In this episode, we sit down with Charlotte Leitner, Event Lead for ICE Europe, and Rebecca Moorcroft, Product Marketing Manager at RX Global, to discuss the future of the world’s leading trade fairs for the converting industry.

Our guests share insights into the strategic evolution of ICE Europe and explain how the event is becoming a continuous platform for industry dialogue, innovation, knowledge sharing, and business networking.

Charlotte Leitner

Rebecca Moorcroft

✓ ICE Europe is expanding beyond the traditional trade fair model to become a year-round industry platform.

✓ Raw materials and material innovation will play a much more prominent role in future editions.

✓ New formats such as the ICE Cube will encourage dialogue, interaction, and knowledge exchange directly on the exhibition floor.

✓ Strategic partnerships and co-creation are becoming essential elements of the event’s development.

✓ The ICE Awards will provide greater visibility for innovation across the converting industry.

www.ice-x.com

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What really determines competitiveness today – technology or psychology? In this episode of the podcast ‘The Voice of Converting,’ editor-in-chief Martin Hirschmann talks to Wolfgang Drexler, managing director of foresmind GmbH, about neuropsychological leadership and why ‘people still think like they did in the Stone Age’ even though we live in an AI-driven world.

Drexler explains how his bioLogic method distinguishes between three basic modes of thinking – analytical and past-oriented, future-oriented and consequence-conscious, and impulsive and present-oriented – and why communication often fails not because of content, but because of the wrong ‘input’ into the brain. Especially in technically oriented industries such as the converting industry, even highly qualified specialists often talk past each other. The key lies not in more control, but in a tailored approach.

Another focus of the conversation is generational change. Drexler argues that Generation Z should not be misunderstood as less willing to perform, but rather as purpose-driven and responsible. At the same time, he sees artificial intelligence not as a threat, but as a tool – provided it is used in a humane way. Standard processes should be automated, while creative and critical thinking remain the task of humans.

Finally, the discussion turns to cognitive fitness, critical questioning and the surprising role of traditional media in a world of digital overload. An episode about motivation, personality structures and the question of why psychological leadership will become a decisive competitive factor in the future.

www.my-biologic.com

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At LOPEC, startups are more than an add-on – they are a driving force of innovation in printed and flexible electronics. In this episode of The Voice of Flextronics, we talk with Armin Wittmann, Exhibition Director of LOPEC, and John Fahlteich, CEO of KETMarket, about how young companies are actively supported at the event and why the LOPEC Startup Award has become a key highlight in the programme.

The conversation explores how startups move from promising technologies to real market applications. John Fahlteich shares insights into the role of open innovation, cross-industry collaboration and mentoring in helping startups sharpen both their technical focus and business models. Armin Wittmann explains how LOPEC provides a unique physical platform where these connections can take shape.

Beyond pitching and prizes, the episode looks at what investors and industry partners are really looking for: clear value propositions, realistic go-to-market strategies and a strong understanding of customer needs. The two award categories – Business Impact and Technological Impact – reflect this dual focus.

Finally, both guests offer their personal outlook on LOPEC 2026, from emerging application areas to the continuing importance of inspiring young talent. A conversation about opportunity, visibility and the long road from innovation to commercial success.

LOPEC

KETMarket

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From 23 to 25 September 2025, the packaging industry will once again gather at the Exhibition Centre Nuremberg for FACHPACK, the European Trade Fair for Packaging, Technology and Processes. Around 1,400 exhibitors are expected to attend, spread across 11 exhibition halls. Trade visitors can look forward to a wealth of products and services related to packaging, as well as a high-calibre supporting programme.

The ‘Converting meets Packaging’ pavilion in Hall 7, which is already fully booked with seven exhibitors, will celebrate its premiere at FACHPACK 2025. It has been organised by FACHPACK in cooperation with M2N Media, publisher of the trade media PRO Flexconvert and PRO Flextronics. In the run-up to the trade fair, we met for a podcast interview with FACHPACK Event Director Phuong Anh Do and Alexander Houben, Managing Director of JHT Jakobs-Houben Technologie GmbH, which will be exhibiting in the pavilion.

FACHPACK

JHT

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PLACE stands for Polymers, Laminates, Adhesives, Coatings and Extrusion. The conference has been taking place every two years since 1991 in different European cities. The next conference will be on 26-28 May 2025 at Le Méridien Hotel, Munich. For this issue of The Voice of Converting, we sat down with Anna Helgert (Dow), European PLACE Committee Chair, Peter Gellerich (Uhlmann Pac-Systeme GmbH & Co. KG), Technical Programme Chair, and Prof Dr Sven Sängerlaub (Munich University of Applied Sciences),  Chairman of the Board of bdvi (German Association of Packaging Engineers).

Anna Helgert says: “The PLACE conference is a technical forum, a meeting place specifically for all those involved in the value chain of extrusion coaters: processors, packaging manufacturers and brand owners, from raw material manufacturers to recyclers – and of course the machine manufacturers for the various processes. We bring together specialists from science and industry. We like to think outside the box and are always looking for new, efficient and clever approaches.”

In our interview, the three members of the organisation committee will offer a detailed preview of the upcoming PLACE Conference, which PRO Flexconvert will cover extensively before, during and after the event.

European PLACE Conference

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In our podcast ‘The Voice of Converting’, we spoke to Cordula Schulz, Owner and Managing Director of Schulz Flexgroup. To celebrate her birthday, the entrepreneur invited us to the company site in Roth near Nuremberg, Germany. In an exclusive interview, we discussed birthday wishes, female leadership and the importance of digitalisation and AI.

The first mayor of the town of Roth opened the Innovation Day of Schulz Flexgroup with his words of greetings, followed by a speech from Cordula Schulz herself. After these introductory remarks, representatives of leading companies from the packaging industry provided lectures on current hot topics. SÜDPACK Medica discussed sustainability in packaging by highlighting Mono-PP solutions for pharmaceutical primary packaging, while TekniPlex offered an update on pharmaceutical blister packs that are minimised and recyclable.

Siegwerk showcased sustainability strategies for UV flexo inks, and Huhtamaki discussed the impact of the PPWR on the flexible packaging business for pharma and consumer health. Finally, Mondi introduced the audience to its recyclable barrier papers.

In our interview, Cordula Schulz underlined the importance of digitalisation and AI to find pathways in an increasingly difficult landscape of bureaucracy and legislation. Find out more in this episode!

Schulz Flexgroup

This Podcast episode is sponsored by IBD Wickeltechnik.

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In our podcast ‘The Voice of Converting’, we spoke to Esa-Matti Aalto, Senior Vice President and General Manager Coating & Converting Industries at Matthews International. We discussed industry trends, barrier papers and the upcoming ICE Europe.

“One megatrend is clearly sustainability, which is now permeating all industries and layers of society,” says Aalto. “We are addressing this topic by implementing various applications and projects in industry. Another big topic for us is digitalisation. It has already caused disruptions in many industries – and the converting industry will be no exception!”

Asked about outstanding projects at Matthews, Esa-Matti Aalto responds: “In the area of décor, we have worked with the company SURTECO to develop a truly innovative process in which electron beam crosslinking is involved. The structures embossed in the décor paper and the print itself are very natural. The result is a genuine wood look that is also very close to the natural product in terms of feel. Thanks to electron beam crosslinking, there is no need for drying in the traditional sense – and production can be carried out with considerably less energy consumption, thus conserving resources.”

Learn more about Matthew’s strategy, Esa-Matti Aalto’s personal motivation and a VR tool that will be showcased at the upcoming ICE Europe in our Podcast interview!

Matthews

This Podcast episode is sponsored by the M2N Converting Gipfel, which will take place from 26-27 June in Hamburg, Germany. Learn more about the conference of the German-speaking key players in the converting industry by clicking on: https://converting-gipfel.de

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For our podcast The Voice of Flextronics, we spoke with Armin Wittmann, Exhibition Director LOPEC, and Manfred Salat, Exhibition Manager LOPEC from Messe München.

LOPEC, the leading trade fair and conference for printed electronics, next taking place in Munich from 25-27 February 2025, will be even more practice-oriented. The conference will now feature special lecture sessions for application experts on the focus topics of Smart Living and Mobility, providing industry-specific specialist knowledge in a compact format.

Each year, LOPEC offers a complete market overview of flexible, organic and printed electronics, and brings together manufacturers, users and scientists from all over the world. “Through the new structure, we are drawing the trade fair and conference closer together. In half-day sessions, we will bundle user knowledge from a specific area, followed by a guided tour of the trade fair, allowing participants to experience the technology in practice,” explains Armin Wittmann. “Afterwards, there will still be enough time for an extensive visit to the exhibition, so that you can get a comprehensive overview of the current state of the industry at LOPEC.”

In this 30-minute podcast, you will gain exclusive insights into the work of the LOPEC organisers and their passion for the printed electronics industry.

LOPEC

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In this episode of The Voice of Converting, we spoke with Sara Alexander, Marketing & Communication Manager Flexible Packaging at BOBST Italia. One major focus of our interview is BOBST’s sustainability strategy.

Sara Alexander sees innovations happen in the areas of automation, digitalisation and AI, among other things. “The hottest topic is sustainability,” she emphasises. “We want new materials, new structures, new applications, and at the same time we want to get rid of the excess.”

According to the industry expert from BOBST, “The flexible packaging world that we have known and have been comfortable with for so many years will evolve and change.” Learn more about BOBST’s sustainability strategy, Sara Alexander’s takeaways from this year’s drupa tradeshow in Düsseldorf, and her view on paper as a possible replacement for plastic films!

BOBST

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For our podcast The Voice of Converting, we spoke with Heike Slotta, Executive Director Exhibitions at NürnbergMesse GmbH, and Phuong Anh Do, Manager FACHPACK. NürnbergMesse is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year – and FACHPACK is celebrating with it.

Phuong Anh Do looks ahead at FACHPACK 2024 (24-26 September): “We have just reached the final phase of preparation for our supporting programme – and there are actually quite a few things that our visitors can look forward to! Firstly, there is our PACKBOX, which has been firmly established for years and is known as an expert forum for current topics and trends. This time, the first day will focus on the topic of “Market and Consumption”. On the second day, we will talk about the circular economy, PPWR and sustainability. And on the third day, we will be focussing on the topic of “Man and Machine” – this also includes artificial intelligence with its challenges and opportunities.

According to Heike Slotta, “first and foremost, a trade fair is an exchange platform. The two major issues currently facing the packaging industry are the implementation of EU legislation and the demands that a weakening economy is placing on the market. If fewer products are manufactured, fewer products can be packaged. We want to accompany this change in the packaging industry. As a platform that brings everyone together in one place and provides space for presentations, we play an important role here.”

In this 30-minute podcast, you will gain exclusive insights into the work of the FACHPACK organisers and what they anticipate the most.

FACHPACK

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