For the second time, the PrintCity Alliance issued an invitation to an exchange of information between brand owners, creative workers, printers, folding carton manufacturers and sup­pliers. More than 100 experts from all segments of the industry met in Hamburg on 19 and 20 February to continue the dialogue on the challenges of the dynamic packaging market.

Information – Discussions – Networking: it's all in the mix

Keynote presentations by top-notch representatives of the industry inspired the visitors to numerous discussions and provided new food for thought. The topics addressed included the price war in the packaging industry, as well as the new possibilities offered by printed electronics, the presenta­tion of a coffee brand, the expectations of a brand owner regarding consulting services and how packaging gives brands a voice (for more details, see the photos below).

Further subjects were then intensively discussed in smaller groups, where the visitors could select the key topics of most relevance to them.

Exchange and networking: increasingly important in a dynamic market environment

The rapid changes and developments currently emerging, not only on the technical side, but also at the societal and structural level, make an exchange between all market players increasingly important. Dialogue and collaboration are becoming more and more a success factor for businesses – a fact that was also reflected in the numerous, lively discussions, which resulted in many of the breakout sessions lasting well into the breaks.

To be continued...

"These two days were characterised by an extremely positive mood and great openness. They mirrored the great vitality of the packaging industry," says a highly satisfied Rainer Kuhn, Managing Director of the PrintCity Alliance. "We hope this impetus will arouse the enthusiasm of even more brand owners, agencies and creative workers for the next event."

The next Packaging Inspiration Forum will be held in the first quarter of 2015, again in Hamburg.

The Forum hosts are the PrintCity members and partners AR Carton, Bretschneider, Eltosch, Gallus, Hinderer+Mühlich, Leonhard Kurz, manroland web packaging systems, Marbach, Merck, MetsäBoard, Océ, Sappi Fine Paper Europe, Saueressig / Matthews Brand Solutions, WEILBURGER Graphics and Zeller+Gmelin.

The event is supported by: creativ verpacken, easyfairs, ERA, EUWID, f:mp., InPEQ, LabelExpo, ProCarton, Verpackungsrundschau and Visom.