Excellence in technology for the confectionery industry meets at IPACK-IMA 2022

The global confectionery market has a value of €296.9 billion, with important growth prospects that by 2025 foresee an increase of 4.6% on average per year, with Italy playing a leading role with +2.4% in the same period. The trend is equally positive if we look at the market for confectionery packaging machines, which are worth €1.5 billion worldwide.  (Source: Ipack Ima Business Monitor in collaboration with MECS). 

Figures that show a continuous growth of the Sweets, Confectionery and Snacks sector, among the protagonists of the 2022 edition of IPACK-IMA – the international exhibition dedicated to processing and packaging technologies scheduled from 3 to 6 May at Fiera Milano – with an offer that will range from flowpack systems to equipment for the packaging and processing of sweets and snacks, including cooling tunnels, confectioners, tempering machines, coating belts, capsules, moulds, pouring machines and many other solutions presented by the leading manufacturers in the field.

The 2018 edition of this event was visited by 74,000 professionals from 146 countries of which as many as 12% came from this Business Community, including some of the most important global players in the sector.

Exhibitors who have already confirmed their presence include: Abrigo, Cavanna, Bühler, Bauermeister (Probat Group), Ceda, Chocotech, Ciesd, Co.me. t, Dolzan Impianti, Dumoulin, Fea (Piovan Group), Fourpack, HDM, Livetech, Macintyre, Opessi, Selmi, Sollich, Theegarten Pac Tec, Tecno 3, Treiber Trays, Vormenfabriek, WDS and many other companies that specialise in processing and packaging technologies and smart applications, for all the various aspects of the food market, in line with the multi-sector crossover logic that has always characterised the exhibition.

A special focus will be dedicated to primary, secondary, and tertiary packaging materials, which will be well represented at the show by over 200 companies operating in this segment. IPACK-Mat is the IPACK-IMA brand that will make these companies easily identifiable. In a special area strategically located in Hall 5, they will offer smart or eco-design-inspired packaging and solutions.

The issue of packaging is constantly challenged by product safety and preservation, to which IPACK-IMA, in cooperation with the Italian Packaging Institute, dedicates the special area Ipack-Ima Lab, looking at research laboratories, certification institutes and centres which are specialised in FCM compliance standards.

This exhibition offer is complemented by a rich calendar of events aimed at enhancing innovation and anticipating trends: IPACK-IMA will host the prestigious WorldStar contest, the Global Packaging Awards promoted by the World Packaging Organisation (WPO). In cooperation with the Italian Packaging Institute, the event will host the Best Packaging Awards, returning to celebrate Italian excellence among producers and users of packaging materials.

At IPACK-IMA, the future will move towards labelling, coding, and marking products that enable the traceability of raw materials and products throughout the supply chain. More and more often, labels and packages host sensors and devices capable of connecting the product with the consumer: it is an enrichment of information that offers unique marketing opportunities for timely narration of the life of the package and the product.

Therefore IPACK-IMA is more than ever the first in-person meeting place for processing and packaging professionals, with industry-wide previews of future consumer trends.

IPACK-IMA will be held in conjunction with other trade fairs dedicated to instrumental mechanics, as part of The Innovaton Aliance project: Intralogistica Italia, focusing on the handling of goods and warehouse management, Print4All, dedicated to industrial printing, converting and labelling technologies, and the first event with Greenplast, centred on the plastics and rubber supply chain, with a focus on environmental sustainability, energy efficiency, Reduce-Reuse-Recycle and circular economy.

The event from 3 to 6 May 2022 returns to the Fiera Milano pavilions, thanks to strict safety protocols, guaranteed by a hub that hosts 4.5 million visitors every year, 36,000 companies from all over the world, 80 exhibitions and 160 congresses.