Madrid, 8 October 2020_ Easyfairs Iberia, organiser of Spain’s leading co-located packaging and logistics exhibitions, Empack (incorporating Packaging Innovations) and Logistics & Automation Madrid, due to take place at IFEMA on 25 & 26 November 2020, today announced that the event will be postponed to 21 & 22 April 2021 in a decision that has been taken in consultation with the Spanish packaging and logistics industries and due to the ongoing Force Majeure situation.

Easyfairs confirmed that it has been overwhelmed by the support it has received for the event from the industry as a whole and its crucial role in bringing the industry together. Oscar Barranco, Divisional Director of Easyfairs Iberia, commented: “As a company, we have worked tirelessly to put in place numerous safety measures and therefore we remain confident that we would have been able to deliver a safe event to the highest possible standards if we were in a position to run the show.”

However, given the unforeseeable, unavoidable, unprecedented and global scope of the Coronavirus, to ensure the highest quality and a successful event for the market and also guarantee the health and safety of all involved, Easyfairs has decided to postpone the event to next April in order to deliver a safe environment in which the entire community can feel confident and focused on business, networking and engagement. Ensuring an opportunity to bring the community together in April at a time in the year that is hugely convenient for budget discussions with buyers. With this move, Easyfairs also reaffirms its commitment to ensuring the industry has this valuable opportunity to gather and reignite business opportunities as the world emerges from the Coronavirus pandemic.

Alongside, it is also launching a series of digital events that will run throughout the year to keep the industry informed and provide inspiration in a year in which it faces new challenges and which will provide an opportunity to keep in touch with industry developments in the run up to the live event in April 2021. These dedicated online panels and keynote presentations will tackle thought-provoking and relevant topics to help the community to continue to grow through these increasingly digital times.

Barranco added: “2020 has been a very unusual year: the Covid-19 pandemic has had a huge impact on everyone’s lives and specifically in the exhibitions industry on the ability to bring people together to run live events over the past months. Although we are currently in challenging times, it has not only highlighted the potential of the digital world but also the true value humans place on meeting and interacting with one another in person. This gives us a very exciting opportunity to revitalise our event offering and reignite other opportunities through an increased digital – and even hybrid – presence.

“We made the decision to postpone the 2020 edition in close consultation with our exhibitors, visitors and partners, taking into account their feedback and requirements and balancing the need for an opportunity to come together with the current circumstances surrounding the pandemic in Madrid. Running an event in April provides us with the best possible timing to do this. Our top priority is the health, safety and wellbeing of our exhibitors, visitors and staff. I would like to thank them all, and the wider packaging and logistics communities, for their ongoing support and commitment to the event.

“Our team never stops and is working hard on shaping an exceptional edition in April 2021, full of high-quality content and business opportunities for the manufacturing community. Events will definitely play a huge role in the economic recovery.”

Easyfairs will announce its programme of digital events in the coming weeks; for further information about these and the 2021 event, visit www.empackmadrid.com / www.logisticsmadrid.com or email madrid@easyfairs.com.

About Empack and Logistics & Automation Madrid

Empack and Logistics & Automation is the annual leading event in Spain for packaging and logistics & automation. With more than a decade of experience, it is the must-attend meeting point for industry professionals and the ideal space to generate networking, business and expand knowledge about the latest trends in packaging, packaging, labelling, POS, intralogistics, warehousing, automation and robotics.

For more information please visit www.empackmadrid.com and www.logisticsmadrid.com or contact us at madrid@easyfairs.com

About Easyfairs

Easyfairs organises and hosts live events, bringing communities together to visit the future.

The company currently organises 200 events in 14 countries (Algeria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom) and manages 10 event venues in Belgium, the Netherlands and Sweden (Antwerp, Ghent, Mechelen-Brussels North, Namur, Gorinchem, Hardenberg, Venray, Gothenburg, Malmö and Stockholm).

Easyfairs employs more than 750 people and generated revenues exceeding €166 million for its financial year 2018-2019.

Easyfairs strives to be the most adaptable, agile and effective player in the events industry by employing committed individuals, deploying the best marketing and technology tools and developing strong brands.

In 2018 Easyfairs was named Belgium’s “Entrepreneur of the Year®” and earned recognition as a Deloitte “Best Managed Company” and a “Great Place to Work”.  For the second year running, Deloitte has conferred “Best Managed Company” status on Easyfairs in 2020.

The company is ranked 17th in the list of the world’s leading exhibition companies.

Visit the future with Easyfairs and find out more on www.easyfairsgroup.com.

For further information, please contact:

Mariana Castell

Marketing Manager, Easyfairs Iberia

mariana.castell@easyfairs.com