The fourth and so far the largest staging of drink technology India (dti), PackTech India and FoodPex India recently closed at the Bombay Exhibition Centre in Mumbai with record results:  298 exhibitors (2014: 231 exhibitors - 25% increase) presented the latest technologies and solutions for the Indian market on 40% more exhibition space to nearly 12,100 visitors (18% increase). Exhibitors included international and domestic companies such as ACE Technologies, Bosch Packaging, Multivac, Manjushree, KHS and Krones.

drink technology India was organized by Messe München India, a subsidiary of Messe München. International PackTech India and FoodPex India was organized by Messe Düsseldorf and its subsidiary Messe Düsseldorf India. The VDMA Food Processing Machinery and Packaging Machinery Association, a partner for the interpack trade fair in Düsseldorf and drinktec in Munich, was also involved in the three shows.

Markus Kosak, exhibition director of drink technology India, is pleased about the event’s success: "These results take this event to an entirely new level. dti has developed into the number one event for the beverage and liquid food industry in India. The success of this event will also benefit drinktec in Munich, where we now expect an increase in the number of exhibitors and visitors from India.”

 “Our objective is to establish interpack alliance exhibitions as number one events on their respective markets. Fortunately, we have managed to significantly improve our leading position in India. Above all, the new FoodPex India and the PDIT conference, in which our SAVE FOOD initiative played a significant role, have helped us to achieve that objective,” comments Malte Seifert, senior project manager at Messe Düsseldorf.

Richard Clemens, managing director of the VDMA Food Processing Machinery and Packaging Machinery Association, adds: “The increase in the amount of exhibition space and the number of exhibitors and visitors underscores how important this event is for India. It showcases solutions for the challenges currently facing the country and brings together supply and demand on the Indian market. It also demonstrates that this event is now an indispensible part of the Indian food, packaging and beverage market.”

This is the fourth time that drink technology India and PackTech India were held as a combined event. New in 2016 was the addition of FoodPex India, focusing on processing and packaging solid foods of all kind. Together, the three exhibitions covered the three main topics packaging and related processes, beverage technology and liquid food as well as food processing and packing in one place. Of the 298 exhibitors, 146 participated in drink technology India 2016 and 152 in International PackTech India 2016/FoodPex India 2016.

Economic growth in India effects trade fairs

The 2016 exhibition was larger than ever, occupying 150,700 square feet of space - a 40% increase compared to 2014. “The driving force behind this growth is societal change and significant economic growth,” explains Bhupinder Singh, CEO of Messe München India.

Thomas Schlitt, managing director of Messe Düsseldorf India, adds: “The growing middle class is increasing demand for hygienically processed foods, dairy products and packaged beverage products. Producing these products calls for suitable plants and machinery which are on display here.”

Exhibitors praised the large number of visitors as well as their professionalism. Accodring to VGS Babu, Head of Sales at Krones India Pvt.Ltd.: “You always meet the right business contacts at drink technology India. Attendance at this year's fair was very good and the quality of the visitors was extremely high." Ravindra Kanetkar, general manager at KHS Machinery Pvt.Ltd., is also pleased: “We have been participating in drink technology India from the very beginning. The trade show helps us to present our products to exactly the right audience. It is a platform that allows us to meet decision-makers and experts and to present or discuss solutions to the industry's latest problems.” Long time exhibitor Rajat Kedia, Director of Manjushree Technopack Ltd., agreed: “We have been exhibiting at dti since it was founded and the exhibition improved again in 2016. We meet with our existing customers here and recruit new customers as well. The quality of the visitors improves with every event. We have already noted the 2018 exhibition in our calendar.”

First-rate ancillary program

The Packaging Design, Innovation and Technology (PDIT) Conference, organized together with partner IPPStar, was held in conjunction with International PackTech India and FoodPex India for the first time. The central theme of the well-attended conference was SAVE FOOD. Launched in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations during interpack 2011, the conference addressed the problem of food loss and waste. The conference program was rounded out by topics such as improving efficiency, sustainability, traceability and intelligent packaging.

drink technology India 2016 also featured a first-rate program of events organized by Heidelberg publisher hbmedia and the trade journal PETplanet. At roundtable talks, which were booked to capacity on both days, renowned representatives of the beverage and liquid-food industry addressed the topic “Beverage manufacturing, food processing and product packaging in India: Lifestyle, trends, challenges and future concepts.” Dr. Keshab Nandy from Tilaknagar Industries Ltd, comments: “The roundtable talks at dti 2016 were extremely well organized. The experts' professional presentations also verified that fact. I was particularly impressed by the quality of the audience members. They discussed important challenges and issues facing the food and beverage industry in India with great intensity and presented solutions.” Attendance at the drink technology India Exhibitor Forum was also very high.

New at drink technology India 2016 were the buyer-seller meetings to promote the exchange between exhibitors and the industry's leading executives from companies such as AB-INBEV India, Coca Cola India Pvt. Ltd. and Diya Beverages. In addition, the MicroBrew Symposium India, organized by the Research and Teaching Institute for Brewing in Berlin, focused on technological and quality-related aspects of brewing beer.

The next edition of the three Indian exhibitions will take place at the Bombay Convention & Exhibition Center in Mumbai, October 24 - 26, 2018.