Walking for dairy

I have recently returned from Milan, where a phone-based programme showed that we had walked 13,000 steps (or thereabouts) the first day of DairyTech and 11,000 or so the day after. I don’t often hit the target of 10,000 steps per day so it was gratifying. There was a lot to see at IPACK-IMA, which has expanded its long-standing packaging show by adding Dairy Tech, Meat Tech and Fruit Tech to the mix. We walked through those, and then popped into other halls to see other machinery producers. In some ways, it’s tough to separate out the sectors, as manufacturers make equipment for so many industries.

There were a lot of interesting innovations, with Ecolean collecting the WorldStar award for its SnapQuick closure, at the prize award ceremony. SnapQuick has gained international recognition as a lightweight and convenient reclosing device that can be integrated into several of Ecolean’s packaging solutions, the firm says. Gualapack, meanwhile, showcased a tamper-evident pouch for the baby food market, complete with a very large plastic cap that would be too difficult for small children to swallow.

The show also benefited from the Milan Expo, which is running until October. We saw more than one group of confused tourists being kindly pointed to the direction of the metro so they could continue their journey to the non-packaging Expo. I for one thought international expositions had gone the way of Queen Victoria and New York’s deserted site in Queens, but I am mistaken. In some ways, it is comforting to note that in a world full of stress and horror, countries still want to put their best feet forward and build temprorary structures to showcase their cultures and cuisines. A bit like the Olympics. I even purchased a t-shirt.