From 7 to 10 May, Hispack, the major Spanish packaging, process and logistics trade fair, will be held at Fira de Barcelona growing in size and company participation. All industrial sectors, end brands, distribution and retail will find tailor-made solutions in equipment and technology for processing, bottling, packaging, logistics and handling of all kind of products. Also, raw materials, coding and labelling systems, as well as containers and packaging with which to respond especially to the challenge of sustainability. Hispack’s director, Xavier Pascual, gives us a preview of what this year’s fair will be like.

Hispack is growing again, bringing together a highly representative range of the Spanish packaging industry with the presence of the leading companies. What are the key figures for this year’s edition?

We expect to bring together more than 720 direct exhibitors and 1,250 brands represented, occupying some 36,000m2 net space in the Gran Via venue. This year Hispack will grow by 26% in exhibitors and 12% in space compared to 2022, reflecting the good momentum and strength of the Spanish packaging industry. It is worth noting that 31% of the companies are participating in Hispack for the first time. We also have exhibitors from 28 countries. Almost a third of our exhibitors are international. After Spain, Turkey, Italy, Germany, China and France are the countries with the most exhibitors at Hispack.

What is the target in terms of visitor numbers?

We expect to attract more than 27,000 visitors to the trade show. The good pace of accreditations so far confirms that visitors are very keen to come to Hispack. However, in this section, we have set ourselves qualitative objectives rather than figures. Above all, we want to build loyalty among professionals who already know Hispack because they have come to previous editions. And at the same time, we aim to increase the number of visitors from companies using packaging solutions from different Spanish regions – including many SMEs – that are relevant in terms of turnover and have never attended the trade show before. In this way, we are seeking to broaden the Spanish coverage, the scope and the qualitative profile of our visitors. On an international level, we expect 10% of visitors to come from foreign markets.

What can be found in the commercial offer of Hispack?

Hispack is an industrial trade show. Some 60% of its offer corresponds to process and packaging machinery in operation, bottling lines, coding and labelling systems, as well as customisable automation, robotics and logistics solutions for different sectors. There is also a very large participation (representing 40% of the exhibitors at the fair) of companies with solutions for secondary and tertiary packaging of industrial products that make the supply chain more efficient, as well as raw materials, innovations, primary packaging, cartons, closure systems, dosing or POS elements for different sectors such as food, beverages, cosmetics and perfumery, pharmaceuticals, automotive, construction, chemicals, drugstores, distribution, retail or online commerce. Any solution related to packaging is at Hispack, especially at a time when brands and manufacturers are seeking to improve sustainability in order to reduce the environmental impact of their products’ packaging.

What is the profile of the Hispack visitor?

The cross-disciplinary nature of packaging, as a discipline that touches on different areas within the same company, is reflected in the diversity of professional profiles that visit Hispack. In addition to management positions, professionals from the purchasing, R&D, quality, sustainability, marketing, logistics and operations departments come to Hispack. A high percentage are technicians from the factory and production areas. Designers, advertisers, printers, representatives of large-scale distribution, retailers… All sectors are represented. The food and beverage industry stands out in particular, as it is the main consumer of packaging. But it is also very important, for example, the attendance of companies and brands from cosmetics and perfumery, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, automotive and consumer electronics, among others.

What would you say is the differential value of Hispack?

Its leadership and complete coverage of the packaging market, with a quality commercial offer and the presence of leading brands. Also, its wide range of national and international visitors. For all these reasons, Hispack is a key meeting point for the Spanish packaging sector, generating fruitful business opportunities, numerous commercial and collaborative contacts, and a valuable exchange of information that facilitates knowledge and understanding of the current state of packaging, which is marked by regulatory changes, sustainability and digitalisation.

What’s new this year?

More networking spaces, a more personalised agenda of activities depending on the different professional profiles attending the fair, and a specific programme of attention for international visitors with the aim of highlighting Spanish packaging solutions and technology to help boost exports. At this point, we are going to explain success stories of Spanish manufacturers of packaging machinery and materials to invited buyers and international visitors to Hispack accompanied by customers who have implemented these solutions and who can narrate in first person the results obtained. As a complement, we organise a Brokerage Event where exhibitors and visitors, both national and international, can interact and generate business opportunities through short meetings, previously scheduled through an online platform available on our website.

What would you highlight from the programme of activities? Have new spaces or initiatives been added compared to the 2022 edition?

We will once again have the “Unboxing” knowledge space with around 40 talks that focus on the subject of sustainability. We are repeating the “Best in class” programme, which will recognise four international companies that are successful in transforming products and processes through packaging. Among them, there will be two Japanese companies, as this year we want to explore Japan as an opportunity market for European packaging. In this sense, as a novelty, we will dedicate one day to getting to know the Japanese packaging industry, activating channels for information exchange and industrial cooperation between supply and demand companies. We are also launching the “Engineers Day”, an exclusive day with conferences and networking opportunities for engineering professionals, an essential group in the packaging industry. There will also be conferences and activities organised by associations and organisations and we will offer visitors themed routes on circularity, design and automation to showcase and explain the innovations presented in these areas. Finally, we will be presenting the Liderpack Awards and we will once again be holding the Packaging Party, open to all exhibitors and visitors.

Sustainability is the main driver of innovation in the packaging industry. How is the demand for solutions from user sectors?

The boom in demand for sustainable packaging solutions is increasing exponentially across all industries. The latest regulatory changes that impact on packaging mean that companies have to adapt their packaging more quickly to the new requirements framed in the paradigm of the circular economy. It is true that there are different rates of adaptation depending on the size of the companies. However, the packaging industry has been innovating for years to achieve important achievements in the field of sustainability that are now a reality. For example, in the area of new raw materials, use of materials (reduction, recycling, reuse), in eco-design, in more efficient manufacturing and distribution processes, in waste management, in the analysis of the entire product life cycle to implement the most sustainable packaging solution. And all of this will be on display at Hispack.

Finally, what is your assessment of the current situation of the Spanish packaging industry?

On the occasion of Hispack, we are updating the economic report on the Spanish packaging industry, which offers us an excellent snapshot of the sector. The increases in the number of companies and in turnover over the last two years confirm the excellent health and economic importance that the packaging industry is acquiring in practically all manufacturing and commercial activities. We have also noted a favourable business climate, which is committed to investment in innovation and digitisation, and which points to good growth prospects for this year.