At interpack 2026 from May 7–13 in Düsseldorf, the VDMA, together with its partners from academia, research, and industry, will showcase innovative solutions for a sustainable, efficient, and digitized packaging industry. In the Technology Lounge in Hall 4, Booth C54, the focus will be on the three key themes of the trade fair: “Smart Manufacturing,” “Innovative Materials,” and “Future Skills.”
The Technology Lounge will showcase PPWR-compliant and circular packaging concepts, technologies for the safe processing of recycled materials, digital tools for knowledge management and quality control, as well as solutions for product certification and brand protection. The program will be complemented by an educational and recycling trail, as well as workshops on the circular economy.
VDMA PPWR-Infopoint
The EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) will introduce new obligations for companies from 12 August 2026, including those in the machinery and plant engineering sector. It applies to all packaging placed on the market in the EU, regardless of whether it is used in the B2C or B2B sector and regardless of the material it is made of. The VDMA will provide information on the requirements of the PPWR in its Technology Lounge at interpack.
Fiber-based packaging – Recyclable packaging solutions: fiber-based, functional, PPWR-compliant
Pulpe Project: Alternative Materials for Beverage Containers
Bio-based, recyclable, reusable: Krones AG is researching how alternative beverage packaging is compatible with existing and new machinery. One example of an alternative container material is the pulp bottle.
Papure: Joining paper withouth foreign materials
With the novel joining technology „Papure“ developed by Fraunhofer IVV, fully recyclable and compostable paper packaging can be produced while ensuring 100 percent seal integrity. For the first time, »Papure« enables the joining of paper without the use of foreign materials such as polymer layers or adhesives. In this process, the paper is laser-pretreated and subsequently joined using a spezialized heat-contact sealing method.
TransMet: Transfer metallization fort he production of barrier layers
Fraunhofer IVV has developed a special transfer film designed to apply ultra-thin inorganic barrier layers to paper and bio-based films. An indirect metallization process enables stable, reproducible barrier properties even on uneven surfaces. The process is compatible with existing equipment and does not require significant investment.
Innovative fiber-based packaging concepts
Fraunhofer IVV is showcasing the development of new, fiber-based, and recyclable packaging. This includes thermoformed paper packaging with functional barrier coatings, self-separating multi-material packaging, alternative packaging concepts made from regional peatland plants, and pouch packaging with functional barriers.
Recyclate-based packaging – Processing recycled materials safely: Technologies along the material flow
HIS: Save and efficient sealing of monofilms
The patented high-speed impulse sealing process »HIS«, designed for the reliable and efficient sealing of monolayers by Fraunhofer IVV, enables energy savings of up to 95 percent and can also be used for demanding applications such as high-speed processes, temperature-sensitive products, and narrow process windows.
MoTIV: Processing of recycled materials and prototyping
The flexible development and pilot facility »MoTiV« enables comprehensive analysis of material properties, targeted testing of process parameters and tooling, and the realization of prototypes from batch size 1.
Deep-drawable barrier coatings
The deep-drawable barrier coatings of Fraunhofer IVV combine product protection and thermoformability within a recyclable mono-material concept – without compromising process stability or quality. The technology enables the safe and food-compliant use of recycled polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) in thermoformed packaging applications.
Digital tools for the shelf life forecast
Even minor modifications in material composition, film thickness, or design can significantly affect shelf life and product quality. The digital tools for the shelf life forecast of Fraunhofer IVV provide a reliable basis for decision-making at an early stage by simulating scenarios even before materials are manufactured on an industrial scale. This allows for an optimal balance between product protection and plastic reduction.
VERA: Energy and resource monitoring
The »VERA« data collection system of Fraunhofer IVV tracks energy and resource consumption as well as the efficiency of processing and packaging equipment. The system links consumption measurements to the operational status and provides consumption data accurate to the second for each package, machine, or process step. This generates reliable real-world data for sustainability reports such as the CSRD and identifies clear opportunities for optimization.
Digitalization and Smart Packaging – Solutions for digital knowledge management, automated quality control, VR training, and tamper-proof product identification
Company Chatbot: Digital knowledge management
Ask your company’s chatbot! The digital knowledge management system of Fraunhofer IVV preserves the company's internal specialized knowledge and expert experience over the long term through systematic documentation using engineering psychology methods. Knowledge is made available via a wiki with an integrated chatbot, which makes internal knowledge easily accessible to all employees.
imageSAM: Digital operator assistance system
With the »imageSAM« operator assistance system developed by Fraunhofer IVV, companies can fully automate their visual quality monitoring and documentation in production. This enables the automatic detection of deviations and defects in the production process, the identification of defect causes, and the linking of these findings to digitized application knowledge.
VR‑Training for production staff
Virtual Training offered by Fraunhofer IVV provides employees with practical skills without disrupting day-to-day operations. In virtual reality, employees can learn about machine functions, process relationships, and troubleshooting in a flexible schedule and outside of production hours.
SmartID: Digital product passport and brand protection in a single QR code
The Fraunhofer Institutes for Open Communication Systems (FOKUS), for Secure Information Technology (SIT), and for Applied Polymer Research (IAP) are introducing SmartID, a tamper-proof product protection solution that enables manufacturers and retailers to uniquely identify every single product, detect counterfeits at any time, and protect their brand in the long term.
By combining surface fingerprinting with a digital product passport, companies gain full transparency into their supply chain, reduce complaint costs, and prevent revenue and reputation losses caused by counterfeits. SmartID is an easily integrable, ready-to-use solution for any printing and production line.
Circular Economy through Circular Society – Experience the circular economy firsthand
CirQmind – The learning and recycling trail towards a circular economy
ITQ GmbH and the Gerda Stetter Foundation are introducing CirQmind, a project that combines the circular economy, AI, and STEM education. The event will showcase the recycling process—from plastic lids to injection-molded products—as well as the AI Candy Machine, an AI demonstrator. There will also be workshops featuring LEGO Mindstorms, Arduino, and recycling stations, as well as themed days on AI and the circular economy, and a Young Talents Day.
Where to find us at interpack
Visit us in the VDMA Technology Lounge in Hall 4, Booth C54. We look forward to seeing you there!