Gentili: the unilateral decision made by Interpack is unacceptable

The Italian Packaging Machinery Manufacturers’ Association believes it is inconceivable to hold the fair from 25 February to 3 March 2021

After months of attempting to dialogue with the organisers of Interpack, up until now the world’s most important exhibition of packaging technologies, the Italian companies represented by Ucima recently received a communication from the event’s organiser Messe Düsseldorf confirming them that the show is scheduled to take place from 25 February to 3 March 2021.

Originally due to be held from 7 to 13 May 2020, the fair was unilaterally moved by the organisers to the end of February 2021.

The appeals made in recent months by the Italian trade association Ucima, by other Italian and international associations and by the companies themselves asking the organisers to move the exhibition to another date were to no avail.

“We acted in the interests of Italian companies by exercising our role as a business association, but our requests fell unattended,” says Ucima’s Chairman Matteo Gentili.

“Given the resurgence of Coronavirus infections and the consequent measures adopted by governments across Europe and other continents, we consider it inconceivable to organise an exhibition like Interpack in just a few months’ time,” continues Gentili.

“An international exhibition like Interpack requires very substantial investments, not just in economic terms but also in R&D and marketing activities,” adds Luciano Sottile, member of UCIMA’s Board of Directors in charge for promotional activities. “For this reason we believe it is impossible to ensure an adequate return on the investment if the presence of a sufficient number of high-quality visitors cannot be guaranteed.”

“We feel the decision taken by the organisers is unacceptable because it takes no account whatsoever of the wishes of companies and of our industry as a whole. We really hope that the organisers may reconsider their decision,” concludes Gentili.