For a few days, Düsseldorf once again became the “capital” of the packaging industry as Interpack 2026 returned to the city between 7 and 13 May. The exhibition welcomed around 2,800 exhibitors from 67 countries.

At first glance, packaging may seem like a relatively straightforward industry, yet in reality it connects a wide range of sectors, from food production and pharmaceuticals to logistics and manufacturing. Today, packaging is expected not only to protect products, but also to be sustainable, cost-efficient and suitable for increasingly complex transportation and supply chain requirements. Interpack focuses on practical solutions to these challenges.

One of the key themes of this year’s event was sustainability. Companies are placing growing emphasis on recyclability and on producing reliable, high-quality packaging solutions while reducing both raw material and energy consumption. Alongside this, automation and digitalisation are also playing an increasingly important role across the industry.

With the coordination of HEPA Hungarian Export Promotion Agency, six Hungarian exhibitors had the opportunity to present themselves at the national stand. Among them was the Hungarian Association of Packaging and Materials Handling (CSAOSZ), one of the leading professional organisations of the Hungarian packaging sector, supporting industry representation, professional cooperation and information sharing, while also actively contributing to discussions related to regulation and sustainability.

Krajcár Packaging Ltd. and Sipospack Ltd. specialise in flexible packaging materials primarily used in the food industry. Pikopack Metal Packaging and Volánpack Ltd. focus mainly on industrial and logistics packaging solutions. CODEX Ltd. is connected to the sector through its specialised printing and security technologies, particularly in the fields of product identification, traceability and anti-counterfeiting solutions.

Based on exhibitors’ feedback, this year’s Interpack created valuable business development opportunities. Hungarian companies established several new partnerships, and many of them highlighted how encouraging it was to see that numerous international companies were already familiar with their activities and approached them directly during the exhibition. The event also provided an excellent opportunity to explore new technologies, manufacturing solutions and potential suppliers.