Record attendance, high-level international participation, and a renewed synergy across the supply chain marked a transformative edition for IPACK-IMA and Pharmintech 2025.

The 2025 editions of IPACK-IMA and Pharmintech concluded with resounding success, establishing a new benchmark for the global processing and packaging industries. Held from May 27 to 30 at Fiera Milano, the exhibition exceeded all expectations, confirming its role as a premier international platform for process technologies, packaging solutions, and innovative materials across both food and non-food sectors.

Compared to its 2022 edition, the show registered remarkable growth: the number of international exhibitors more than doubled—surpassing 400 companies—and foreign visitor attendance increased by 51%, reaffirming the event’s position as a strategic hub for industrial innovation.

Unprecedented Engagement and Global Reach

Key figures from this year’s event underscore its global relevance and impact:

• 70,560 professional visitors (compared to 68,802 in 2018), including 22,579 international attendees from over 100 countries—a 22% increase from 2018.
• Over 1,300 exhibitors at IPACK-IMA, with 38% representing international companies.
• More than 300 exhibitors at Pharmintech, 35% of which were from abroad.
• 45+ thematic events featuring 150 top-tier speakers, offering deep insights into trends, technologies, and policy landscapes.

The co-location of IPACK-IMA and Pharmintech once again demonstrated the strength of their strategic alliance, delivering integrated solutions and fostering cross-sector collaboration among complementary industries.

Smart Factories in Action

Among the highlights were three complete production lines dedicated to flexible packaging, beverage, and coffee sectors. Live demonstrations of cutting-edge technologies drew strong interest from professionals eager for practical and scalable solutions. These showcases not only underscored the industry’s technical advancements but also revealed a growing appetite for collaboration—even among competing firms—aimed at driving shared innovation and market value.

A Growing Role for Processing Technologies

While packaging has traditionally been at the core of IPACK-IMA, the 2025 edition reflected a notable shift toward processing technologies. Key players from the food, non-food, and pharmaceutical industries enriched the exhibition offering, underscoring the increasingly integrated nature of processing and packaging solutions in the modern production ecosystem.

Beyond the Exhibition: A Complete Experience

Set against the dynamic backdrop of Fiera Milano, IPACK-IMA 2025 offered a truly immersive experience that went far beyond a typical trade fair. Attendees engaged in business development, trend exploration, and technology discovery, all within an environment that combined innovation, digital transformation, sustainability, and human connection.

Strategic Vision and Future Outlook

Looking ahead, IPACK-IMA’s international strategy continues to evolve. In June 2025, the show’s global roadmap resumes with participation in ProPak Asia, supported by a strategic partnership with Informa Markets. In 2026, Bevertech will make its debut, organized in cooperation with the Italian Wine Union (UIV) and running alongside the renowned Simei winemaking fair. This new initiative aims to respond to the growing demands of the liquid food and beverage sector.

Simone Castelli, CEO of IPACK-IMA, said the following about the event: “We have surpassed the benchmark set in 2018, but the true success of IPACK-IMA lies in the quality of the relationships it fostered. The collaboration between exhibitors and visitors—and notably among often-competing companies—resulted in a high-impact, innovation-driven environment.”

Valerio Soli, Chair of IPACK-IMA, made the following assessment: “In a rapidly evolving market, IPACK-IMA has proven to be a trustworthy platform. It provides not only valuable business opportunities and tools for understanding the market but also a forward-looking vision that drives development along the entire value chain.”  

Next Edition: IPACK-IMA 2028

IPACK-IMA will return from 29 May to 1 June 2028, with a renewed format designed to deliver even more advanced, high-performance experiences tailored to a future-ready manufacturing sector.

The Innovation Alliance: Evolving Strategy, Continued Synergy

IPACK-IMA 2025 was once again part of The Innovation Alliance—a collaborative platform uniting four leading exhibitions: GreenPlast, IPACK-IMA, Print4All, and Intralogistica Italia. This year’s joint edition attracted 108,458 professionals from 143 countries and 1,857 exhibitors (39% international), reinforcing the value of a shared approach focused on digitalisation, sustainability, and industrial synergy.

Looking ahead, each of the four events will operate on independent timelines to better serve the specific needs of their industries, while continuing to collaborate through shared content, cross-sector initiatives, and strategic alignment—ensuring The Innovation Alliance remains a cohesive force in driving the future of manufacturing.