Organizers for interpack have canceled the 2021 event due to increasing COVID-19 infections and ongoing travel restrictions.

The fair, which had been rescheduled from May 2020, was set to be held Feb. 25-March 3 in Düsseldorf, Germany.

 “We have made every effort to do justice to interpack’s tremendous importance for the processing and packaging industry, even during this pandemic – above all because we have received encouragement from the industry in support of a face-to-face event and have a tried and tested hygiene concept to protect everyone involved,” Wolfram N. Diener, president and CEO of interpack organizer Messe Düsseldorf. “Ultimately, however, feedback from our exhibitors has shown that the uncertainty is too great, and we are thus unable to host an interpack event that would meet the standards of a leading international trade fair.”

Diener noted the German federal government and its states implemented stricter measures on Nov. 25, with the possibility of extending them into the new year. 

“This, unfortunately, does not give cause for hope that the situation will improve significantly over the course of the coming months,” Diener added. “This will affect all Messe Düsseldorf events in the first quarter. We are now focusing on the next edition of interpack, which will take place in May 2023 according to plan, and which we will supplement with extended online offers.”

In November, Messe Düsseldorf said it had offered registered exhibitors special conditions for their participation and also granted a special right of termination for those companies that could not or did not want to participate.

“In addition to the unique market coverage, interpack is primarily characterized by the direct exchange of information between market-leading companies and top decision-makers from brand names around the world,” said Christian Traumann, president of interpack 2021 and managing director and group president at Multivac Sepp Haggenmüller SE & Co. KG. “This is exactly what is now largely prevented by continuously high infection numbers in Europe and the associated and continuing travel restrictions and quarantine regulations. We therefore welcome Messe Düsseldorf’s decision to cancel interpack 2021 and are focusing on interpack 2023.” 

Until the next edition of interpack, the industry can access continuous updates on trends, developments and innovations at interpack.com. The online offering for components is available at packaging-components.com. Additional online options will be available for exhibitors and visitors of the upcoming interpack and components 2023.