AUSPACK 2021 postponed, relocating to Melbourne May 2022

The Australian Packaging and Processing Machinery Association (APPMA) Board has made the difficult decision to postpone AUSPACK 2021 in Sydney and reschedule its next event for Melbourne 2022.

APPMA Chairman Mark Dingley said: “With an event of this scale and significance, the most important factors in our decision were if we held the event in 2021, the uncertainty around protecting the health and safety of our industry community when it comes together, and preserving the experience and value that exhibitors and visitors alike receive from attending an event the calibre of AUSPACK.

“This exhibition is known for the depth of products and services on the show floor, and the unique networking opportunities available from the many events held around the show. With the continuing uncertainty around domestic state-border openings, and the very likely reality that international flights will not be allowed until the second half of 2021, we felt we could not deliver this experience to the same high standards as previously. Moving the event to 2022 was, therefore, the right thing to do from the perspective of human health and the financial and marketing value that exhibiting businesses would receive.”

Dingley said the APPMA Board did not want to add to the congestion with other exhibitions moving dates from 2020 to mid-2021.

“It’s not really ideal for the industry to have a slew of shows held so closely together, and we believe the value to exhibitors and visitors will be vastly reduced. As an industry-based association, the APPMA believes moving AUSPACK to a later, ‘quieter’ date provides the best outcome for industry, including the best financial ROI for exhibitors and visitors.”

Jon Perry, Event Director with organiser Exhibitions & Trade Fairs, said exhibitor bookings for 2022 will be managed in a phased approach, focusing firstly on exhibitors who are currently booked into 2021 and those who regularly exhibit in Melbourne. He said exhibitors will be contacted directly by 17 November, while new bookings for the 2022 show will be open in late January 2021.

Conference and awards

The APPMA introduced the Business and Industry Conference as part of Packaging and Processing Week 2019, which was well received. The Board is currently exploring Packaging and Processing Week events with the intention to run them in 2021. More details about these events will follow at a later date.

For more information, visit https://www.auspack.com.au.