Ceepackaging

Events

Corrugated industry meets

This long lasting initiative is designed by FEFCO’s Production Committee to provide a meeting place for the industry and its suppliers. The three day seminar is a showcase for innovations, operational excellence and technical developments. More than 90 companies coming from 17 countries presented their latest products and services to trade visitors from all over Europe and beyond, and over 800 participants gathered in Nice for the occasion. Visitors could explore the many advantages of sharing and discussing successes and challenges with their peers, in a meeting brought together by FEFCO as the European Industry Federation, and its members.

The exhibition featured mostly machinery and accessories suppliers, but also saw an increased presence by software companies. Visitors and exhibitors had many opportunities to mingle, amongst which the after-show cocktail that took place on Thursday evening, sponsored by APEX group of companies.

The official opening of the seminar was made by FEFCO Vice-President John Williams of SCA who said: “This is a technical seminar but not only about nuts and bolts and technology. It is a seminar about a changing world, and how to find opportunity in crisis and turn it to the industry’s advantage”. But also on stage was Bob Delbecque, Court Jester, and in some ways challenger of the way the corrugated industry currently operates. His many interventions were the red thread of the programme and gave food for thought. He encouraged the participants to innovate and to look for new ways to run their operations, with a different mindset.

An edifying highlight of the programme was the presentation by Al Gore ambassador Serge de Gheldere, on the impact of climate change. Based on movie ‘The Inconvenient Truth’ the lecture was a warning to the industry globally, but also to each individual, that our habits and current processes ARE slowly destroying the planet. He also made an insightful and compelling presentation on Sustainable Engineering: Total Concept Engineering in Other Industrial Sectors. Together with a panel of industry experts including Teresa Presas, Director General of CEPI (Confederation of European Paper Industries), Serge answered questions from the press, and shared his positive view on the approach and steps already taken by the paper and board industry.

The programme of the seminar also aims to provide a real tool box for production managers, and featured several hands on sessions about energy management, corrugating processes, and printing and diecutting techniques. A new feature of the programme this time was information on the practical implications for the industry of recent developments in EU legislation.

Finally FEFCO’s Production Committee attributed three awards to suppliers who had impressed with their presentations and innovations:

Best Innovation :

Gold Award: Göpfert Machinebau; Evolution HBL New generation of Quick Set Rotary Die Cutter presented by Mr. Ralf Schiffmann.

Silver Award: Bobst; 5000 Sqm per open hour on a flat bed diecutter, Mastercut 1.7 and 2.1 presented by Mr. Sylvain Rebet

Bronze Award: Mosca-Getra; Worldpremiere: Ultrasonic Palletstrapping Technology for the CB industry presented by Martin Müller

Best Presentation:

Avanti Conveyors; Simulated or Real Success?  Presented by Mr. Keith Mander