3rd Specialty Films and Flexible Packaging Global Conference meets a resounding success

The Two day, 3rd Specialty Films and Flexible Packaging Global Conference 2014 was held at Hotel Grand Hyatt in Mumbai on 25^th, 26^th September 2014. The conference was organised by Elite Plus Business Services (EPBS) & The Chemicals & Petrochemicals Manufacturers Association (CPMA), with over 750 participants representing 340 companies from over 21 Countries in attendance.

Flexible packaging and speciality Films consumes approximately 3 MMT of polymers per annum and valued at approximately US $ 8 Billion. The sector is growing at over 10% CARG and likely to grow even at higher rates as the retail way of life is setting in India. The Global packaging Industry is valued at approximately US$ 695 Billion out of which Flexible plastic packaging accounts for US $ 138 Billion. Other forms of packaging are Board, Rigid plastics, Metal and Glass.  North America, Western Europe and Asia each have approximately 25% share of Flexible packaging.

The Conference brought the Leaders from Leading companies across the world, to share the latest innovations driving the market.  They highlighted the emerging technologies in the packaging industry that are expected to increase shelf life, reduce cost and are lightweight.

Opening session Keynote speakers were doyens of Indian and International packaging industry. Machinery and raw material suppliers , such as Peter Steinbeck, Managing Partner, Windmöller & Hölscher ; Laurence Fraser Jones, Vice President, Marketing Centre - Film & Fibre, Borouge Pte Ltd. ; Harpreet Singh Tibb, Director, Marketing, India & South Asia, Kellogg and Atul Bhatia, Director- Research, Development & Quality, Mondelez International.

The key note address by them covered diverse topics such as Expanding Role of Plastics in Packaging World ; The Trends in the Converting World ; Technological Innovations for Economical Film Production ; Trends in Flexible Packaging;Packaging and the New Age Consumer; Emerging Technical Challenges for Flexible Packaging Applications; Challenges and Opportunities for the Flexible Packaging Industry; Responsible Growth; The Story of Haldiram, its Growth and the Relevance of Packaging in this Journey and FMCG Challenges & Role of Packaging.

A Lively Panel Discussion on “End User and Convertors – Two Sides of the Same Coin” was one of the highlights of the conference. The panellists were the leading convectors and the end users of the industry.

The presentations were thought provoking, generated lots of ideas and take away for the participants. The topics covered included:  Polyolefins in Flexible Packaging; Developments in Speciality & Barrier Polymer; Developments in Film Processing Technology; Property Enhancement and Converting Technologies; End Users’ Perspective; Film Applications for Specialized Retail; Package, Printing & Converting; and Special Packaging Processes & Applications

The conference brought together under one roof, all sectors connected to the Speciality Films and Packaging sector from resin producer to end users. Niche segments of Commodity polymer, Specialty Polymer, Functional additives, Primary processing machinery, Secondary processing machinery, Lamination and Printing, Cutting and slitting Machines, sustainability Experts, Brand Managers of FMCG and Food & Dairy Products, and End consumers etc., all participated in huge numbers.

Global giants in the manufacture of plastic converting machinery were present in full force and demonstrated new range of high throughput machines, which are now available. These machines conserve energy and provide better tolerance to the finished product. Advances in digital printing were showcased. Digital printing enable constant online change on batches to have shorter runs of a few hundred meters of film as well as reduces considerably time required to prepare sample output and are ideally suited for test marketing of packaging with very small runs of end product packs.

Dr. Devdutt Patnaik, Management Guru addressed the important Issue of “Organisation Culture as Key to Success” in the evening speech. Dinner speech by Mr Ashok Chaturvedi, Founder Chairman and Managing Director, Ulfex Ltd. was the special highlight. He dealt in detail on how an entrepreneur struggles in the beginning to establish himself. Survival is the priority over R.O.I. After a certain point, innovations, CSR and resource utilisation takes over. He talked about recyclability of plastics and how his company is making innovative products from recycled plastics. He was very optimistic about the growth of Indian Economy.

The organizers also presented Lifetime Achievement Awards to Peter Steinbeck, Managing Partner, Windmöller & Hölscher recognising his contributions globally to Innovations in Flexible Packaging machinery. W&H has a 145 years long history of innovation and excellence. Overall, 32 speakers , 11 panelists and 9 session chairpersons addressed all aspects of this vibrant industry and provided tremendous insight into the bright future for sustained growth of this industry.

This 3rd Specialty Films and Flexible Packaging Global Conference – 2014 was a resounding success. Delegates were delighted with the presentations content and the opportunity it provided to network with industry peers. All look forward for the 4th edition in 2015.