New ideas, new technology, new methods for tissue makers and converters
Excitement is now building for Tissue World 2013, the world’s largest event targeted specifically at the soft hygienic tissue paper business. This is the first time that Tissue World will be held in Barcelona, after moving from Nice where it has been since it started in 1993.
The tissue industry has shown strong support for the move. Top-level speakers, tissue makers and converters from around the globe, and most of the world’s suppliers to the tissue business, are all keen to be part of the event.
Sofidel CEO to speak
Luigi Lazzareschi, CEO of the Sofidel Group based in Lucca, Italy, will be among the speakers at the opening management/ markets session of the Tissue World Conference on Monday 18 March. Sofidel, which recently surpassed the milestone of one million tonnes per year of annual capacity, is Europe’s number two tissue producer and number six in the world. It has undergone very dynamic growth throughout Europe over the past two decades and is now also entering the US market.
Numerous other companies and organisations such as SCA, WWF, RISI and the European Tissue Symposium have also agreed to be on the Day One management and markets session. Other speakers will of course be joining this session.
Floor space is 90% filled
By late October, five months before the show opens, around 130 companies from all over the world have booked stand space at the event. Many exhibitors are joining the show for the first time.
In terms of net space this means about 3,700 square meters have been booked, very close to the total size of the most recent Tissue World 2011 in Nice. The space is now over 90% allocated with only about 300-400 square meters remaining on the floor plan.
Excellent learning opportunity
Tissue World isn’t just a show. It’s an experience for all tissue makers and converters looking for new ideas, new technology, new ways of doing things, and new approaches to improve their business.
By getting out of their day-to-day routine, visitors to Tissue World find new stimulation and inspiration to help them do their jobs better. This can include both meeting daily operational challenges, as well as assisting in developing longer-term corporate and product strategies.
The combination of the exhibition of suppliers, with the management/market sessions and the technical sessions, as well as the Yankee dryer workshop, give tissue makers and converters everything in one event.
Good for planet, and profits
The theme of the conference for 2013 is “Evolution or Revolution: The Next Steps in Sustainable Tissue Making.” Many companies in the tissue industry are today taking giant steps to become even more sustainable.
What is good for the environment is often good for the bottom line as well. Clearly, the critical inputs for tissue making, such as fibres, energy and water, are becoming more scarce and expensive raw materials. At the same time, many environmental groups, retailers and consumers are focusing on the tissue industry and the responsible use of these raw materials.
Savings all through the supply chain from raw materials to converting, packaging, wrapping and transport can mean reduced environmental impact, as well as reduced costs.
Thus, despite some initial hesitation about the move to Barcelona, the event is developing very nicely and will once again be the focal point for the world’s tissue business next March. The dates of the event are 18-21 March for the conference meeting sessions, and 19-21 March for the trade show of vendors. For more information, please visit tissueworld.com.
