Tokyo Pack 2014 Trend in Exhibits

Summary of Exhibition Trend

Tokyo Pack 2014 will be held in October with ‘The site of advanced packaging development and solutions technology’ as the theme. By the end of this year, we will have seen the three greatest packaging shows in Europe, Japan and the United States: the Inter Pack held in May (Germany), Tokyo Pack 2014 in October (Japan) and PACK EXPO International in November (the U.S.A.). Other packaging exhibitions are also being held in Asia, in June in Korea (Seoul), Thailand (Bangkok) and Taiwan (Taipei) and in July in China (Shanghai), indicating that the importance of packaging is now recognized worldwide.

In Tokyo Pack 2014, a total of 680 exhibitors will show their products in 2,489 display booths. When viewing exhibitors and booths by category type, except for those of host’s projects and joint-exhibitors, packaging materials and containers will account for 25.2% of exhibitors (135) and 38.3% of booths (877); packaging machinery, 17.2% (91) and 24.7% (564); converting machinery, 9.6% (50) and 11.2% (255); food and pharmaceutical processing machinery, 4.1% (24) and 4.6% (102); examination/measuring/packaging-related machinery, 13.0% (68) and 8.5% (194); packaging design and communication services, 2.3% (12) and 1.2% (26); distribution and physical distribution system equipment and services, 3.0% (19) and 3.3% (75); and groups from abroad, 18.1% (98) and 6.4% (157).

The main articles displayed are packaging materials and machinery, which constitute about 42.4% of exhibitors and 63.0% of booths. Visitors can explore the present needs and future of packaging. The food- and pharmaceutical-processing machines used before packaging and the physical distribution systems after packaging can be seen simultaneously, providing a beautiful opportunity to see the whole packaging picture as a total system. Visitors will be guided along the displays arranged in sequence from food processing, packaging material supplies, and filling/packaging to inspection and transportation. Including exhibits from abroad, especially from China and Taiwan (98 booths) and Western countries, Tokyo Pack 2014 will be where visitors can obtain information from around the globe.

This time, special events are planned for pharmaceuticals that are ingested orally like foods. Much information is expected that will differ from that for foods. Exhibits from abroad are always increasing in number with the proportion also increasing annually, making Tokyo Pack 2014 cosmopolitan.

In recent years, major disasters have ensued including the Great East Japan Earthquake and torrential rains and landslides in the Hiroshima area and posed great challenges for packaging and physical distribution.

In the past, the packaging and distribution industry prioritized the just-in-time principle, emphasizing streamlining and services. However, stockpiling has come to be recognized as important in the face of infrastructure and distribution network destruction due to disaster. Demand has increased for packed foods and drinks in retort pouches, PET bottles, and the like because they are safe and ingestible without cooking. Since worldwide weather changes have damaged food crops, obtaining food will become harder. Given this situation, food-loss has come under intense scrutiny in Japan, resulting in a system review of the distribution industry, such as the one-third rule and institutional return. In the packaging industry, however, long-lasting packages that can be stored and provide safe and secure food are urgently needed because almost all foodstuffs are packed. Ensuring the long-term storage of safe and delicious foods is also the responsibility of those of us who are engaged in packaging.

The keywords in global trade and industry today are quality, hygiene, safety and the environment. Packaging-related industries are also required to assure quality, ensure good hygiene and safety, and take measures for labor safety and environmental issues. Important roles of packages are also to enhance product merchantability through informative labels and accessible design, which is specified more than universal design, for socially vulnerable groups such as older and challenged people as well as to design supporting sales. Today when food safety and security are strongly called for in the aftermath of incidents such as the frozen gyoza poisoning and falsified labeling, more importance is given to packaging, and comprehensive sanitation management focusing on traceability has been called for. Tokyo Pack 2014 will present a wealth of packaging, machines and equipment in this category.

The problems of global greenhouse gas and waste materials necessitate converting packaging into energy-saving and easily recyclable packaging as well as reevaluating the packaging from the environmental perspective.

During the exhibition, seminars such as the Seminar for Packaging Performance Improvement, Technical Seminar, Seminar on Leading-Edge Packaging Techniques by Exhibitor and Seminar in Package Design Pavilion are held almost daily. The prize-winning products and techniques of Package Contest 2014 and Kinoshita Prize 2014 are to be presented. These are held by the Japan Packaging Institute, a public interest incorporated association.

In the face of bright signs in the economy, packaging is indispensable to support the consumer economy. The present Tokyo Pack’s theme, ‘The site of advanced packaging development and solutions technology’ expresses well the importance of packaging. You can find the key to growth hiding in the exhibition.

1) Quality

In the packaging industry, quality assurance for customer satisfaction has intensified in accordance with ISO-9001 that many enterprises have obtained. Since oxidation from oxygen in the air causes foodstuff alteration, preventing oxidation can lead to quality improvement. To that end, new packaging materials with high barrier properties are required. They are also expected for stockpiling food and as measures against food loss. To achieve high barrier properties, coatings with nanotechnology, vapor deposition products (aluminum, silica, and alumina) and plasma deposition have been created. Using this new technology, packaging materials and forms have been marketed such as active packaging containing deoxidants.

In addition, IC tags and anti-counterfeit labels offering traceability will be exhibited to satisfy our social responsibility in assuring the quality of goods in order to prevent food label falsification.

2) Hygiene and safety

For foods and pharmaceuticals that are ingested orally, hygiene and safety are critical. Pharmaceutical products today are subject to strict hygiene maintenance in accordance with the rigid regulations of GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice). For foodstuffs, comprehensive hygiene maintenance systems, based on HACCP techniques from the Food Sanitation Law with general hygiene maintenance added, have taken hold. Substantial need exists for disinfection, sterilization and containment to control microorganisms. At Tokyo Pack 2014, retort sterilization packaging, aseptic packaging, clean packaging (sterilized packaging) and anti-bacterial packaging will be exhibited. With increasing demand for moist foods, hygiene management for delicatessen and milk products is in widespread use, which consists of working at low temperatures in clean rooms to control the bacteria. Packaging materials that directly touch foods and pharmaceutical products are hygienically manufactured in clean environments. The exhibition will present the methods for making these hygienic materials and creating clean environments such as clean rooms.

In the food industry, the safety management system based on ISO 22000 and FSSC 22000 are in widespread use to further improve food safety. Traceability is of paramount importance to prevent the entry of foreign matter into foods and false indication/labeling of origin. Many systems related to traceability will be presented.

3) Safety

As the slogan ‘Check safety before work’ says, occupational safety is more valued in the world than ever before. Many enterprises have obtained OHSAS 18000 (Occupational Health & Safety Assessment Series) certification: the international safety standard. Awareness of work safety has increased worldwide.

Packaging work consists of machine operation and cargo handling; both require work safety. The CE marking system and the PASS mark system based on the voluntary safety standards of the Japan Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Association for machines used within EU and in Japan, respectively, ensure the safety of machine operation for packaging. Machines with these marks will be presented in the exhibition.

In addition, to ensure the safety of packed foods and pharmaceuticals orally ingested, a packaging structure to protect the product against tampering is required so that consumers can confirm that a package or product is being opened or used for the first time.

4) Environment

The Containers and Packaging Recycling Law and other packaging-related laws have promoted the 3Rs (reducing, reusing and recycling) and waste management such as separate discharge and separate collection, contributing to the increasing recycling rate. Trial runs of carbon footprints to visualize carbon dioxide (CO2) and reduce global warming gas, particularly carbon dioxide, have started. Bioplastics created by plant-derived biomass techniques and without using fossil resources have appeared and their applications will be presented in the exhibition.

Fourteen years after enacting the Container Packaging Recycling Law, its revision is being considered in response to some apparent problems. The Japan Containers and Packaging Recycling Association, a public interest incorporated association, plans to lecture on this at the exhibition.

Ultimately, constructing a circulatory society with the aim of creating a sustainable society is indispensable. To that end, changes in packaging materials and structures are accelerating toward ecological goods that burden the environment less.

At the coming exhibition, many exhibits will be on display with the environment as the theme. They will offer a perfect opportunity for obtaining information and learning about future trends.

5) Product information and labeling

Packaging plays an important role in directly connecting food and pharmaceutical products to consumers because information should flow bidirectionally. Although various marking- and labeling methods may exist for communicating information, exploring and developing new technologies for transparent and proper communication and labeling for future packaging is necessary. Many products for this purpose will be displayed in the exhibition including ink-jet printing, identification markings on labels and seals and various types of printing and designs, as well as structural, vapor deposition, foil stamping and decorative means of communication.

At Tokyo Pack 2014, in addition to world trends such as those concerning quality, hygiene, safety and the environment, a rich variety of information providing tools will be displayed and satisfy visitor expectations.

New editions of the handbook, Q&A Manual for Containers and Packaging, a commemorative publication of Tokyo Pack 2000, have been published annually. This easy-to-read manual in a loose-leaf form explains the laws and regulations for the hygiene and safety of packaging, marking, environmental measures, product liability, proper packaging and design, and physical distribution. We advise having one on hand and fully using it for responding to future problems. The following presents the exhibition by exhibit categories:

Exhibits Trends by Categories

[1] Packaging materials (135 companies, 877 booths)

Interpack held in Germany, Pack Expo held in the U.S.A. and Tokyo Pack in Japan are the world’s three major packaging exhibitions. At the first two, the exhibits were mostly packaging machines and presentations of package makers were few. Tokyo Pack is a comprehensive packaging exhibition that is well-balanced between packaging materials and machinery. Therefore, with almost all the leading package makers of Japan participating, Tokyo Pack is the world’s biggest packaging exhibition. Visitors can gather information on leading-edge packaging materials and their trends.

The exhibits include paper products, containers made of paper, plastic, metal and glass and buffer- and tying materials. Paper products include paper, paperboard, paper containers and corrugated cardboard and consist of one half the packaging materials.

1) Paper, paperboard and paper containers

Paper containers made of biodegradable paper have increased, particularly for drink boxes and corrugated cardboard boxes that are not subject to mandatory recycling and therefore require no outsourcing costs. Five, four and six companies will exhibit paper containers for liquid, recyclable paper products and paper cans, respectively. There will be bag-in-box cartons and cups as separable containers developed thinking of the environment. In Japan, the waste paper utilization rate is currently 63.8%, paper pack recovery rate 44.2%, and corrugated cardboard recovery rate 98.4%; these are among the highest rates in the world. Recyclable paper products displayed are as follows: base paper for packaging from ten companies, processed paper from 13, paper bags from five, metalized paper products from five, and antimicrobial paper from two, showing that the function differentiation of paper has been progressing.

Corrugated fiber sheets are becoming thinner by changing the pulp tangle, and wastepaper recycling has further increased, contributing to reducing waste. For corrugated fiber boxes, the trend of note is the appearance of the self-contained type. The corrugated board acts both as a fixator and as a shock absorber without using any plastic foam. Conventional corrugated fiber boxes are now being replaced by simpler, smaller-volume, lighter-weight and less expensive products, including the upper and lower tray type, skeleton back type and sleeve type. For business use, the shuttle type is now the mainstream in spite of the high price because they have the strength to handle reuse. Thus, the needs for break-down corrugated fiber boxes and plastic corrugated fiberboard are great. They are presented by ten and three companies, respectively.

Six companies will display decorative fiberboards used for promoting sales at discount stores of home electronics and electronic devices; thus the demand for individual packaging for transportation has been rising. Decorative fiberboards using micro-flutes of thinner paper can contribute to saving resources because they are beautiful yet tough. The functional corrugated fiberboard includes refrigeration-retaining products from four companies, fresh-keeping products from four, waterproof and water-repellant products from four and thin high-strength products such as honeycomb and impact-absorbing fiberboard from five, corrugated fiberboard for bulk transport from five and non-slip paper from three. The functionality of these products has been more and more enhanced, with their further development being accelerated.

Two companies will display software-related products including the business core system used as total management such as that for the production management of corrugated fiberboard.

Molded pulp will be exhibited by five companies, which have increased in number because of considering the environment. When the container molded by pressing paper itself is included, eight companies in total display molded pulp.

2) Plastics

While other packaging materials are declining, the market share of plastic products is substantially increasing due to their lightness, strength, transparency, low price and excellent formability and workability. Today, plastics occupy the second most important position after paper. When combined with other materials such as processed paper or metal coating, plastic packaging is considerably improved, resulting in further increase in demand. Recently, active packages whose material absorbs oxygen have been produced.

In the category of plastic films, the number of companies making stand-up pouches for reducing the volume has increased to 11, and environment-responsive films such as dechlorinated films will be exhibited by three companies. Gas-barrier films for preventing foodstuffs from oxidizing will be displayed by 16 companies, freshness-retaining films by ten, laminated composite films for active packaging by 15 and coextruded composite material by six. In particular, the thinnest film, 6 μm thick, has been developed and drawn attention from both economic and environmental perspectives. Pouches for retort food, which recorded the all-time top-sales this year, will be displayed by 16 companies, packaging adaptable for microwave ovens by 15 and easily reclosable zip-up packages by ten. These exhibits reflect the needs of today’s consumers.

As high-barrier products, 18 companies will exhibit films metalized with aluminum, ceramic and alumina. Attention should be paid to the functional films including the air permeable films from two companies, absorptive film from one, non-absorptive films from two, water absorbent films from three, antistatic films from two, anti-electromagnetic wave film from one, electric conductive films from two, defogging films from five and heat resistant films from five.

As for the category of plastic-molded products, light, portable and reclosable PET bottles account for a large portion of the demand for drinks. A technology for reprocessing these PET bottles into new bottles has been established. Conventionally, used bottles were turned into monomers, which were again polymerized. Replacing this method, a new and easy-to-use washing technique has been developed that enables flaked waste PET bottles to be recycled at a low-cost. Expandable containers with thinner walls as well as collapsible containers for volume reduction are conspicuously advancing to meet both ecological and economic needs.

In molding, blow-molded containers will be exhibited by eight companies, injection-molded containers by ten, special molded containers by three and thin and less expensive sheet-molded products whose demand is rising by eight.

For environment-friendly products, recycled moldings will be exhibited by three companies, environment-responsive moldings by three, environment-responsive films by three, recycled films by three and biodegradables products by three. These exhibits show a pro-environmental tendency for films and their booths will be the highlight of Tokyo Pack 2014. The recent recycling rate in Japan is 85.0% and 80.0% for PET bottles and other plastics, which is close to the best in the world.

3) Metal and glass

In the metal can category, those laminated with plastic have increased to meet environmental requirements. Thin-walled and environment-conscious products will be displayed, such as steel cans, aluminum cans and drums, which have inner plastic bags. Processed cans such as decorative cans from two companies and special molding processed cans from two as well as steel boxes made by molding and assembling thin steel will also be exhibited, showing a remarkable tendency toward amusing and pleasant appearances. Other metal cans will be exhibited by two companies. As for the two glass bottle companies, easily recyclable light and thin-walled bottles, super lightweight bottles, standardized reuse bottles, surface-colored bottles, recycled molding products and others will be displayed. The recent recycling rate in Japan is 90.8% and 94.7% for steel- and aluminum cans, which is among the best in the world.

4) Other materials

Containers made of natural materials such as bamboo, wisteria and wood have are also favorites. Other packaging materials displayed will include non-woven fabrics and cloth by eight and two companies.

As for cushioning materials, environment conscious products will be displayed: plastic bags filled with air from five companies and paper bags including molded pulp from five. Other than these, biodegradable cushioning materials such as cut and rolled-up paper are displayed in large numbers and are an exhibition highlight. Foam-in-place cushioning materials from two companies remain firm favorites. Binding- and sealing materials will be displayed by six and four companies. Advancements toward high functionality are in progress with medical substances such as antibacterial- and bacteriostatic agents, deoxidants, alcohol-developing agents, ethylene-absorbing agents, refrigerants, desiccants, exothermic agents and corrosion inhibitors and secondary materials such as ink/pigment from seven companies, adhesives from eight, closures from seven and labels/seals from 12. Information will be available in the exhibition.

Another characteristic trend in packaging material as a whole is the evolution of considering challenged people with accessible design (materialized universal design) instead of barrier-free design, aiming at the togetherness and shared use of all people. This is a must-see trend of the exhibition. The hygienic quality of packaging and equipment for its hygiene management exhibited with Ensuring Traceability and Hygiene as a theme are also worthy to note. Four companies will exhibit RFID/IC tags used for physical distribution; these products are expected to be used in great quantities in the future.

[2] Packaging machinery (91 companies, 564 booths)

Japanese packaging machinery has always been developed considering quality and safety. Recently, additional considerations have been reflected in the manufacturing machines: hygienic quality for safety and security based on traceability and environment-friendliness such as electric power- and energy saving. Packaging machines have tended to polarize into traditional high-speed machines and general-purpose machines, with the latter reflecting diversification.

Most of the high-speed packaging machines are durable, simple-structured and single-purpose, which call for additional speed to achieve higher productivity. Coupled with the unmanned tendency of machines, they are still in large demand to meet the needs for efficient production, stable quality and safety.

The general-purpose packaging machines that enable flexible manufacturing are also in great demand today when the mainstream is diverse products and high-mix, low-volume production. Their operation has become more convenient by shortening the time for size changes and by facilitating form changes and condition setting, but they often present the disadvantage of complex mechanisms.

With advancing IT comes a strong demand for mechatronic packaging machines equipped with intelligent computers, leading to the prevalence of servo motors and packaging robots. The demand is stronger for intelligent packaging machines equipped with touch-panels and learning functions of start-up conditions and automatic temperature setting, etc. so that even unskilled workers can operate them.

With regard to safety, the general incorporated association Japan Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Association (JPMA) took the initiative in creating a voluntary safety standard in 1986. The JPMA grants the affixation of the PASS Safety mark on packaging machines that meet the certification standard. The system is now widespread, and a number of packaging machines whose safety was assured by this system will be displayed at this exhibition. Ten years after Japan, the EU established its safety standards, requiring all mechanical and electrical machines to use the CE mark. Visitors can see machines carrying the CE mark.

An international standard of OHSAS 18000 (Occupational Health & Safety Assessment Series) is a management system of occupational safety and health. Many companies have already obtained this certificate, indicating that safety consciousness is rising in the world.

Concerning hygiene, the JPMA established its own standards in 1999 aiming at hygienic packaging machines comparable to HACCP. Severe inspections are conducted based on the standards; the machines satisfying them are given the PASS Hygiene mark. Also, the tightening of GMP regulation in the pharmaceutical industry has created need for validation and thereby for sophisticated control based on scientific measurement, detection and inspection. To ensure good hygiene, traceability is a very important requirement.

When viewed by type, material filling and packaging machines, which are the mainstream of the packaging machinery, will be shown by 20 companies, bag feeding and packaging machines by eight, over-wrapping machines, including shrinking machines by 20, skin-stretch packaging machines by five, sealing and closuring machines (three and four sided) by five, blister packaging machines by two, sealers by 15, taping machines and boxers by seven and binding machines by five. In addition, aseptic filling machines with special functions will be exhibited by two companies, vacuum packaging machines by 15 and gas flush packaging machines by eight. Small box filling machines and casing machines will also be displayed. Visitors will also be able to see HACCP-compatible machines, sterilized filling and packaging machines, and sterile water and clean air ringers, as well as inspection equipment for the machines, reflecting the heightened social awareness of hygiene.

Thirteen companies will display the material filling and weighing machines, including those for filling liquid-, viscous-, powder-, granule- and solid materials. Eight companies will display the weighing and counting machines. Visitors will be able to see a wide variety of filling methods all at once.

Printing machinery, including the Hot Printer using a printing mechanism now in mainstream, of ten companies, ink jet printer of 25 and digital printer of five will be on display. Other than these, laser- and thermal transfer printers and labelers of seven will be exhibited. The exhibits will use the unique technology of each company and be rich in variety.

A great need exists for integrating packaging works in one line. Mechatronic machines require yet another coordinating system that controls the whole packaging line. At Tokyo Pack 2014, unified packaging system lines will be on display. In relation to this, packaging robots from nine companies for labor-saving and packaging plant engineering will also be exhibited.

[3] Printing and converting machinery (50 companies, 255 booths)

A wide variety of machinery will be displayed, including printing machines for photogravure, flexo, addresses and other uses from two companies; plastic processing machines for blow molding and laminating from four; plastic and other bag making machines from three; paper box- and corrugated fiberboard box making machines from two; cup-molding machines from three; cushion making machines from four; and other machines such as punching machines from three, slitting machines from five, cutting machines from nine, make-up units from two, machines for punching and cutting by means of ultrasonic welding, lasers and ultrasonic waves, and can making machines.

Converting machines for manufacturing packaging materials must satisfy cost performance requirements commensurate with investment costs for production equipment, space-saving and labor-saving requirements. Due to IT innovation, many machines carry computers and can ensure rapid and accurate control. They are characterized by high-speed stability and shortened change-over time thanks to computer servo control. Bag making machines, in particular, aim to achieve more rapid condition-setting, loss reduction, speed-up, uniform operation, shortened time for size change, etc., by giving intelligence and thereby learning functions to computers. Each company will exhibit its unique machines for making a wide variety of standing pouches and those with spouts attached.

As for cushion-making machines that consider the environment, machines for making plastic tubes filled with air to save resources and reduce volume will be exhibited as well as machines for making cushions of waste paper.

[4] Food, pharmaceuticals and processing machinery (24 companies, 102 booths)

Today when the nuclear family, eating alone and women’s social advancement continue to increase, great demand exists for processed foods to lighten the burden of preparing meals. Hence, food processing machinery is in the limelight.

The world suffers from yield reductions and quality loss of agricultural products due to changed weather, which will become a serious problem in Japan in the near future because Japan depends on imports from abroad for a large portion of the food. In spite of this, food loss is huge in Japan and interested parties including the food-related and distribution industries have begun a comprehensive review. With regard to quality and food loss, establishing conservation/storage techniques for prolonging shelf life while keeping palatability and ensuring safety is a pressing need. At Tokyo Pack 2014, a seminar will be held on reducing food loss.

As for processed foods, growing need exists for home meal replacement such as ready-prepared and cooked foods. Establishing conservation techniques so that food will continue to be delicious for as long as possible while simultaneously introducing clean installation such as clean rooms ensuring clean manufacturing works is therefore indispensable. Many food companies have already introduced clean manufacturing. In response to the growing need for equipment that can satisfy the demand for safety and good taste, cleanliness-related equipment will be on display at the exhibition.

For food processing machinery, the demand for good hygiene and efficiency has stepped up while promoting labor-saving and automation with due consideration for food safety and security. The exhibits will respond to this demand.

The principal machines on display will include rice processing machines, rice cake and dumpling making machines, bean paste making or encasing machines, bean paste kneading machines, machines for making rice cake/dumplings and noodle making machines.

Confectionery and bread baking machines on display will include biscuit making machines, candy-making machines, machines for making confectioneries and bread and machines for making and wrapping bean paste. In addition, machines for supporting the above will also be displayed, including agitators/grinders from two companies, and mixer/kneader and powder-conveying machines.

In the category of meat-processing machinery, machines for making ham and sausage, for making meatballs and hamburgers and for smoking meat will be exhibited.

Cooking machinery has almost been automated. Computer-equipped mixers from three companies, slicers from three, ultrasound cutters from three, mixing/grinding machines from two, ovens from two, a granulator, kneaders from two, steam heaters from two, an emulsifying machine, a heat changer, a homogenizer, a steamer, washing machines from three and a water desalinating machine will be on display.

Other food processing machines displayed will include a drainage system, a thawing and heating refrigerating machine, pumps from two companies, a high-frequency thawing device, a filtration machine, a freezer, a thickener and a conveying machine.

Tokyo Pack 2014 will have fulfilling exhibits for food packaging system. Exhibits will include retort sterilizing systems from two companies, ultraviolet sterilizing systems from two, electron beam sterilizing systems from two and a sterilized filling and packaging system from one. Systems supporting food safety and security will also be on display including sterilizing and disinfecting systems from three companies, a concentrate filling system, a pharmaceuticals filling system and a measuring system of potato starch value.

Food companies have been required to install clean units in order to enhance the safety and security of orally ingested products. With this trend in the background, the following are displayed: clean rooms from three companies, bio clean booths from two, air showers from three, washing equipment from two and sanitary equipment from five. With regard to packaging materials of foods, sterilizing systems (UV, γ-ray, and electron beam) are displayed. In addition, HACCP-compatible engineering systems designed to completely coordinate the above systems will also be exhibited.

Other food-related equipment will also be displayed including food processing machines, cooking machines and showcases for food. Equipment for preserving food will also be on display in relation to the above exhibits. Visitors can see the tendency toward system unification from food making and processing to filling and packaging.

Under the tightened GMP regulations, the importance of validation has been recognized for pharmaceuticals. A granulator, a non-contact jet dispenser (liquid-discharge device), a pharmaceutical examination analyzer and components for pharmaceutical processors and inspection machines will be exhibited.

A tendency is that works are entrusted to specialists in the trade. Commissioned packaging and processing from three companies, γ-ray irradiation committed services from one, consignment inspections from two, a commissioned microbial test from one and total packaging systems from two will be presented.

At Tokyo Pack 2014, pharmaceutical information will be provided at the Pharmaceutical Packaging Pavilion and a Seminar on Pharmaceutical Packaging will be held there. This will be a great opportunity to obtain up-to-date information on pharmaceutical packaging.

[5] Equipment related to inspection, measurement and packaging (68 companies, 194 booths)

This category, with its diverse exhibits, has always attracted much attention. Progress in labor-saving and automation creates the need for inspection machines. The tightened GMP for pharmaceuticals requires validation and calibration, leading to the need for highly accurate inspection equipment. For food, in particular, automating detection, inspection and records in order to ensure traceability in HACCP comprehensive hygienic management is required. Since foods and pharmaceuticals are orally ingested, any commingling of foreign matter is completely unacceptable; visual- and foreign matter inspections are greatly needed.

The highlight of the exhibition will be the traceability system from three companies and IC tags because traceability is essential for food safety and security. Optical visual inspection devices from ten companies, color and shape recognizing and sorting machines from two, thickness-measuring devices from four, metal detectors from eight, X-ray foreign matter detectors from eight, pinhole testers from five and leakage detectors from two as well as a gripping detector, openability tester, package break strength tester and indicator tester will be displayed.

Since inspection, measurement and assessment are to be judged comprehensively, they should be systematized. In this category, the following will be displayed: image recognition systems from three companies, inspection and analysis systems from five, an automatic recognition system, a character recognition management system, a barrier film assessment system and a printing/plate inspection/inspection system.

In the category of the packaged cargo test, testing/inspection equipment and recorders used for drop testing, shock measuring, vibration test and shipping environment recording will be exhibited.

In the category of measurement and analysis equipment, the displays will include the following: highly sensitive cameras from two companies, high-speed cameras from two, microbial testing equipment from two, highly sensitive moisture content measurement equipment from six, oxygen gas concentration measurement equipment from six, carbon dioxide concentration measuring equipment from two and a general analyzer. Unification of line systems is in progress to realize power/labor-savings and higher production efficiency. Packaging-related equipment in this category includes weight checkers from four companies, washers from four companies, clean room-related devices and air conditioning systems from four companies, a 3-dimensional centroid detector, laser equipment, an electrostatic eliminator, a humidifying device, blowers and a carrier device system. Elements for this equipment and devices will be exhibited too, such as label detection sensors and friction sensors as well as blades, motors, LED indication lamps and spray nozzles.

In addition to inspection devices, sorting machines for recognizing weight, color and shape, as well as peripheral devices such as array apparatus, collection devices and feeders are needed and will be exhibited at Tokyo Pack 2014.

Environment-related equipment and facilities are of note in relation to the Fundamental Law for Establishing a Sound Material-Cycle Society, the Containers and Packaging Recycling Law and the Waste Management Law in force in Japan. The coming exhibition will present processing equipment/machines such as collection and press machines and empty can/bottle collecting machines, environment-related analysis and measurement control equipment such as a Styrofoam volume reduction machine, crusher/grinding mill, sealing/screening machine, cleaning machine, transport system and automatic trash compactor. In addition, recycling processing machines and systems, environment-related analysis/measurement control equipment, packaging waste processing machines and other environment-related equipment will be displayed.

[6] Packaging design and communication services (12 companies, 26 booths)

The packaging industry has devoted itself to manufacturing because it is an order-based industry. In order to break away from this, the industry must become a source for providing information. The packaging industry is an information business; proposing a structure and design fit for each product as information is also necessary. The coming exhibition will display packaging plans from five companies, marketing and sales promotion support from five, POP from two and packaging designs from seven, which are expected to become information sources. With the IT revolution and computerization, packaging CAD/CAM and packaging system software designing will be exhibited.

Tokyo Pack 2014 will have a Package Design Pavilion that is expected to be a place for designers and companies to meet. At the same time, a Package Design Pavilion Seminar will be held and visitors can hear experienced designers.

[7] Equipment & services for distribution and physical distribution system (19 companies, 75 booths)

Distribution consists of commercial- and physical distribution. The latter delivers goods from producers to consumers. Its mainstream is now logistics, in which physical distribution is systemized under the market-in concept based on consumer demand plus economic perspective. Physical distribution is changing because it includes information services with commercial distribution added by means of computers such as those via the Internet and intranets as well as cell-phones. Companies place physical distribution centers throughout Japan and build warehouses as delivery bases, where the goods are sorted and picked. The coming exhibition will display automatic sorting systems from two companies and automatic picking systems from three, as well as palletizers from four, depalletizers from four and dollies from two. Other than these, transportation equipment will be displayed such as mechanical mules from four companies, balancers from two, conveyers from six, hand lifters from seven and an unmanned carrier. Under ongoing containerization and palletization, containers from five companies, pallets from three, physical distribution materials and machine parts from 15 will also be displayed. In addition, load simulation software from one company to enhance load efficiency will also be on display. In order to make the physical distribution more rational for small volume and high frequency delivery, third party logistics (3PL) has started in which competitors’ goods are loaded and transported together. In Tokyo Pack 2014, transportation services, commissioned physical distribution services, contract international combined transportation services and consulting will be exhibited.

[8] Exhibits from abroad (Group or direct presentation)

The number of exhibitors from overseas has increased compared to the previous exhibition. For group presentations, China, showing remarkable economic development, will have 77 booths for 65 companies and Taiwan 80 booths for 33 companies.

Other than exhibitors from Asia including China, the Republic of Korea, Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia and Taiwan, those from Europe and America will display state-of-the-art packaging materials, equipment and systems through their agencies and joint venture partners in Japan, drawing great attention. Exhibitors from abroad as a whole show great willingness to set up booths at Tokyo Pack 2014 from their expectations for the Japanese market and business talks with Japanese companies.

In the coming exhibition, packaging journalists of IPPO (the International Packaging Press Organisation; working in Asia, Europe, North and South America and Australia) will be invited to lecture. Speakers from Singapore, Australia, Brazil, India, Holland, Norway and the United Kingdom will lecture on the latest packaging trends in each region in Global Packaging Trend Seminars by Packaging Journalists. These seminars will provide useful perspectives in deciding policies and actions concerning future packaging. In addition, the Invest Department of the Swedish embassy will hold the Sweden Forum and present six lectures.

More visitors than ever before are expected to come from overseas to Tokyo Pack 2014 in visit-Japan teams or as exhibition observer groups. This international exhibition will provide opportunities for close personal exchanges with packaging-related parties from all over the world.

The exhibitors from abroad are the following 15 countries and number of companies: China (74), Taiwan (35), the Republic of Korea (5), Thailand (3), Malaysia (3), the Philippines (1), Vietnam (1), Indonesia (1), Germany (2), Italy (2), Holland (1), Sweden (5), Switzerland (2), Canada (1) and the U.S.A. (3).