SHERIDAN, WYOMING – Jan. 10, 2025 – The Shanghai World of Packaging (swop) 2024, held from November 18 to 20, 2024, at the Shanghai New International Expo Center, concluded with a resounding success, drawing significant interest from the international processing and packaging industry. As a member of the interpack alliance, swop leveraged its strong network and solidified its position as a leading platform for industry innovation and collaboration.
A Global Hub for Packaging Excellence
With an exhibition space exceeding 65,000 square meters, swop 2024 hosted over 900 exhibitors from numerous industrial nations. The three-day event attracted a total of 33,192 trade visitors from around the world, fostering a dynamic environment for knowledge exchange and partnerships, particularly in the evolving landscape of global supply chains.
"swop 2024 once again demonstrated that the packaging industry is not only a driver of innovation but also plays a key role in solving global challenges," said Thomas Dohse, Director of interpack, Messe Düsseldorf. "As part of the interpack alliance, it has again proven how important strong networks are for international knowledge and technology transfer."
Evian Gu, Managing Director of Messe Düsseldorf Shanghai, also expressed her satisfaction: "The packaging industry connects production and consumption and plays a crucial role in the global economy. swop 2024 impressively demonstrated how innovation and quality in packaging design can be further advanced."
Rita Chu, Vice President of the Adsale Group, added: "swop has always been a guidepost for industry trends, and this year was no exception – it offered an impressive variety of highlights. Sustainability can be seen as a consensus in the global packaging industry, while international expansion represents a new, promising growth area for many companies. Participants at this year's swop were not only able to gain valuable insights into the latest developments and technological trends in the packaging industry but also find customized solutions for their individual development needs."
Key Themes and Highlights
- Digitalization and Automation: swop 2024 placed a strong emphasis on digitalization and automation. Leading exhibitors like Youngsun and Hualian showcased technologies for increasing efficiency and product safety, from digital factory models to automated solutions for supply chain traceability.
- Sustainability: Renowned companies such as Haitian and Huawei presented sustainable, high-performance products that are steering the packaging industry towards a greener future.
- FMCG Focus: The FMCG Packaging Pavilion highlighted consumer-oriented solutions that combine sustainability, user experience, and brand enhancement. Highlights included fully biodegradable shipping bags and customized packaging for food and beverages, offering both functionality and attractiveness.
- International Pavilion: The International Pavilion fostered dialogue and exchange within the global industry. Featuring Multivac, Metsä Group, Herma, UNITED CAPS Kulim, Novexx, KOCH Pac-Systeme GmbH, and Wippermann Jr., the event showcased pioneering packaging solutions from around the world, highlighting the driving forces behind international packaging trends.
- Expert Forums and Knowledge Sharing: Expert forums and technology exchange formats facilitated industry discussions and networking. Highlights included a seminar on digital trends in packaging development, conferences on green packaging solutions and advanced plastics, and the presentation of sustainable results in e-commerce packaging.
- SAVE FOOD Forum: The fourth SAVE FOOD Forum, held in cooperation with FAO China, saw experts discuss the key role of packaging in reducing food losses along the value chain.
- SAVE FOOD Design and Sustainability Design Awards China: These awards, organized by Messe Düsseldorf, the World Packaging Organization (WPO), FAO China, and UNIDO, recognized outstanding achievements in sustainable packaging solutions. Award winners included UNITED CAPS Kulim, KOCH Pac-Systeme, Multivac (Shanghai) Trading Co., Ltd., and CINTAS ADHESIVAS UBIS, S.A.
- Personalized Visitor Routes: swop 2024 introduced personalized visitor routes to optimize networking between buyers and exhibitors. Detailed navigation maps and thematic routes enabled trade visitors to efficiently discover innovative solutions for key challenges such as traceability, efficiency enhancement, and precision.
Looking Ahead
The Shanghai World of Packaging is jointly organized by Messe Düsseldorf (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. and Adsale Exhibition Services Ltd. and belongs to the interpack alliance portfolio. The next swop will take place from November 25 to 27, 2025, at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre (SNIEC).