Printpack India 2017 to witness maximum innovations in packaging

The 13th edition of Printpack India is scheduled to be held at India Expo Centre, Greater Noida from February 4-8, 2017. It will be a major showcase of machinery, equipment and supplies for pre-press, press, post press, finishing, converting, digital printing, signage and packaging. What the event has in store for exhibitors and visitors, finds out Varsha Verma in conversation with HV Sheth, president, IPAMA. Printpack India 2017 will be record-breaking show, surpassing all previous shows in terms of the number of running machines and footfalls at the show,” shares HV Sheth, president, Indian Printing, Packaging and Allied Machinery Manufacturers’ Association (IPAMA), the organisers of Printpack India.

Expanse…

Talking about the expanse of the show, Sheth shares, “The 2013 show was spread over an area of 13,872 sq m, attracting 345 participants, while the 2015 show was spread over an area of 17,041 sq m attracting 411 exhibitors. This time, we are expecting to cross 14,000 sq m area. We have already booked more than 300 exhibitors till now. The show will be spread over nine halls at the India Expo Centre.”

Big companies, big stalls…

“Some of the leading exhibitors, who have booked significantly large stalls include HP, Komori, Xerox, Bobst, manroland, Konica Minolta and Canon. These exhibitors have sizable stalls with running machines at their stands. Infact, most of the digital machinery manufacturers will be running their machines at the show,” adds Sheth. “We are expecting maximum number of machines on display.”

What’s more?

“We are expecting a lot of new launches at the show, especially in the packaging segment. This is because packaging is a booming segment and there will be innovations in inspection machines and other quality control instruments,” he shares.

Benefits to exhibitors…

“Keeping in mind the after-effects of demonetization, as an association, we are trying to give better benefits to the exhibitors. We are offering 50% discount on the electricity rates so that exhibitors can run machines throughout the show. It is a big booster for them, making their participation stronger,” tells Sheth.

“Besides, keeping in mind that exhibitors need to bring truckloads of material to the venue, we have already spoken to the Greater Noida Authority for seamless transit,” he adds.

Other facilities…

“We will provide free shuttle service every 2 minutes from the nearest Metro Station – Botanical Garden, Noida. The food & beverage offered at the venue will be of standard quality and price and there will be variety of cuisines. These food stalls will be well arranged with adequate seating capacity. Besides, every hall will have snacks and coffee bars and participants will get free bottled water,” tells Sheth. As an added benefit, they will offer food to labour working pre- and post-exhibition hours.

Other facilities include a well-defined smoking zone, business lounge and red sofa corner for media interviews. The venue will also house fire, ambulance and doctor facilities in-house.

Calling visitors, ensuring good footfalls…

Since the success of the show is measured in terms of the number of footfalls and business at the show, IPAMA is leaving no stone unturned to attract visitors. “We have already done many promotional events in overseas countries like Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Gulf and Kathmandu,” shares Sheth. “We are expecting a lot of delegations to the show from India as well as overseas countries like UK, US, Italy and China.”

Besides, there have been many such meets in India as well, spanning cities like Mumbai, Pune, Vellore, Kolkata, Aurangabad, Nasik, Jharkhand, Solapur, Hyderabad, Chennai, Cochin, Sivakasi, Lucknow, etc. A Punjab trip was also organised, covering cities like Panipat, Ambala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Amritsar and Jammu. “Infact, Printpack India is a name in itself and people know about it. These meets reiterate the fact that the show is poised to be the best,” shares Sheth. “We are expecting good footfalls from all parts of the country.”

Enhancing the event image…

“The standard of Printpack India exhibition has gone higher. We can very well say that it is the third largest printing show in the world, after drupa and IPEX. This time, our standards of the show will be comparable to the international shows. We are gearing up to provide world-class service in terms of the facilities and other features of the show,” he adds proudly. There will be informative seminars as a part of the show.”We wish people to come and visit the show and reap benefits from it,” concludes Sheth.