The International Packaging Group (IPG) met in Chennai (formerly known as Madras), India from April 7th to 12th. ITC Limited, the packaging & printing member from India led by R Senguttuvan, hosted the meeting, which was organized to a highly professional level that characterizes the IPG meetings.
ITC's Packaging & Printing Business is the largest value-added converter of paperboard packaging in South Asia. It converts over 70,000 tons of paper, paperboard, and laminates per annum into a variety of value-added packaging solutions for the food & beverage, personal products, cigarette, liquor, and consumer goods industries. The 50 participants, all very experienced and knowledgeable in the technical aspects of the folding carton industry, spent four intense days covering a wide range of topics.

IPG, which is characterized by openness and integrity among its members, held special sessions with extensive discussions on clever tricks (cheap, easy, quick) and workshops on waste, maintenance, and automation.
The associate members (suppliers: Bobst, Heidelberg, Koenig & Bauer, Esko, HP Indigo and Sun Chemical) presenting their latest innovations and planned developments.

Other topics featured on the program:

• Productivity benchmarking
• The latest news on atomization/logistics
• Quality tolerance negotiations
• Waste introduction and lean definition
• LED UV app in packaging and printing
• Improve the plant productivity with the Shop Logix System
• Associate presentations
• “Proud of” exhibition

Invited Special guest speaker was:

S Chandramohan, President & Group CFO – TAFE Ltd & Chairman-Elect- Confederation of Indian Industry – Tamil Nadu
One of the highlights of the meeting was a visit to ITC’s plant in Tiruvottiyur near Chennai (in the South).
ITC proudly showed the rest of the members its proficiency in high value-added packaging and printing. The plant was very busy, and the plant supervisors were happy to show most machines running at peak performance.
The associate members of IPG are organizing special tours and presentations for the active members during 24-25 June at DRUPA and The International Packaging Group (IPG) will meet after Drupa from 26-30 June for the 2020 IPG Technical meeting which is scheduled to be held in the UK and hosted by Alexir Packaging Limited.