ICE 2001: "Pan-Euro" fair set for Amsterdam

Germany, Italy and the U.K. will be well represented among exhibitors when the international converting show opens Feb. 27-March 2.

Edited by Editor in Chief Mark Spaulding -- Converting Magazine, 1/1/2001

With more than 115 companies confirmed as exhibitors for next month's Intl. Converting Exhibition 2001, Germany, Italy and the U.K. are emerging as the three countries best represented onsite at the "Pan-Euro" trade fair. Overall, show organizer Angel Business Communications, Ltd., London, predicts that over 200 companies will have confirmed stand space when the fair opens for its second run February 27-March 2 at the RAI Centre in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Leading German slitting/rewinding and sheeting machinery suppliers taking part include Jagenberg; WT Wickeltechnik; SM Engineering; and ECH Will. They will be joined by Italy's Uteco; Elite Cameron and Hanbury Engineering from the U.K., and Pemco from the U.S. Germany is equally well represented in the coater/laminator sector, led by Kroenert GmbH and Bachofen & Meier S.A.; plus Polytype Fribourg (Switzerland); Nordmeccanica (Italy); and PCMC (USA).

Both Austria and Spain will be represented for the first time at ICE 2001 through Schindlecker and Comexi, respectively. Other major international suppliers recently confirmed for the event now include both dryer maker Pagendarm (Germany) and slitter manufacturer Ghezzi & Annoni (Italy).

Key growth objectives

"We're very much on track to achieve three of the four key objectives that we set for ICE 2001," says ICE sales manager Steve Connolly. "Retain existing exhibitors; attract new ones; and extend the show's immediate scope to fully encompass all of Europe, and fulfill its potential as the first-choice, dedicated, international converting event for this geographic market. The prospect of overtaking 1999's attendance (about 3,500) is already looking very good."

Based on their success at the premiere ICE event, new 2001 Technology Trails will again be made available to all pre-registered attendees ahead of the show. These summaries of technical developments represented by exhibiting suppliers focus on slitting/rewinding and sheeting; coating/laminating; control systems; prepress and press production; and materials.

ICE 2001 will sport an alternative to the more customary onsite conference program. ABC has developed the "Freedom of Speech" Initiative, which will incorporate a mix of independent workshops, seminars and company presentations within an overall talking-shop counterpoint to the activity within the exhibition hall. Rather than spending an entire day in conference, the "Freedom of Speech" program provides ICE visitors and exhibitors alike with a highly flexible menu of activities in which they can exchange information easily and free of charge.

Daily briefings

A key feature of the program will be daily briefings by industry experts on the opportunities now opening up in specific geographical markets-including Central and Eastern Europe, and a number of other fast-developing national markets. Presentations include innovations in drying techniques from Megtec Systems (USA), and workshop sessions by Orbital Gas Systems (UK) and Kroenert (Germany). The full program will offer at least 16 presentations over the four-day fair.

Daily debates open to both sides of the buyer/supplier relationship is a new departure for any trade event serving the converting industry, says program coordinator Des King. "We've identified two definite issues for debate: the pros and cons of flexo versus gravure-and the possibility of digital printing taking market share away from both technologies; and the likely impact on current purchasing practices of online trading.

"For the latter topic, exhibitor PackagingCell confirms it's in favor of trading via the Net; and we're currently talking to a number of package printers, equipment suppliers and trade associations in the flexo, gravure and digital print sectors. The logistics entailed in successfully meeting future supply-chain management requirements could be the subject of a third debate."

For more information on pre-registering for ICE 2001, contact ABC at 44/20-7466-9132, fax: 44/20-7417-7500, www.ice-x.com

Hotel accommodations for ICE 2001 can be secured via Res-O-Tel Reservations at 44/20-8722-6920, fax: 44/20-8643-5222, www.resotel.com

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NOTE: List is accurate as of presstime. We are not responsible for last-minute additions, cancellations or stand changes. See Ad Index on page 86 for page numbers of advertisements.