ZELLCHEMING–Expo 2023 attracted numerous representatives of the international paper and cellulose industry to the RheinMain CongressCenter (RMCC) in Wiesbaden.
Over three days, from June 20 to 22, this major industry event offered more than 2,647 registered attendees and around 150 exhibitors, sponsors and partner companies extensive opportunities for an *intensive exchange of information and casual networking. Around 400 guests attended the popular Summer Evening at the Chausseehaus in Wiesbaden.
Figures increase significantly all along the line
ZELLCHEMING Service GmbH, together with the association, had turned many screws and focused on new offers to further improve the already very positive balance of the previous year. This was successful all along the line: The number of visitors increased by 41% compared to the previous year, the number of exhibitors also went up by 10%. The visitor structure also reflected very well the organizers’ ambition to address representatives of production companies in the paper and fiber–based industries: around 45% came from manufacturing companies, 35% from the supplier sector, 7% from the scientific community, and 9% from the finishing sector and press representatives. In addition, 310 attendees who could not be on site took advantage of the opportunity to access the conference presentations online and attend virtually.
Ambitions realized
The ambition to increasingly attract both executives and young talent to the Expo was also realized:
More than 45% of event attendees hold a leadership role in their company, while about 18% of attendees are in training or studying.
“We see that our event reaches the important target groups and focuses on the right topics for our industry,” said Prof. Dr. Helga Zollner–Croll, who was elected as the new president of the association during the ZELLCHEMING general meeting on the second day of the fair. “We are really fulfilling our claim to be the platform for professional technical exchange for all those involved in the development of sustainable paper– and cellulose–based products. This makes us satisfied and spurs us on!”
Petra Hanke, Managing Director of ZELLCHEMING Service GmbH, emphasizes: “I am pleased that Expo 2023, which represents an important interface between technical association work and industry, has continued to gain strong traction. It pays off that we in the team have put a lot of energy and heart and soul into the event!”
Three days of highlights
A practice–oriented program over three days of the trade fair offered visitors to the ZELLCHEMING Expo the opportunity to obtain specific information and further training on individual topics and application areas. In addition, there were two workshops that addressed the work in the technical committees and were very well received.
Prof. Dr. Helga Zollner–Croll and Dr.–Ing. Ernst–Ulrich Wittmann moderated the panel discussion at the opening of ZELLCHEMING–Expo 2023 under the title: “Innovative energy concepts in the paper and fiber–based industry”. For this purpose, they asked Peter Bekaert, Modellfabrik Papier, Dr. Lada Bemert, Vice President New Business & Research at Voith Paper, Thorsten Becherer, Site Manager & Managing Director at Essity Professional Hygiene, and Daniel Klüh, PhD student at the Technical University of Munich, Institute for Regenerative Energy Systems, to take the stage.
The welcoming address by Robert Habeck, the German Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate, set the tone for the conversation that followed:
“Transformation is a shared task,” Habeck said in his video message, explaining that this industry and the ZELLCHEMING association had a crucial role to play in “finding new solutions to the challenges” facing society, politics, and business.
The panelists contributed interesting insights from their respective perspectives and agreed that the paper and fiber–based industry can make a decisive contribution to the necessary decarbonization, provided it manages to clearly formulate its will to shape the future, bundle initiatives and drive integration with other sectors. Then the German paper industry could become a pioneer – not only in Europe, but worldwide.
Get together!
On the first evening of the Expo, the exhibition hall remained open longer for the networking evening for all visitors and numerous exhibitors had come up with something special for the parties at the stands, which was very well received. The following evening then attracted nearly 400 guests to the ZELLCHEMING Summer Evening at the Chausseehaus in Wiesbaden’s Stadtwald.
“The opportunities for exchange and togetherness were very well received; our industry is indeed highly technical, international and efficiency–driven – but it is also based on a strong and reliable network of personal contacts, and cultivating these valuable connections is a top priority for us in the association!” said Ulrich Wittmann, the new ZELLCHEMING past president.
Career in focus
On the third day of the fair, the ZELLCHEMING Career Day celebrated a brilliant premiere. More than 300 young professionals, who had traveled to Wiesbaden in groups, filled the foyer and exhibition hall and spread out over ten customized program spots. These included, for example, the presentation of the ZELLCHEMING Young Talent Award, the keynote on the topic of “No need for 08/15 jobs – What Generation Z really wants”, a visit to the Newcomer Pavilion and a live guided tour in ABB’s demo truck, but also participation in the Paper Rally, with professional game management.
“We aim to make ZELLCHEMING Expo even better every year. Our new initiatives to push the number and quality of participants and content formats further forward, and to focus on modern communication, have paid off,” says Petra Hanke. “The feedback we have received so far has been extremely positive. We will build on this in preparation for Expo 2024!”
The next ZELLCHEMING Expo will be held in Wiesbaden, Germany, June 18–20, 2024.
Link to the highlight film: https://youtu.be/Z5nypPzyfkI
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