Record carton congress kicks off in Italy

ECMA president Andreas Blaschke confirmed the joint congress had drawn the largest audience ever to such an event organized by the European association of carton makers.

Pro Carton president Roland Rex said the main goal of Pro Carton is to inform and educate the industry about the role of cartons in the packaging market, noting the ongoing competition between cartons and plastics as the packaging material of choice.

‘We want to convince the market and end users of the opportunities and importance of cartons as a packaging medium, and this congress is an important part of that work.’

To this end, Rex detailed the work that is being done on regulatory affairs and sustainability by Pro Carton, adding: ‘The Pro Carton ECMA Award 2014 is the ultimate proof of the creativity, technical excellence and potential of cartons.’

Winners in the Pro Carton ECMA Award 2014 competition are to be announced at a dinner and reception at the end of the first day of the 2014 ECMA Pro Carton Congress.

Rex noted that this year has seen the highest number of entries to the award contest.

The latest Pro Carton Young Designers Award competition prize will also be presented at this event.

Blaschke added: ‘ECMA is in a good position, with converter and supplier member numbers increasing.’

Jean-Francois Roche, ECMA marketing and communications committee chairman, detailed the extent of ECMA’s growth in a further presentation.