optimum sales leads and present new products for the first time. This standalone edition of PACK PRINT INTERNATIONAL has also met the visitors’ expectations with a one-stop educational experience to network with the best in the industry, draw critical industry insights while sourcing for new innovations that are unique to PACK PRINT INTERNATIONAL 2013.”

Chaivudhi Pungthong, President of The Thai Packaging Association, added: “The numerous machines sold on the show floor reflect PACK PRINT INTERNATIONAL’s success as an excellent procurement platform that draws serious buyers.” Robust sales activities were confirmed by digital and offset print leaders such as Canon, Creation Machinery, Ferrostaal, Fuji Film, Nationwide Co. Ltd, Sanki Machinery, Koenig & Bauer AG and Ricoh, stating that the trade fair exceeded their expectations with concrete business deals closed during the show.

Given PACK PRINT INTERNATIONAL’s success, key exhibitors have shown strong commitment to return in 2015. “There is added confidence that the trends at the show are reflective of market developments within the print and packaging industries.  We are pleased to be a part of PACK PRINT INTERNATIONAL and will continue our participation in the 2015 edition,” remarked Rene Ludvigsen, Chief Executive Officer of Heidelberg – Asia Pacific Region.

The next staging of PACK PRINT INTERNATIONAL will be from August 26 – 29, 2015in Bangkok. For further information on visiting or exhibiting at PACK PRINT INTERNATIONAL 2015, contact Messe Düsseldorf North America, 150 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 2920, Chicago, IL 60601. Telephone: (312) 781-5180; Fax: (312) 781-5188; E-mail: [email protected]; Visit our web site http://www.mdna.com; Subscribe to our blog athttp://blog.mdna.com; Follow us on twitter at http://twitter.com/Packaging_MDNA andhttp://twitter.com/Printing_MDNA