Interpack the May 7-13 in Düsseldorf (Germany). Lluís Villegas, president of Amec Envasgraf, He described Interpack as “the most important event for packaging manufacturers” and explained that more than 90 Spanish companies would be at Interpack; “specifically, 95,” he later clarified. Olivier Hubing, Managing Director of Expo-Düsseldorf Spain, during an event held yesterday at Amec's offices in Barcelona.
Bernd Jablonowski, Executive Director of Messe Düsseldorf, Global Portfolio Director of Processing and Packaging, He highlighted the important presence of Spanish companies at Interpack, a trade fair that occupies approximately 300.000 m2, with 2.800 exhibitors from more than 60 countries, including leading companies, and which will receive visitors from 156 countries.
Jablonowski also spoke about the challenges facing the packaging sector: resource scarcity, regulatory pressure, shortage of skilled workers, pressure to innovate, and geopolitical risks.
Christian Traumann, Managing Director and CEO of MultivacHe explained the situation and trends in the packaging sector. Global sales of packaged food reached 5.000 billion tons (2019-2024), representing a 4,9% increase, and an 11,1% increase is expected between 2024 and 2029. Regarding growth potential until 2029, Traumann highlighted the increase in Latin America (+9,3%), Asia (+14,1%), and Africa (+20,6%), markets that European producers should take into account.
He also noted the growth in pharmaceutical production, which has increased from €1.369 billion in 2019 to €1.851 billion in 2024 (+29%) and is expected to reach €2.303 billion in 2029 (+24%). In Western Europe, pharmaceutical production reached €643.000 billion in 2024.
The market share of consumer goods packaging by material and development shows flexible plastic as the most widely used material, with 37%, followed by rigid plastic (28%), paper/cardboard (16%), metal (12%), and glass (8%) (source: Euromonitor International 07/2025, VDMA). Traumann highlighted the value of plastic as a packaging material, provided it is used with a holistic approach, contributing to the circular economy.
“Italy, Germany and China top the ranking of the top 10 countries supplying machinery for food processing and packaging,” said the CEO of Multivac, noting the growth of China and Turkey, the last of the top 10, but which is rising rapidly.
Finally, Traumann highlighted three key issues: smart manufacturing (with new technologies such as AI), future skills that will be needed (professional upskilling and retraining), and innovation in materials (designed to be recycled, circular).
