Excitement building as industry prepares for face-to-face AUSPACK 2022

Excitement is building as Australia prepares to host the first industry expo since 2019. AUSPACK 2022 will be held in Melbourne, Victoria, from 17–20 May at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC).

Mark Dingley is Chairman of the Australian Packaging and Processing Machinery Association (APPMA), which owns AUSPACK.

“Like everyone else globally in the past couple of years, COVID-19 meant we had to postpone the show from last year. With ever-growing vaccination rates integral to business the world over being able to open up and operate, we are very proud that Australia will be hosting the first industry exhibition since the pandemic struck in 2019.

“We have all worked very well in the ‘online age’, adapting as we needed to with virtual meetings, to remain safe and keep businesses running. However, nothing replaces face-to-face contact. AUSPACK 2022 offers the global packaging and processing industry its first opportunity in two years to meet face to face. I know from talking to others in the industry just how important this is, and how excited everyone is about it.”

Mr Dingley said with AUSPACK now in its 36th year, in the past 10 years in particular the event has grown to be the largest of its type in the southern hemisphere. Recognised globally, the long-running biennial event showcases mega trends across the packaging and processing industry, throughout the food, beverage, health and beauty, retail and distribution, pharmaceutical, industrial and household goods sectors.

He said the excitement and anticipation for AUSPACK 2022 was building groundswell, as the first in-person show on the back of the previous edition, two years ago, which was a resounding success.

In 2022, we’re launching a brand-new Leaders Forum. This will offer business owners the opportunity to benchmark as an organisation of the future, gain knowledge and inspiration, and network with like-minded, forward-thinking leaders.

Some of the speakers are Jean Baillard, GM of TerraCycle; Melissa Crawford, GM Future Workforce with Vector NZ; Brooke Donnelly, CEO at the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO); Diem Fuggersberger, Founder & CEO of Berger Ingredients; Rose Herceg, Chief Strategy Officer at WPP AUNZ; Christian Ruberg, Future Digital Manufacturing Lead at CSIRO; and Brendan Stayte, Solutions Consultant with Australia Post. More speakers will be announced in the coming weeks.

AUSPACK 2022 will feature an array of new zones: IT & Services, Processing Equipment, Packaging and Packaging Materials, and Packaging Machinery.

“Everyone is time poor, and zones make it really easy for visitors to spend their time researching, learning and networking in the specific areas they’re most interested in. Of course, it’s also valuable for exhibitors to have such qualified leads.”

Mr Dingley said, “While it’s been unquestionably important to follow government health guidelines around face-to-face events, they really are the best way to engage target customers and suppliers, and demonstrate machinery and products. So AUSPACK 2022 is the ideal face-to-face environment, facilitating demonstrations of technology and expertise to an audience of industry decision-makers and influencers.

“Being the first event for the industry since 2019, AUSPACK will be a fantastic opportunity to reconnect with peers and build connections while learning about all the innovations that have occurred since then.

“We’re anticipating more than 250 exhibitors for AUSPACK 2022. Most exhibitors from the postponed 2021 show rolled over into 2022, which speaks to the high quality and value that AUSPACK presents for the Australian and APAC packaging and processing industry.

“In 2019, APPMA continued to expand AUSPACK in line with industry demands, and this is something we are building upon for AUSPACK 2022. The exhibition remains the perfect vehicle for all Australian and APAC businesses within the packaging and processing industry.”

What: AUSPACK 2022

When: 17–20 May

Where: Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC)

Web: www.auspack.com.au