Forget FashionItaly Is the Center of Converting World
- Published: May 01, 2001, By Claudia Hine, Senior Editor
Italy's international converting exhibition, Converflex Europe 2001, will take place June 12-17 in the Milan Fairground's new and more functional Portello Halls. This year's event marks the seventh appearance for this Exhibition for Paper, Tissue, Paper Converting, Package Printing Machines, and Materials.
Organized by Centrexpo Spa, this show is strategically staged at the same time as Grafitalia, the Exhibition of Machinery and Materials for the Graphic Arts, Publishing, and Communication Industries. This timing is designed to offer visitors the opportunity to see high technology and innovations in areas that are related to the packaging industry, such as the latest digital technology.
According to Dr. Guido Corbella, managing director of Centrexpo, the digital technologies many feared might threaten traditional technologies appear to have boosted industrial investments in the printing and converting sectors instead.
Centrexpo expects 33,000 visitors at the show, which will feature 500 exhibiting companies. New companies are said to account for 23% of the total; almost all exhibitors are reported to have requested at least 15% more booth space compared to the 1998 show. Exhibiting companies include Agnati, Apex, Bobst, Cerutti, Fischer & Krecke, Gallus, Macchincarta, Somaca, Titan, and Valmet.
In conjunction with the show, the European Metallizers Association (EMA) will stage a seminar June 14 — 15 for companies using vacuum metallizing technologies. The program will include two sessions, both conducted in English.
Show organizers report that Ruggero Gerosa, head of Cellografica Gerosa, has been appointed president of Converflex Europe 2001. Cellografica Gerosa is a flexible packaging company with facilities in Italy, France, the Benelux countries, and Germany.
Paolo Bandecchi, founder/owner of the Rotolito Lombarda group, has been named president of Grafitalia 2001. This year Grafitalia is extending its area of interest to the entire system of paper communication, from raw materials to digital technologies. As such, the exhibition has been specifically tailored to draw new players in printed communication, including advertising agencies, photography studios, print services, and marketing concerns.
Converter-attendees are invited to play in a golf tournament to be held at the Villa D'Este Golf Club on June 11. The fund-raiser will benefit the Médecins Sans Frontières Assn., the 1999 Nobel Peace Prize winner.
For more information contact Centrexpo spa, Corso Sempione 4, 20154 Milan, Italy; ph: +39-02-3191091; fax: +39-02-341677; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; web site: centrexpo.it/converflex.
