“The decision was taken in close consultation with our advisory board and sponsoring associations,” said Werner M. Dornscheidt, chairman of the Board of Management of Messe Düsseldorf GmbH, noting the organiser was doing everything in its power to reduce the economic losses suffered by its exhibitors.
Thomas Geisel, Lord Mayor of Düsseldorf and chairman of the Supervisory Board of the trade fair company, added the city is following the instructions of the state government.
“Our aim is to slow down the spread of the coronavirus so that the health system can continue to function properly,” he said.
Industry support
interpack’s industry partners support the decision to postpone the fair and together with those responsible, are counting on a successful event next year.
“interpack is the absolute top event for the international packaging industry and related processing industries,” added Christian Traumann, president of interpack 2020 and MD & group president of Multivac Sepp Haggenmüller SE & Co. KG.
“The trade fair thrives on personal encounters and direct exchange between people from all over the world. This is only possible if there are no health risks involved. Therefore, the postponement is responsible and right. We are looking forward to next year's event to discuss the issues that are defining the industry, such as sustainability, and to present appropriate solutions.”
Richard Clemens, MD of the VDMA (Food Processing and Packaging Machinery Association), said, “The coronavirus and the associated restrictions now represent a major challenge for the entire mechanical engineering sector.
“The possible and currently unforeseeable effects of the pathogen with an incalculable risk of infection, the threat of quarantine for returnees, general travel restrictions in some countries, but also considerable travel restrictions on the part of many companies unfortunately make it impossible to successfully hold the interpack in May.
“The VDMA, as a supporting association of interpack, welcomes a postponement under the given exceptional circumstances. The new date now ensures reliability in planning,” said Clemens.
“We would like to thank all our partners for their excellent cooperation in making these difficult and time sensitive decisions,” said Dornscheidt.
“We are pleased that together a date was found so quickly in order to allow all those affected to reliably plan."