IPG holds technical meeting in Shanghai

Forty-three participants from 22 member countries of the IPG (International Packaging Group) held their technical meeting in Shanghai from April 25-28, hosted by the Chinese member New Island Printing, headquatered in Hong Kong.

‘We were honored to have such a distinguished group of experts,’ said Conrad So, the event organizer and member of the controlling family of New Island. In the sessions, intense discussions were held among the world’s foremost experts of the folding carton industry. The group’s total tonnage is estimated at 750,000 tons per year and is represented by some of the most innovative and technically skilled companies in the field.

Eleven sessions covered such varied topics as quality systems, food packaging, gluing on special materials, productivity management, high-speed printing and the extensive cold-foiling experiments that a member conducted. Additionally the group reviewed their yearly productivity survey where 11 new major machines were added and discussed. Furthermore, in accordance to the group’s proposition during their meeting in Brazil ’06, an analysis was made of the maintenance aspect of their impressive group of machines. Preventive and corrective maintenance were surveyed and compared with their associated costs. Another addition to the survey this year was the inclusion of folder gluers. ‘The survey continues to improve and enrichen through the years,’ said Hans Schur, president of Schur International from Denmark. ‘Our software and database are now truly impressive.’

A visit to Bobst’s machinery plant was an excellent complement to the privileged information that the Associate members (Bobst, Man-Roland, Esko Graphics, International Paper and Heidelberg) shared with the exclusive group of converters.

‘This year showed the highest number of new members,’ said Yarhi, the IPG chairman, ‘with Aluprint from Mexico, Obeikan from Saudi Arabia and Benson Box from the United Kingdom joining the group.’

Planning has started taking place for the 2008 meeting to be held in Holland and scheduled around packaging trade show DRUPA. ‘The show provides an opportunity to analyze in depth the supplier offerings and innovations, through a dynamic exchange of opinions among the professionals,’ said Ms Messerli, secretariat for IPG.