DUSSELDORF, GERMANY — After a six-year hiatus, interpack has returned, bringing the global packaging and processing communities together for a week of show floor interaction and featured content May 4-10 in Dusseldorf.
With more than 2,800 exhibitors from 61 countries — filling all 18 exhibit halls — interpack has exceeded expectations of Messe Dusseldorf, which organizes the show.
“Booth construction looks great, and the halls are filled with the machines,” said Thomas Dohse, project director, processing and packaging, for Messe Dusseldorf. “You can see functioning lines and machines in progress in booths, which is great.”
Although official attendee numbers will not be unveiled until the end of the show, Messe Dusseldorf did see a healthy number of new attendees. After such fluctuation in manufacturing production, especially pandemic-related disruption in the baking industry, Dohse was not surprised to see a new wave of visitors attending interpack.
“After six years, there’s been a lot of fluctuation,” he said. “We have seen a high number of newcomers, a new generation of interpack visitors.”
That was an inspiration for the show’s theme: Simply Unique. Those in manufacturing who have focused on processing and packaging may be familiar with interpack, though the next generation might not be. This doesn’t solely apply to pandemic-related changes; there are generational shifts happening, as well.
Providing a new experience for industry veterans along with a unique experience for the newcomers was a challenge the Messe Dusseldorf team was ready to meet.
At the midway point, the team has a positive outlook on the show’s success.
“We are hearing people say they want to connect again,” Dohse said. “There are no longer discussions about if tradeshows are old-fashioned. They are needed, and they are useful. We have products, processes and machinery here that must be experienced in person. It’s not enough to only use Zoom to explain high-tech to your customers.”
That said, interpack’s return was not without its challenges, including travel restrictions, continued supply chain disruption and the war in Ukraine. While there’s not yet quantitative data on the impact, some attendees have sent key decision makers and smaller teams in an effort to focus more on business execution than discovery.
While those business interactions dominate priorities for exhibitors and attendees, Messe Dusseldorf has also incorporated additional content into the schedule.
“In the past, we didn’t have the space to add content for additional programming,” Dohse said. “But we dedicated new space for it this year.”
So far, areas such as SPOTLIGHT Forum and the interpack Startup Zone have been well attended.
The SPOTLIGHT Forum includes “Seven Days, Seven Topics,” each day highlighting a different issue facing the industry. Topics have included logistics, circular economy, reusable packaging and sustainability, with more set for the remainder of the show.
“After six years, there’s been a lot of fluctuation. We have seen a high number of newcomers, a new generation of interpack visitors.” — Thomas Dohse | project director, processing and packaging | Messe Dusseldorf
“The idea was to strengthen the content around the show,” Dohse said. “The reception has been great so far.”
Breaking out the SPOTLIGHT Forum into daily topics provides attendees and exhibitors the opportunity to schedule their meetings and plan for education and professional development.
As the Baking industry continues to experience consolidation — not only for baking companies but also their suppliers — attendees are finding streamlined experiences on the show floor. For example, supplier companies like Middleby, Markel Food Group and Linxis are exhibiting with their brands together or in close proximity, making it easier for attendees to see a range of those packaging and processing solutions in one or two stops.
Messe Dusseldorf also reorganized the exhibit halls to ensure a smoother pathway based on attendees’ specific needs and areas of focus.
“This makes it easier for visitors so they don’t have to go through 10 different halls to find exactly what they need,” Dohse said.
Also recognizing growth areas for packaging and processing, Messe Dusseldorf launched the Startup Zone, inviting 10 vetted startups to exhibit in a dedicated space. Looking at the momentum that sustainability has these days, it’s no surprise that the bulk of the startups are focused on packaging materials.
Looking at the energy of the show so far, Dohse can already look to the future with confidence.
“I hope we never have to experience such a break again,” he said. “We are only at halftime, and we are already excited to see everyone again in May 2026.”
Final numbers for interpack attendance, as well as dates for interpack 2026, will be announced at the end of the show.
