Gulfood Manufacturing, the largest food and beverage processing and packaging show in the region, will welcome a strong global line-up from 55 countries when it returns live and in-person next month.
Some 1,250 exhibitors will be at the event, which runs from November 7 to 9 at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) with solutions to transform an industry that is increasingly important to the UAE’s economic diversification drive.
In March this year, the UAE had launched Operation 300 Billion, an ambitious 10-year programme to double the contribution of both light and heavy industrial manufacturing sectors to the economy, providing AED300 billion ($81.6 billion) to GDP by 2031.
Gulfood Manufacturing 2021 will address the sector’s pressing issues, including sustainable packaging, automation, and global F&B supply chain dilemmas.
"From robotic packing solutions and integrated manufacturing breakthroughs to tech-based ingredients, the show and conference progamme will furnish delegates with first-hand experience of all the megatrends and innovations redefining the global food manufacturing sector," explained Trixie LohMirmand, Executive VP, Events Management, DWTC.
"Gulfood Manufacturing is powering smart innovations in food manufacturing this year, which is reflected in the appetite from all the major industry names to be here and use the event as a platform to chart the sector’s future, answer challenges and meet rising demand for automation," stated LohMirmand.
The exhibitor line-up includes many of the world’s top manufacturing innovators and global food processing and packaging players who will demonstrate sector-breaking production advancements including the move towards collaborative robots (Cobots) and machine vision lasers for the verification of packaging dimensions. Many of the innovations will be demonstrated to visitors via Gulfood Manufacturing’s Innovation Tours.
A vast range of industry heavyweights have already confirmed their participation, including Schneider Electronics, GEA, Krones, Cargill Tate & Lyle and Multivac.
UAE-based ipack, a producer of aseptic packaging material for products such as milk, juices, cheese, tomato paste, and others, has hailed the show’s timely return and the chance to address industry challenges.
"The return of Gulfood Manufacturing is more important than ever post-pandemic, presenting us with the ideal opportunity to address several challenges and respond to emerging trends by showcasing one of the safest, high-quality packaging materials in the market," said Ruben Rizk, Head of Sales & Marketing for ipack.
"We are anticipating a hugely successful event and engaging with a huge number of potential partners in a safe and successful environment," he added.
Fellow key exhibitor, SIG Middle East, a leading systems solutions provider for aseptic packaging, believes digital transformation, emerging trends and consumer demands have given industry players even greater scope to demonstrate innovation to the world at Gulfood Manufacturing.
Abdelghany Eladib, President and General Manager, SIG Middle East said: "We see the emergence of industry 4.0 and a digital transformation that is reshaping the F&B manufacturing industry."
"This has led to the creation of a new era of digital operations boosting transparency, efficiency and sustainability, and enhancing the manufacturing process. Another growing digital trend is maintenance, a market that is set to be worth almost $11 billion by 2022, up 39 percent since 2017. With SIG’s planned 360 controller, we have a digital solution to transform every aspect of filling plant operation," he added.
Running alongside the exhibition will be Gulfood Manufacturing’s probing knowledge exchange programme featuring the heralded Foodtech Summit, Innovation Tours, Food in First Workshops and Connexions Programme.
Additionally, to ensure the entire food chain ecosystem is catered for, three sector-specific events will be co-located alongside the event: Private Label and Licensing Middle East, the only Private Label and Licensing Exhibition in the Mena; yummex Middle East, the region’s most established sourcing platform for the sweets and snacks industries and Speciality Food Festival, a leading event for the gourmet and fine food industry.
Source: TradeArabia News Service
