The Fachpack trade fair opened its doors at the Exhibition Centre Nuremberg from 24 to 26 September 2024 under the motto ‘Transition In Packaging’. This guiding theme was reflected at the stands of the 1,455 exhibitors, in the extensive lecture programme, the exciting special shows and themed pavilions as well as the award ceremonies. Around 37,000 visitors from the consumer and industrial goods industries attended the event in the Franconian metropolis.

The key theme "Transition In Packaging" describes the strong currents currently affecting the European packaging industry. High expectations in terms of sustainability coupled with new packaging regulations, increasing digitalisation and artificial intelligence were just three of the driving themes at Fachpack 2024. At the same time, demographic change is presenting the industry with challenges. The trade fair sees itself as a guide for the industry and offers exchange and orientation. "The momentum in the packaging industry has never been greater," said Heike Slotta, Executive Director Exhibitions at NürnbergMesse. ‘And companies are responding to this with impressive creative and innovative strength.’

Over the three days, Fachpack provided a compact and comprehensive overview of the range of products and services for the packaging process chain for industrial and consumer goods. This means packaging, the associated technology, and the accompanying processes. This year, it occupies eleven exhibition halls. Almost half of the exhibitors travelled to Nuremberg from abroad, primarily from Austria and Switzerland, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Belgium, Greece, the Czech Republic, France and Turkey.

Around 56 % of the exhibitors came from the packaging sector, i.e. packaging materials and packaging aids. 44 % represented the packaging technology sector, i.e. packaging machines, labelling technology and automation. The segments of packaging printing and finishing as well as internal logistics were also presented at the trade fair.

Heike Slotta explained: "For three days, we once again experienced the special hands-on mentality of this industry and felt its impetus. We met the current changes in the packaging industry with optimism and a solution-orientated approach. We are actively helping to shape change, true to our motto 'We are shaping the future!'"

The trade fair sees itself as a source of inspiration for the industry. In addition to the extensive product exhibition with numerous innovations, this was also reflected in the lecture programme of the Packbox, Innovationbox`, and Solpack 5.0 forums. All three addressed current industry topics, e.g. dealing with the new PPWR regulations, the circular economy, automation and AI as well as alternative packaging solutions and new fibre raw materials. Highlight presentations included:
- Safe and sustainable? Evaluation of packaging materials with a focus on recyclates
- Quo vadis packaging? What does the new EU packaging regulation mean based on practical company examples?
- Digital packaging data: A must-have for coping with complexity and new legal requirements
- How AI is driving the circular economy
- Digitalisation Using smart packaging to increase transparency and sustainability
- The future of retail: New insights and their impact on the packaging industry

Fachpack provided inspiration this year with a special programme item: the ‘Alternative packaging solutions’ pavilion. Here, alternative examples to conventional materials were presented, providing a glimpse of what could be possible in the future. In the fully booked pavilion, exhibitors presented compostable film bags, padding material made from grain husks, compostable tea bags, packaging made from sugar cane and much more.

In 2025, trade fair Fachpack will take place together with Powtech Technopharm at the Exhibition Centre Nuremberg from 23 to 25 September.