After their four-day run as in-person events, upakovka – Processing & Packaging and interplastica, International Trade Fair for Plastics and Rubber, have achieved extremely successful results, according to the organizers. For the first time since the beginning of the Covid-19 crisis, the trade fair duo took place live in Moscow. A total of 17,000 visitors came to the Central Exhibition Complex Expocentre from 25 to 28 of January, to see the innovations of 650 exhibitors from 32 countries, to make or intensify contacts and to take part in the extensive lecture program. The mood in the halls was good, and exhibitors praised in particular the high quality of the contacts, a press release shows.
Good Attendance Despite the Pandemic
Despite some pandemic-related restrictions visitors from 39 countries travelled to the top event for the Russian packaging market, predominantly hailing from Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Germany, Uzbekistan, Armenia and Italy. Of these 77% were decision-makers and 44% first-time visitors. This allowed upakovka exhibitors to establish targeted contacts, above all in Russia and its neighbouring states. However, there were also many visitors arriving from Central and Southern Europe. Numerous exhibitors took part for the first time such as Heidelberg-CIS, Uteco Converting or KASAN MAKINA.
All Signs Pointing to Growth
“We are so delighted that we managed to create a marketplace for the Russian packaging industry again this year,” said Thomas Dohse, Project Director at Messe Düsseldorf, and went on to say: “Due to rises in food and medicinal drug production demand for packaging as well as machinery investment in Russia remains high. With upakovka 2022 we were able to provide new impulses since personal encounters were possible again at last.”
upakovka is the only platform catering to the whole packaging process on the Russian market forming part of the international trade fair network “interpack alliance”, which is headed by its namesake flagship trade fair in Düsseldorf. This year’s event focused not only on product innovations but especially on new challenges and altered consumer habits due to the Covid pandemic.
The next upakovka in Moscow will be held from 24 to 27 January 2023 – again concurrently with interplastica.