IndiaPack 2004, a new printing, packaging and converting trade fair, is set to run October 26-29 at the Bandra Kurla Complex in Mumbai, India. More than 20,000 industry professionals are expected to attend the event, which will feature 107,000 net sq ft of display space. Up to 40 percent of attendees are forecasted to come from Europe, North America and other Asian regions.

Among the products and services on exhibit will be converted packaging; raw substrates; coater/laminators; slitter/rewinders; folder/gluers; bagmaking systems; resins; inks; adhesives; and a full range of printing presses (gravure, offset, flexo).

"Recent trends in Indian packaging technology provided the impetus for IndiaPack 2004," said Rajiv Dhar, director of the Indian Institute of Packaging, speaking at the launch of IndiaPack 2004 last month.

The Indian packaging market is currently worth about US$14 billion, and is growing at 15 percent a year (more than twice the global average). Local producers are now competing with global brands for India's one billion consumers and gearing up for world markets. And as consumers demand higher standards, the need for sophisticated packaging is soaring. Fast-growing areas are laminates and flexible packaging, especially PET bottles and woven sacks. Popular converting systems include coater/laminators and printing presses (over 6 colors).

World packaging organizations, the Asian Packaging Federation, and various Indian industry associations are supporting the event. The International Packaging Conference is being organized concurrently with the World Packaging Organization (WPO). In addition, the India Star Award will be presented during the show.

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