Around 6,500 tradevisitors from all corners of the globe came to Messe Essen from May 2 to 6, 2023, and experienced forward-looking technology, new products and further developments for the production, finishing and recycling of metal packaging. One thing became particularly clear: the industry is intensifying its efforts to position itself even more sustainably.
METPACK 2023 convinced as impulse-giving platform for the global metal packaging industry
International, innovative and sustainable - the METPACK slogan describes the five days of the trade fair one hundred percent. Around 6,500 tradevisitors from all corners of the globe came to Messe Essen from May 2 to 6, 2023, and experienced forward-looking technology, new products and further developments for the production, finishing and recycling of metal packaging. One thing became particularly clear: the industry is intensifying its efforts to position itself even more sustainably.
Decarbonization,resource efficiency and digitalization were the defining themes in all areas oft he value chain - from steel production to printing.
"METPACK is back - and more successful than six years ago beforethe pandemic. We are delighted to receive so much positive feedback. The industry has been waiting to finally meet again. The mood was excellent,"sums up Oliver P. Kuhrt, Managing Director of Messe Essen.
313 exhibitors registered the world's leading trade fair for metal packaging at its tenth edition - a slight increase. METPACK received a particularly large number of visitors from abroad. They accounted for a share of 73 percent. Italy, the USA and the UK led the national ranking. The quality of the trade visitors was also excellent: 88 percent of the trade fair visitors had purchasing and procurement expertise. Exhibitors were already able to book successful deals during the show: A quarter of their customers ordered directly. And post-show business also promises to be positive. 72 percent oft hose surveyed said they intended to place follow-up orders on the basis of the information they had received at METPACK.
Trends and technology at your fingertips
"The big goal of the industry is to use as few resources as possible, reduce costs and at the same time improve quality. This can be achieved through new technologies and processes. At METPACK, the trade public had all the latest developments and to experience innovations at first hand. The willingness to invest is high," concludes METPACK Committee Chairman Wolfgang Niemsch.
For 92 percent of the exhibiting companies, their expectations for METPACK 2023 were fulfilled. All in all, 82 percent of the visitors rated the range of products and services as very positive. In Halls 1, 2 and 3, they saw mechanical engineering of the highest level and in action. The lavishly designed booths invited visitors to exchange ideas.
The process automation and networked production, for example through data analysis and the Internet of Things were just as much a part of the trends at METPACK 2023 as digital printing processes, which allow numerous new design options.
Detailed insights into technical innovations were also provided by the well-attended international METPACK Conference with around 70 participants.
The new EU packaging regulation currently under discussion, which is intended to regulate the use and recycling of packaging in Europe in a sustainable manner in the future, is giving the industry further impetus, as metal packaging is considered a sustainable solution per se due to its recyclability.
Awards for the best innovations
Koenig & Bauer MetalPrint received the METPACK Innovation Award in Gold.
Actega received silver for its "ROTARflow" innovation. Bronze went to Can Man for the development "PowerCUT SuperFLEX".
In May 2026, the next edition of the world's leading trade fair for metal packaging will take place at Messe Essen. The conditions are already right: 93 percent of the visitors surveyed plan to visit METPACK again; 94 percent recommend a visit. Of the exhibitors, 95 percent want to take part in the next trade fair.
