Business News
A Cosmic Event Container
Wednesday 25. March 2009 - Three great exhibitions will be staged together to form the "Cosmic Event" as it has been named by the organizers Ipack-Ima spa and Centrexpo Spa.
The program of events scheduled to take place during the shows is richer than any other edition. The events organized for IPACK-IMA put the spotlight on packaging, safety, environmental sustainability and customer services; the ones organized for Grafitalia and Converflex present the latest innovations and applications in printing, converting and communication technology. The three exhibitions are this years reference events for their respective industries and are a unique chance to participate in the meetings and discussions on schedule.
As part of the program of events, one of the most important ones is the international conference “More Technology, Safety & Quality, less Hunger. From post-harvesting to consumer”. The event shows the primary role played by IPACK-IMA on the international scene with the prestige of the participants and of the institutions granting their support and patronage, in addition to the importance of the subject.
IPACK-IMA has also been chosen as the venue for the first meeting in the light of the EXPO 2015, Milan, which will focus on nutrition. The international conference is organized by IPACK-IMA in cooperation with Il Sole 24 Ore (Italys main financial newspaper), with the patronage of the Italian Government, through the Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policy and the Ministry for Economic Development, and by UN agencies FAO, WFP, UNIDO, IFAD.
The topic will by development scenarios based on the right combination of processing and packaging technology and financial tools, with the participation of several international delegates from 12 emerging countries.
In line with this program, Ipack-Ima spa and Centrexpo spa have began their contribution to the funding of the project “Helping Children of Madagascar with Fortified Food”, promoted by WFP (World Food Programme). This outstanding project will be carried on throughout the exhibitions, when participants will have the opportunities to make donations. The project also combines business with solidarity in an unprecedented way, bringing together the potential of the developed areas of the world and the needs of emerging countries.
The program of events is well articulated for each of the three exhibitions.
The detailed program is available on the three exhibitions websites under the “Events” sections. The events taking place during IPACK-IMA will regard prevention and packaging sustainability with the participation of Conai; safety and hygiene in the food and beverage industry (including several meetings, organized by International PBI, AITA and Distam by University of Milan with Dsa from the University of Udine); packaging will be discussed under many aspects such as paper, cardboard and flexible materials (with Assografici and specialized groups), safety (with the Italian Packaging Institute), outsourcing (with the magazine Italia Imballaggio), marketing (with the magazine Mark Up), design e sustainability(PDA); special attention will be given to high-growth segments such as Pet Food during the event promoted by Anfima, and labelling (Gipea). PMMI (the Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Institute) will present the latest trends of the USA market.
IPACK-IMA, as customary, will host meetings and conventions of the most prestigious trade associations such as UN.A.F.P.A., International Pasta Organisation (I.P.O.), COPE, Union des Associations des Semouliers des Pays de lUE, Italmopa, Unipi, Eurosac, Gipsac and the International Association of Trade Journalists (Ippo). In addition, the program includes several award ceremonies: the Packaging Oscar Awards of the Italian Packaging Institute and the second edition of the Centro Studi Grafici di Milano award, this year dedicated to “Color in Packaging”.
As for Grafitalia and Converflex, the program includes a variety of events with the objective of promoting the great potential of the latest innovations and applications. Promoters include Assocarta/Assografici, InSide, CNA Grafica and Asso.It. The Textile Printing and Large Format printing thematic routes will be supported by specific seminars promoted by SunnyCom. In addition, Asso. It will organize a convention dedicated to web-to-print services focusing on integration between Internet and printing.
A particularly interesting initiative promoted by Zetas, publisher of the magazine Print Buyer is the “Print Buyer Club”, by Impakt published by Edizioni Dativo and by TAGA Italia in cooperation with Centrexpo. The Print Buyer Club will include daily discussions focused on a variety of topics connected with the interaction of printing and communication companies. Centrexpo, the organizer of Grafitalia and Converflex, will provide a welcoming lounge for buyers.
Grafitalia and Converflex will also host official meetings by many renowned trade associations such as Assografici and award-giving ceremonies including the Annual EDP Awards by the European Digital Printing Association.
In addition, the Cosmic Event hosts exhibits dedicated to special topics. An example of this is the display of old posters portraying Milans Fiera Campionaria from 1960 to 1985, a striking picture of the Italian economy during the economic boom.
Another outstanding example is the “La montagna incartata” exhibit, organized by Centro Studi Grafici di Milano. Three hundred mountain-themed book plates will be on display, dating from the 1800s to today, collected and organized by Gian Carlo Torre, one of the worlds major bookplate collectors and experts. Pavilion 14, in addition to the latest innovations in digital printing in the “Digitvision” thematic route, also hosts ‘Digital 4 Print’ organized by Asso.It. It includes a series of meetings with managers from major European digital printing machinery manufacturers, technical seminars and the Digital Gallery, displaying cut-edge applications of digital printing and finishing systems produced by Asso.It member companies.