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PPMA packaging exhibition is postponed to 2021
Published:  02 July, 2020

One of the few industrial trade shows still scheduled to be held in 2020, the PPMA packaging and processing event, has been postponed for a year until September 2021. The exhibition, which had been due to take place at the Birmingham NEC from 29 September to 1 October this year, will now take place from 28-30 September, 2021, at the same venue.

The PPMA’s directors say that the decision to postpone the event has been taken “in the interests of health and safety for all concerned”.

This decision, they add, “has not been taken lightly. We considered the implications for visitors and exhibitors in respect of everything from social distancing, availability of hotels, travel and the preparation time required.

“The Government has also not yet relaxed restrictions regarding mass gatherings, nor has it published any guidelines for staging large-scale events such as ours when the restrictions are lifted. All in all, we felt the risk was too great. The health and well-being of those involved remains paramount, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic.”

The PPMA Show’s director, Richard Little, adds: “It’s the first time that we will not be staging our flagship event since the show’s inception in 1988, which is really disappointing.

“While we are pleased that the Covid-19 infection rate currently appears to be declining in the UK, the future trend is by no means certain and the risk remains. There are too many unknown variables to consider and our utmost priority is, of course, to ensure the safety of all those involved with our show.

“We also had to consider that many of our exhibitors and visitors to our shows are categorised by the Government as key workers, providing a range of essential engineering and maintenance services to aid the critical supply of food and pharmaceutical goods.

Because of the Coronavirus epidemic, the PPMA packaging and processing exhibition has been postponed by a year until September 2021

“On behalf of the PPMA,” Little continues, “I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our exhibitors, suppliers, registered visitors, staff members and media partners alike for their continued support during these unprecedented times. We now look forward to PPMA Show 2021.”

PPMA Show 2020 was on course to be one of the largest PPMA shows in 32 years, with more than three quarters of its exhibition space sold seven months before the Government lockdown in March.

The PPMA Show Web site will continue to provide information for exhibitors and visitors, including video content.