ProPak Asia, largest processing, filling and packaging industry event in Asia and a must attend event for all international machinery and equipment manufacturers and suppliers that seek to penetrate the Asian markets, comes at a time when businesses in Thailand and the Asian region are actively exploring innovations to move forward with higher value added products and greater variety of products and packaging. Thailand's National Food Institute (NFI) has projected food exports from the country to expand by 6.2 per cent to 970 billion baht (US$29.89 billion) in values this year.

“The food and drink manufacturing industries are pillar economies in Thailand and continue to grow at strong growth rates. Pharmaceutical manufacturing is also growing well. Even with the ongoing political situation Thailand’s economy remains robust and continues to grow. Food exports are up by approx. six per cent this year. ProPak Asia 2014 will once again be our biggest ProPak Asia in history increasing approx. five per cent and covering all six halls of BITEC” said Justin Pau, General Manager, Bangkok Exhibition Services (BES) Ltd.

ProPak Asia incorporates PharmaTech Asia, DrinkTech Asia, PlasTech Asia, CanTech Asia, SeafoodTech Asia and Lab & Test Asia. The exhibition will have a comprehensive conference and seminar programme on packaging developments with focus on environmental trends.

The ProPak Asia will take place on four days from June 11 to June 14, 2014 at Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre (BITEC) gathering leading market and industry players showcasing the latest innovative technologies and machineries.

It will provide large and small businesses, entrepreneurs and potential investors from diverse industries an unusual opportunity to experience the latest in processing, filling and packaging technology.

"Throughout the accumulative experiences and state-of-the-arts in organizing this professional business platform for 22 years, ProPak Asia has created a high volume of trade through the information generated and business contacts made at the show and has also developed and advanced consistently. And ProPak Asia is regarded as the pride of Thailand which is recognized and praised as the leading, largest and most international regional trade exhibition for the food, drink and pharmaceutical processing and packaging industries”, says Supawan Teerarat, Vice President, Strategic and Business Development of Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), Official Supporter of the event.

ProPak Asia 2014 will be attracting over 1,800 participants from over 40 countries, 14 national pavilions from 11 different countries/regional groups including China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Spain, Taiwan, United Kingdom and the USA and over 4,000 machines from across the world.

Says Lim Jiaxin, Head, International Relations, Association of Small & Medium Enterprises, Singapore “ASME is pleased to be supporting ProPak Asia 2014 for the third consecutive year. Being Asia’s premier event for international manufacturers and providers in related industries, the fair serves as a congregation of potential and ideas that will generate remarkable mileage for both exhibitors and trade visitors alike.”

ProPak Asia 2014 will feature six dedicated zones to make it easier for suppliers and buyers to meet and conduct business. Creating dedicated zones in exhibition will be the effective method to enhancing the experience of both exhibitors and visitors. The zones are:

• DrinkTechAsia 2014- The 13th International Beverage and Brewing Processing and Packaging Technology Exhibition.
• Lab&TestAsia 2014 - The 8th International Laboratory Equipment, Instrumentation, Test and Measurement and Quality Control Exhibition
• PharmaTechAsia 2014- The 21th International Pharmaceutical & Cosmetics Packaging and Processing Technology Exhibition.
• PrintTechAsia 2014 –The third International Printing for Processing and Packaging Technology Exhibition

New for 2014 are FoodTechAsia 2014 and Packaging Materials Asia 2014. FoodTechAsia 2014 - The International Food Processing and Packaging Technology Exhibition. FoodTechAsia is showcases food processing & packaging machines, technology and services. Packaging Materials Asia 2014 is the International Packaging Materials Exhibition.

Alongside ProPak Asia 2014 will run many industry related conferences, seminars and events including Asia Drink Conference 2014 organised by Bangkok Exhibition Services Ltd and Eastern Trade Media, Food Innovation Asia Conference 2014 organised by the Food Science and Technology Association of Thailand (FoSTAT), Food Innovation Contest 2014 organised by the Food Science and Technology Association of Thailand (FoSTAT), PharmaTech Seminar 2014 organised by the Pharmaceutical Industry Association Thailand (PIAT), Thai Packaging Centre and TISTR Conference 2014 organised by Thailand Institute of Scientific and Technological Research (TISTR), The Department of Industrial Promotion Seminar 2014 organised by the Department of Industrial Promotion (DIP), The FoSTAT-Nestle Bowl Quiz organised by the Food Science and Tecnology Association of Thailand (FoSTAT), The 7th Plastics in Packaging Conference organised by Asian Plastics News, The Thai Star and Asia Star Packaging Award 2013 organised by the Department of Industrial Promotion (DIP).

ProPak Asia 2014 will be the biggest ever edition covering over 45,000 sqm or six halls of BITEC. It will present 14 international groups from China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Spain, Taiwan, United Kingdom and the US.

ProPak Asia 2013
ProPak Asia 2013 processed, packaged and delivered more business from right across Asia. The 21st successful edition of ProPak Asia recorded its biggest-ever event occupying all six halls at BITEC after expanding from five halls the previous year. The total size was over 40,000 sqm.

ProPak Asia 2013 won plaudits from the industry for a bigger show that delivered more. More national pavilions, more exhibitors, more visitors, more machines, more events and more business opportunities.

According to Albert Lim, Hon. Chairman, Packaging Council of Singapore (PCS),“The quality of exhibitors and visitors gets better and better every year. ProPak Asia is definitely the key regional show for Southeast Asia.”

“Propak Asia is indeed a very successful and very good show. With more National Pavilions, more exhibitors with bigger booths and more visitors. As for the exhibits, I am seeing more integrated packaging systems, high speed grading machines, automation systems such as pick & place, which will help industries in the region to overcome labour shortage problems. Also, more exhibits of packaging machinery, materials, transfer systems and related products. ProPak Asia is a remarkable show in this region”, he commented

ProPak Asia 2013 delivered high quality and quantity trade visitors from across Asia with a total of 39,281 from 65 countries, which represents a 10 per cent increase from the previous year. The show also saw strong attendance from buyer group delegations with a total of 86 groups attending from the food, drink and pharmaceutical industries players including; Ajinomoto, Asia Pacific Breweries, Batagro, Bayer Thai, Beer Thai, Beer Thip (1991), Beiersdoff, Belucky, Beri Jucker, Big C, Bio Lab, Boonrawd, Cargill Meat, Colgate, CPF Group, CP-Meiji, DKSH Thailand, Dole Thailand, F&N Dairies, Greenspot, Heineken, Ichitan, Johnson & Johnson, Oishi Group, Osotspa, P&G, Pepsi-Cola Thai Trading, Pfizer Thailand, PT. Sinar Sosro, San Miguel, Sermsuk, Siam Drug, Siam Pharmaceutical, Thai-Bev, Thai Namthip, Thai President Foods, The Government Pharmaceutical Organization, Tiger Beer, Tipco Foods, Unilever and many many more as well as country groups including Bangladesh, Indonesia and Japan.

ProPak Asia 2013 saw 12 international group pavilions from China, France, Germany, Spain, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, UK and the US and attracted 1,669 participants from 43 countries and showcased over 3,600 machines from across the globe. Many exhibiting international groups testified to ProPak Asia's proven position in Asia and strong consistent growth.

The event had a focused approach for the industry with five dedicated zones including DrinkTechAsia, Lab&TestAsia, PharmaTechAsia, PlasTechAsia and PrintTechAsia and also launched two new feature areas including Packaging Materials and Warehousing & Logistics to highlight growing demand from these sectors.

The many conferences, seminars and presentations at ProPak Asia 2013 received overwhelming response from delegates with high attendance, exciting discussions and business networking.

Among them, the inaugural Asia Drink Conference 2013 highlighted market opportunities, key trends and technology updates. The FoSTAT Food Innovation Asia Conference 2013 — Empowering SME’s through Science and Technology delivered insightful industry topics over a two- day programme. The ThaiStar and AsiaStar Packaging Awards 2013 showcased the best packaging designs and other events including Thai Packaging Centre & TISTR Conference, PharmaTech Seminar, VDMA Conference, Thailand-Japan Technology Promotion Association Seminar, FoSTAT Food Innovation Contest, FoSTAT-Nestle Quiz Bowl, APN Plastics in Packaging Conference and many exhibitor product and technical presentations delivered high quality trade visitors to ProPak Asia 2013 exhibition.

"ProPak Asia 2013 was once again a great success. It’s our biggest show on record, growing every year and now filling all six halls of BITEC. I’m delighted with the positive industry response and recognition ProPak Asia continues to receive as the high quality, proven and trusted industry platform delivering business from right across Asia. ProPak Asia truly is the industry’s regional show.”Said Justin Pau.