Dear Readers,
In September, Munich will once again become the centre of the global beverage and liquid food industry. drinktec is not just a trade fair – it has always been a barometer for the current state and future direction of our industry. This is where high-tech equipment meets circular economy, digital production control looks for innovative packaging solutions, and market requirements find solutions. Sustainability and AI will, of course, be buzzwords floating around the halls again – not as a compulsory exercise or challenge, but as a strategic competitive advantage.
However, alongside this enthusiasm for innovation, a shadow is hanging over global markets. This year, more than just technological excellence is at stake. The ongoing trade tensions between the US and other economic regions are no longer a mere footnote. Punitive tariffs on materials, machinery and intermediate products are directly or indirectly affecting almost all players in the PET packaging industry. In such a globally interconnected industry, this acts as a brake on investment, planning, security and growth.
drinktec 2025 will therefore also be a place where challenges are discussed, answers are sought, and potential solutions are debated:
- How can we secure our supply chains against geopolitical turmoil?
- How can we establish fair market conditions without compromising our innovative edge?
- What will the rPET market look like in the future?
- How can we use sustainability as a real driver of profitability, rather than just an image factor?
One thing is clear: in today’s world, anyone who visits drinktec just to look at new machines in showcases is missing the point. The key to an economically and ecologically successful future lies not in machine concepts, but in dialogue between manufacturers, suppliers, brands, retailers and politicians. Drinktec offers the international beverage industry a platform that should no longer be used just to go faster, higher and further. It offers an opportunity, and the industry should seize it. With this in mind, we wish all exhibitors and visitors a successful drinktec 2025.
Stay tuned! Recommend us!
Yours,
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Otto Appel
PETnology/tecPET GmbH
