• The entity hosted a single presentation space with 60 speakers from 35 different companies, which complemented the Hispack Unboxing organized by Fira Barcelona
• The collective stand featured 11 companies from the packaging ecosystem and served to promote the exchange of ideas and innovative solutions
• The Cluster also organized three conferences parallel to the conference space and a guided tour to visit different sustainable solutions

Packaging Cluster, a non-profit organization made up of more than 120 active members representing the entire value chain of the packaging sector, successfully concluded its participation in a new edition of Hispack, which this year welcomed up to 30,000 visitors, 700 exhibitors and more than 40 associates.

In this edition, the Cluster promoted a space for presentations that, in addition to hosting 60 speakers from 35 different companies, was the ideal complement to the agenda proposed by Fira Barcelona at Hispack Unboxing. For four days, consolidated companies and startups such as RepaQ, Idiogram, Ecogots, Eatable Adventures, Re-pot Market, Virospack, TM2, Schneider Electric, Alzamora Packaging, Controlpack, Rotorprint, Calypso Space, Blue Room Innovation, Ilunion, Inèdit, Dribia, Innovapack , Gaiker, Cellografía Gerosa, Lúcid, Rotimpres, Mitsubishi Electric, KUKA, Aggity, Irontech, Saica Pack, KID's Cluster, SDLI, Advanced Manufacturing Technologies or Leitat presented their solutions, ideas and projects in the Packaging Cluster Zone.

“We are very proud to be able to organize such a powerful panel of speakers by ourselves. We have been able to bring together top-level speakers from companies that are setting the agenda for the sector. All of this encourages us to continue working to be a key player in improving its competitiveness and sustainability”, emphasizes Martina Font, president of the Packaging Cluster.

Collective stand and parallel conferences

In addition to the conference space, the Packaging Cluster hosted a collective stand with 11 partners: 3D Click, AIS Vision Systems, Caixa d'Enginyers, E21 Design Technologies, Lubrizol, EC Convert, NG Plastics, Tai Smart Factory, Trading Films, Mettler Toledo or Triana Plastic Industries. Many directors and stakeholders from the packaging sector passed through it to promote the exchange of ideas and share new ideas and trends.

 On the other hand, the Cluster was also in charge of organizing 3 parallel days to the conference space in which companies such as Henkel, Unilever, Enplater, DS Smith, Macsa, Quadpack, Puig, Martiderm, Montibello, Noreste Studio or AINIA appeared.

Guided tour and podcast

To complete a Hispack that was back in action four years later, the Packaging Cluster promoted a guided tour together with the Gourmet Cluster of Catalonia, where different sustainable solutions from some associates were visited: Gráficas Divers (premium labels and sleeves), Cart Service ( design and solutions for the food industry), Gráficas Salaet (innovation and design), Leca Graphics (food packaging and trends in innovation), I3D (innovation and sustainability in the food sector) and Font Packaging (agriculture, automotive, pharmaceutical, textile, e-commerce).

Entities such as ACCIÓ, Biocibus, Coffee Center, Cooperativa de Riudecanyes, Hort del Silenci, Leoboeck, Liderou, Mallart, Mil&Un Verd, Selective Export, Torrons i Mel Alemany, Vallformosa or Zobele were present on this guided tour.

To round it off, the Cluster promoted a podcast with Víctor Borrás (Knauf Industries), Àlex Brossa (Clúster Manager) and Xavier Pascual (General Manager of Hispack), where the main conclusions of the fair were reviewed.

The packaging sector as a key vector of the Catalan economy

According to data collected by the Packaging Cluster and explained during the conference space – Packaging Cluster Zone –, the packaging sector has 723 companies in Catalonia, employing 41,000 male and female employees, representing 4.08% of the Catalan GDP and billing €9,138M.

During the pandemic, the stability of an industry such as the container and packaging industry was demonstrated, which remained practically at the same levels as in the pre-covid period, only a 0.96% decrease in turnover during 2020. Now, the trends They mark a clear path: the commitment to sustainability and digitization, with a positive evolution in the coming years of the market, where materials such as flexible packaging, cardboard or glass will increase by more than 7%.