Interpack 2026 will be a significant event for many companies: an opportunity to see technologies in action, compare solutions, and gather concrete ideas for future decisions. But there is one aspect that is often overlooked: arriving at the trade show without having already clarified certain key parameters means running the risk of comparing machines in the wrong way.
When it comes to industrial packaging, simply watching a vertical packaging machine in action isn’t enough. The real question is this: Is that solution suitable for your product, the result you want to achieve on the bag, and the way your production line operates?
That’s why the decision isn’t made at the trade show. It’s made earlier, when you carefully identify the factors that really make a difference.
What factors should you consider before comparing vertical packaging machines?
Before visiting a trade show or requesting a quote, it’s worth taking a moment to establish a clear technical foundation. The product, weight, production rate, bag size, film type, and line objectives matter far more than the machine’s visual appearance. Once these elements are defined, the comparison becomes faster, more concrete, and, above all, more useful.
The main points that need to be clarified in advance are as follows:
- Product behavior: Bulk density , particle size distribution, flowability, dustiness, tendency to compact or trap air—these are all characteristics that directly affect the filling, dosing, and stability of the product in the bag.
- Required weight and production pace: Precision and speed must always be considered together. Handling small formats with tight tolerances is very different from working with larger bags while maintaining production line continuity.
- Bag size: Proportions , base, height, and volume all affect aesthetics, leak resistance, stability on pallets, and logistics efficiency. Size is not a minor detail, but a key design variable. To learn more about this, you may find it helpful to read about how acustom bag size is developedusing 3D simulation.
- Film to be used: Stiffness , barrier properties, sealability, and elasticity all affect the quality of the bag, the strength of the seals, and the consistency of the process. In fact, the film is an integral part of the final product. This is another reason why thefilm’s role in the final quality of the bagmust be evaluated well before selecting the machine.
- Dosing or weighing system: In many cases, the critical factor is not the packaging machine itself, but the interaction between the machine, the dosing unit, the weighing unit, and the actual behavior of the product.
- Project objective: Whether the goal is to reduce waste, increase precision, improve pallet stability, protect the product, introduce new formats, or optimize TCO, each objective changes the design priorities.
When these aspects remain vague, even a well-organized visit risks leaving visitors with nothing more than a general impression. When they are clear, however, the trade show becomes a much more effective tool for decision-making.
The most common mistakes made by those who arrive at the trade show with overly broad criteria
One of the most common mistakes is evaluating a tool without starting from your own specific situation.
A demo can be convincing, but it doesn’t automatically replicate the behavior of your product, your film, or your format. And this is precisely where many incomplete assessments arise.
Some of the most common mistakes include:
- focus primarily on the stated speed, without verifying the accuracy, stability, and consistency of the process;
- postpone the assessment of the bag and film formats, treating them as details rather than design variables;
- treat the packaging machine as an isolated component without considering the entire system (dosing, weighing, sealing, logistics);
- arriving at the trade show without a shared technical specification sheet, making it difficult to make a meaningful comparison between solutions;
- thinking about a new machine when the problem actually lies with the process or the line configuration.
Why arriving at interpack 2026 with a solid technical foundation makes all the difference
Visitors who arrive at the interpack trade show with clear objectives ask more targeted questions, compare solutions more quickly, and can immediately rule out those that don’t meet their needs. They don’t just collect brochures; they verify actual compatibility. This approach reduces the risk of returning to the office with many options on the table but few concrete factors on which to base a decision. The most useful step, before the trade show, is therefore to focus on your specific situation: product behavior, dosing or weighing objectives, bag size, film characteristics, logistical requirements, and expected results.
When necessary, the most effective way to resolve uncertainty is to conduct a thorough technical review.
If you want to arrive at interpack 2026 with clear criteria and an assessment tailored to your specific needs, get in touch with the VAI team. Together, we’ll analyze your product, dosage, format, film, and production line objectives, so that comparing solutions is faster, more technical, and truly useful.
And if you're at the trade show, stop by and see us: Hall 12, Booth 12E72.
