interpack has proven to be the largest scale event showcasing trends and innovations with an influence on the industry globally, among Europe’s trade fairs this spring. Potato Processing International learned what makes the show dedicated to packaging and related processing industries a must-attend event in the exhibitors’ perspective.
The triennial trade fair in Germany comprised all innovations in packaging and processing technologies, including those pertaining to processing of potato products. We’ve asked Kiremko what interpack means for them.
PPI: How many times have you attended/exhibited at interpack and what are the reasons for choosing to be present at Messe Düsseldorf?
Kiremko: We have been present at the fair six times consecutively, between active participation with an own booth and visits. Interpack for us is the primary exhibition for meeting prospects and existing customers coming from all over the globe, mainly from out of the snack food industry, and especially interesting for areas/countries that we do not proactively visit or know about.
PPI: What is the key feature showcased at your stand this year, if you were to pick only one?
Kiremko: We had a number of novelties to comment upon to our customers and new prospects, most of which we have informed them about in a mailing before the Interpack. Unfortunately the size of most of our equipment does not match the size of our stand at Interpack, so we could not show the equipment. Our most important developments are:
– The new HiFlow blancher for potato chips slices,
– 2-Stage batch peeler improvements for potatoes,
– LTFF (low temperature finish frying) frying principle for potato chips processing and
– Fully stainless steel oil circulation system for continuous fryers, with revolutionary leakage free stainless steel pump
PPI: What are your thoughts on the evolution of industry applications regarding snacks, bakery and confectionery, in terms of packaging and processing, on short to mid-term?
Kiremko: The industry is ever more moving towards higher scale and automated solutions; this is not new but will spread out more and more. It also applies to smaller capacity processors in emerging countries, as labour and energy costs are rising all over the world and quality food safety and efficiency requirements increasing.
“The industry is ever more moving towards higher scale and automated solutions; this is not new but will spread out more and more.”
For mid-term, we see a tendency to invest in fully integrated processes – from raw material to packed product, whereby all equipment and information from it are readily available at all times and at all places by means of integrated control and management information systems for the entire production system. Now, still a lot of processors have to make do with local and individual control systems for single machines (most of the time from a variety of different suppliers) and not much information regarding the process, quality and capacity parameters and quality.
PPI: What are the direct benefits of exhibiting at interpack, in your experience?
Kiremko: Having met with a large part of existing (European based) customers, it would otherwise have been impossible to met in such a short time frame and catch up with them on existing or new projects and market developments, but also having met a good number of new prospects in, at least for us, new markets for example in South-East Asia.
Also, a variety of well-known multinationals group of the snack food industry were present with a number of representatives from their various sites and we were able to get their focus and inform them of above mentioned developments.
PPI: Please name one highlight of the show you were most impressed with.
Kiremko: The sheer size of the exhibition and high level of organization are impressive in itself and which makes this event attractive for all elements in our snack food industry worldwide time and time again.
We’ve asked more exhibitors – including Ishida, Heinen, Kiremko, tna (alphabetically listed in their answers) what interpack means for them. Read their insight on the fair in Potato Processing International/Potato Processing International – May/June issue.
