Empack 2020" is on a good course

With the Federal Council's approval on August 12, larger events in Switzerland will be permitted again from October. This also makes it possible to hold trade fairs. The flagship event Empack 2020 was postponed from spring to fall and will now take place on November 18 and 19. "The approval was an important signal for the event industry," says Debora Holdener, Event Content Manager at Easyfairs Switzerland. "Trade fairs can help to stimulate demand and bring the industries together. These are important building blocks for a step into the future."

142 exhibitors expected

The feedback from exhibitors on the postponement date in November was consistently positive. The cooperation partners and associations have also confirmed that the event will be held in late fall. The support of the Swiss Packaging Institute SVI is a key factor in this. The industry's interest is also reflected in the figures: Easyfairs is currently expecting around 142 exhibitors for the trade fair.

Extensive safety measures

This year's event will focus on the safety of the participants. For this reason, the protective measures go beyond those prescribed by the federal government and the canton of Zurich. Masks are compulsory for exhibitors, visitors and employees at Empack 2020 and the parallel event Logistics & Distribution 2020. Wearing gloves is recommended for everyone. In addition, all prescribed hygiene measures apply.

The protection concept provides for contactless registration of participants in the entrance area of the trade fair. Visitors must register online. Alternatively, visitors can register on site using their smartphone. A counting system registers the maximum number of visitors permitted in the exhibition halls. Individual timeslots for registration can be selected online in advance, which is another component of the hygiene concept. Inside the building, the directional separation of paths ensures the minimum distance. Exhibitors will be provided with a hygiene pack containing masks, hand cleansing gel, disposable gloves and a surface spray. Contact tracing is also planned, with visitors identifying themselves at the stands using their smart badges. In the event of a Covid-19 infection, those affected can be informed in this way.

Trade fair formats remain largely accessible

In the exhibition areas where the protective measures do not allow normal operation, security takes precedence. The only area likely to be affected is the "Connect" area, which is intended to facilitate targeted networking between participants. "Unfortunately, we can only implement this format to a limited extent," says Holdener. "However, there will be a spacious networking lounge where free refreshments will be available for everyone involved in the event." The JobsCorner, where visitors can find out about vacancies and apply directly to the companies looking for them, will not be affected.

The other two sections will remain fully accessible. This year, they reflect the core theme of "Green Pack - Closing the loop on plastics" and thus address the current topic of sustainability. The "Discover" area illustrates specific innovations and solutions, while "Learn" focuses on the aspects of knowledge and further training.

Swiss Packaging Award is held

Among the highlights of Empack 2020 are the presentations on research and development. One of these, for example, is the presentation of the 51st Swiss Packaging Award, with which the competition jury honors the best packaging. Empack 2020 provides the setting for the award ceremony and presents submitted projects.