With news of HP’s cancelled participation at interpack and drupa next year, uncertainty continues to prevail among exhibitor and visitors over the status of interpack 2021. PKN spoke to interpack rep on the ground in Australia, Robert Laing, for the latest update.
The position held by show organiser Messe Düsseldorf is firm: it is “100 per cent determined” to hold interpack from 25 February to 3 March in 2021, according to Australia and New Zealand Messe representative Robert Laing.
To back this up, Laing tells PKN, the show organiser is launching a widescale international visitor campaign under the motto “Let’s go!“
Laing cites the recent success of one of Messe’s other shows, Caravan Salon, as the foundation for healthy interpack prospects.
“The successful realisation of Caravan Salon was proof that Messe Düsseldorf’s hygiene concept works perfectly in real life,” he says. “And although fewer visitors participated, those who came were more eager to make purchasing decisions, and there was a greater engagement between visitors and exhibitors.
“With this comes the realisation that nothing can actually replace a real-life trade fair,” Laing says.
Another crucial development is the decision of the German government to allow participants of trade fair events from all over the world to enter Germany.
Asked about interpack’s hygiene plan, Laing explains the rules, which are quite straightforward:
- The maximum allowance of people on a booth is one person per 4 square metres (must be freely accessible) (including stand personnel and visitors).
- It must be ensured that a social distance of 1.5 metres can be maintained. Anywhere where it cannot be kept, remedies have to be implemented. For example: when having a meeting area with different tables, the tables would need to be placed in a 1.5 metres' distance, but when not possible, hygiene walls can be built.
- At least 30 per cent of the exhibition area must be accessible.
While it could be argued that Caravan Salon had predominantly German visitors, and it’s unlikely interpack 2021 will be comparable with a “normal” interpack, the organisers believe, given interpack’s three-year frequency, it remains a must-attend show.
“Caravan Salon, by contrast, is an annual event and took place very close to the lifting of travel restrictions, and even those were limited. By the time interpack takes place, it will be the first post-shutdown show for the packaging industry,” Laing says.
“Messe Düsseldorf is not anticipating a second shutdown in Germany, although there may be necessary regional restrictions.
“We know we will still have to cope with Covid-19 for a long time and Messe Düsseldorf will use its hygiene concept to allow the fundamentally important interpack show to happen with the highest level of security possible for exhibitors and visitors alike under these circumstances. The show will go on,” Laing says.
Despite HP’s cancellation, the organiser maintains that interpack remains fully booked with a waiting list, with companies eager to secure their place for 2023 by remaining committed to 2021.
