Four main topics focusing on the future of the industry
High demand from abroad
With one and a half years left until drinktec 2021 kicks off, preparations are well and truly in full swing. The world’s leading trade fair for the beverage and liquid food industry will provide insights into the industry’s future by focusing on four main topics: Sustainable Production & Packaging, Consumer World & Product Design, Water & Water Treatment, and Digital Solutions & Digital Transformation. Despite the coronavirus crisis, demand both within Germany and from abroad is stronger than ever, with the majority of the available floorspace having already been snapped up. drinktec will be held from October 4 to 8, 2021, at the Munich trade fair.
“Despite the fact that drinktec has been postponed until October 2021 and despite the coronavirus crisis, demand for the available floorspace, primarily from abroad, is considerably higher compared to the same point in time for the previous event”, explains Exhibition Director Markus Kosak. “It is clear that our clients have high hopes that the event, set to take place in the fall next year, will boost international business. It goes without saying that the earlier clients register, the greater their chance of securing the area that they want.”
Four main topics focusing on the future of the industry
In view of recent market developments, the exhibition team and the drinktec Advisory Board have, together with the Food Processing and Packaging Machinery Association of the VDMA (German Mechanical Engineering Industry Association), identified four main topics. These will have a huge influence on the content of drinktec 2021 and will shape the special focus areas, the exhibition area and the expert panel discussions in the forums.
Main topic: Sustainable Production & Packaging
Do paper bottles already exist?
Beverage producers are already adopting a proactive approach as energy- efficient machines are an absolute must in production. Individual components that can also be retrofitted at any time have the power to improve consumption data. Innovative lubricants, for example based on algae, could potentially also turn out to be game changers in the future.
Sustainability is also the name of the game when it comes to beverage packaging: PET bottles made from 100% recycled material, the material used for caps, and the recycling of bottles which feature direct-to-bottle printing will also have a bearing on the industry in 2021. Packaging developers are also increasingly thinking outside of the box. Paper bottles, which are currently still at the prototype stage, have the potential to provide an innovative and environmentally-friendly form of packaging. As fully recyclable materials, glass and metal continue to be attractive options. It will be interesting to see if cardboard and bag-in-box solutions become more popular, in particular in light of ever-changing consumer behavior.
Main topic: Consumer Landscape & Product Design
Juices that are more like teas
Natural ingredients, a reduced sugar content and organic products are currently on trend with consumers and influence their purchasing decisions. Market researchers from Mintel Group are reporting that producers are blurring the lines between juices and teas as well as smoothies and cold soups. Vegan protein shakes are also set to provide new and inspirational flavor profiles. At the same time, people are increasingly enjoying beverages at home as a result of restrictions imposed due to the spread of the coronavirus. This has led to increased demand for wine as well as new and creative beer styles. This is having a positive effect on the alcoholic product segment. It is still difficult to say whether and exactly how consumer behavior will change due to and after the spread of the coronavirus. However, one thing is for sure: beverage producers need to factor in people’s desire for transparency. Ingredients and their origins need to be consistently tracked along their journey all the way through to consumers – for example with blockchain solutions.
Main topic: Water & Water Management
Industrial water 4.0
Water management is one of the most urgent and pressing issues for many beverage producers who have to deal with limited availability of this precious raw material. There are two key points regarding beverage production which will be of particular interest to drinktec attendees: the treatment of product water and the economical use of process water.
Cloud solutions and real-time monitoring of the production systems involved provide opportunities for carrying out swift analyses and interventions. These measures can all be grouped under the term “industrial water 4.0”, which for example involves the use of improved sensor technology and process simulations to provide practical criteria for making swift decisions and to enable flexible approaches to using facilities.
Main topic: Digital Solutions & Digital Transformation
Artificial intelligence-led production
Connectivity is becoming increasingly important even in classic beverage production processes. Tools for simulating machine designs have already made a good name for themselves. Beverage producers are given an extensive insight into machine designs well before they are installed. In order to achieve highly automated production, data from the environment (such as the weather and its influence on beverage consumption) are incorporated into production with the help of artificial intelligence (AI) calculations. Digital solutions ultimately ensure that all the participants along the supply chain are connected: machine manufacturers with beverage producers, and beverage producers with their logistics providers, suppliers and, not least, consumers.
More background information on the main topics will be continuously provided in the drinktec blog and via the drinktec social media channels.
About drinktec
drinktec has been held in Munich since 1951 and every four years since 1985. It is the most important event in the industry. Manufacturers and suppliers from all over the world, including global concerns and SMEs, meet up here with producers and retailers of all sizes in the beverage and liquid food sector. The future is shaped at drinktec. The trade fair is regarded as the number one platform for world premieres. Manufacturers showcase their latest technologies for the production, filling and packaging of all kinds of beverage and liquid food – including raw materials and logistics solutions. The themes of beverage marketing and packaging design round out the portfolio. The next drinktec will be held in Munich from October 4 to 8, 2021.
Messe München
Messe München is one of the world’s leading networking platforms. In a reflection of the slogan “Connecting Global Competence,” Messe München serves as a global networking platform and brings together decision makers from all parts of the world. Messe München’s portfolio comprises more than 50 trade fairs for capital and consumer goods as well as new technologies that focus on the latest social issues. These trade fairs include the world-leading trade fairs bauma, BAU, IFAT and ISPO Munich. The roughly 200 events organized by Messe München each year attract about 50,000 exhibitors and 3 million visitors.
Messe München has one of the most modern exhibition grounds in the world and with its four locations in Riem, the ICM – Internationales Congress Center München, the MOC Veranstaltungscenter München, and the Conference Center Nord, is able to fulfill all its customers’ requirements individually. Messe München is very successful in its domestic market in Munich as well as in other countries. It is active in all important growth markets: China, India, South Africa, Brazil, Russia and Turkey. Overall, Messe München, with its network of associated companies and foreign agencies, is present in more than 100 countries.
