With mainstay trades shows such as drupa and interpack postponed, W&H will take exhibits planned for those shows directly to customers’ computers around the world in the company’s first Virtual Expo to be held on 24 & 25 June 2020.
“This is an unprecedented and challenging time. And yet the flexible packaging industry is as busy if not busier than ever. It’s important that we take this opportunity to communicate with our customers and show them the new technologies and applications that are available now and can help run their production more efficiently,” said Peter Steinbeck, managing partner at W&H.
Peter Steinbeck, managing partner, W&H at the Taapma Conference in Hyderabad in early 2019 held alongside the inauguration of the new Viyayneha flexible packaging plant. Photo PSAThe flexible packaging industry around the world and in India and South Asia is busier than ever in spite of the Covid-19 pandemic. Several large projects are under shipment, installation, and commissioning around the world and in India too.
The three hour Virtual Expo will highlight 30-minute machine demonstrations from the W&H Printing Innovation Center, including the Novoflex II flexographic press featuring the new RUBY IoT system for analyzing production data as well as the Heliostar II gravure press.
A number of technical sessions will be offered –
For flexible packaging printers – handling solutions on the Novoflex II with print inspection from Ruby Check.
For industrial sack producers – the hidden potential in production data with Ruby Track; printing for industrial sacks with the Flexa II press; and, heavy-duty sack film on the Optimex II FFS blown film line.
For film extruders – All PE pouch film on the Varex II blown film line with MDO; and, heavy-duty sack film on the Optimex II FFS blown film line.
For paper bag producers – paper bag production with W&H subsidiary GARANT. Other highlights will include customer service and remote support. The W&H Virtual Expo will live stream the program at several times on both days to accommodate visitors from different countries and time zones. To learn more about and register for the event, visit https://www.wh.group/int/en/company/virtual_expo/.
Preview the Virtual Expo at
Many companies and also exhibition companies have started talking about ‘Virtual Expos’ in the absence of the big fairs this year such as Interpacka and drupa. If these turn out to be as popular as the webinars amongst Indian printers and converters is yet to be seen, as is the actual difference between webinars and virtual expos. The implication is that the virtual events will somehow be interactive, with one-on-one conversations and even meetings. How will this work? Will there be two windows on my screen – one in front of a machine demonstration and another across the table from one of the sales guys who is talking to me and explaining what is going on and even answering my questions that pertain to my interests and not to what is being show on the main screen. I suppose like in a Zoom meeting we could pin various demos to our screen.