Pharmintech Detailed

At Interphex 2004, the organizers of Interphex and the show�s soon-to-debut Italian counterpart, Pharmintech 2004, explained their recent agreement to promote both events. Presenting at a briefing luncheon were Guido Corbella, CEO of Ipack-Ima srl and president of UCIMA, the Italian Packaging Association; and Kevin Richards, vice president of pharmaceutical biotechnology and processing group for Reed Exhibitions.

Both Corbella and Richards said that the absence of a European pharmaceutical show demonstrated the need for Pharmintech. �We have ACHEMA and Interpack, but no other event completely dedicated to the pharmaceutical industry,� said Corbella. 

Corbella said that Bologna, Italy, was the ideal location because many call the Emilia Romagna region in Bologna �Packaging Valley.� There are 200 packaging machinery providers located in Bologna. �Italy is the #2 manufacturer of pharmaceutical packaging machinery, generating US$669 million in 2002,� he continued. �About 80% of the equipment made in Italy is sold outside of Italy.�

Some of the 270 companies slated to exhibit during the sold-out show include Avery-Dennison, Bell-Mark, Colorcon, Datamax, IMA, Inova Pharma Systems, Kl�ckner Pentaplast, Marchesini, Markem, Nova Packaging Systems, Optima, Proditec, Rexam Dispensing Systems, Videojet, Weiler Engineering, and Zebra. Buyers delegations are being organized from a number of Eastern European countries as well as South Korea, and Packaging delegations are expected from the United States, China, and Russia. 

Corbella was also proud to announce that the conference will include a presentation by ISPE, titled �Pharmaceutical Packaging,� about the society�s upcoming publication, Baseline Pharmaceutical Packaging.

Bob Best, president and CEO of ISPE (Tampa, FL), explains that the society�s affiliate, ISPE Italy, expressed interest in Pharmintech, considering it to be an important addition to the exhibits and conferences already held in Italy. �We agreed to endorse ISPE participation,� he says. �We had studied prospects and decided that Pharmintech is a good opportunity for ISPE to get exposure in this part of the packaging industry, as well as in this part of the active pharmaceutical ingredients industry, which the event will also cover. We hope to gain exposure for our Baseline guide series, including our Packaging, Labeling, and Warehousing Operations Baseline guide, due out in mid-2004.� 

Pharmintech 2004 will be held June 8�11, 2004, in Bologna, Italy. The event is planned for every three years, with the next one scheduled for 2007. For more information, visit www.pharmintech.com.