Swop 2026

Attendees, exhibitors & solutions

Who this event is for

Industry trends

Key trends shaping this market and its wider industry.

Arrival airports

Choose from the following airports, with convenient access to the event and venue.

Hotel tiers

A range of accommodation options near the venue and across key areas.

Local transport

Get around the city with these convenient transport options.

Frequently asked

Glossary

1

Primary packaging

The package that directly contains and protects the product, such as a pouch, bottle, blister, tube or can.

2

Secondary packaging

Packaging that groups primary packs for retail or logistics, such as cartons, shrink bundles and shelf-ready cases.

3

Tertiary packaging

Transport packaging such as corrugated shippers, pallets and stretch-wrapped loads.

4

Flexible packaging

Film, foil, paper and laminate structures that conform to the product, including pouches, sachets and wrappers.

5

Rigid packaging

Containers that hold their shape, including bottles, jars, cans, tubes and thermoformed trays.

6

Aseptic filling

Filling sterilised product into sterilised packaging in a controlled environment to extend shelf life without refrigeration.

7

Modified atmosphere packaging (MAP)

Replacing air in a pack with a gas mix to slow spoilage in fresh food.

8

Vacuum packaging

Removing air before sealing to limit oxidation and microbial growth.

9

End-of-line packaging

Packaging operations after primary filling, including case packing, labeling, coding, checkweighing, palletizing and stretch wrapping.

10

Case packing

Loading primary or secondary packs into shipping cases, often automated with robotic or wrap-around case packers.

11

Palletizing

Stacking cases or packs onto pallets, using robots or layer palletizers, then stabilizing with stretch film or straps.

12

Labeling and coding

Applying product labels, date codes, batch codes and serialization marks.

13

Thermoforming

Heating plastic sheet and forming it into trays, cups or blister cavities.

14

Blister packaging

Forming a cavity in plastic film and sealing it to a backing card or foil, common for pharmaceuticals and small consumer goods.

15

Converting

Unwinding, printing, coating, laminating, slitting and rewinding flexible materials.

16

Mono-material packaging

Packaging built from a single polymer or fibre stream to simplify recycling.

17

Smart packaging

Packs with sensors, indicators or connected labels that monitor condition, authenticity or freshness.

18

Active packaging

Packs that interact with the product or headspace, such as oxygen absorbers or moisture regulators.

19

Serialization

Assigning unique identities to units and cases for traceability and anti-counterfeit compliance.

20

Track and trace

Capturing and sharing pack-level data through production, distribution and retail.

21

Filling and sealing

Dosing liquid, paste, powder or granular product into containers and closing them leak-tight.

22

Cartoning

Erecting, loading and closing folded cartons for primary or secondary packaging.

23

Caps and closures

Lids, caps, pumps and dispensing systems that seal or dose a pack.

24

Sustainable packaging

Design and material choices that reduce material use, improve recyclability or support reuse.

25

E-commerce packaging

Right-sized mailers, boxes and void-fill systems designed for parcel networks.

26

Processing line integration

Linking preparation, filling, packaging and end-of-line equipment into one controlled line.

27

Inspection and quality control

Checkweighers, metal detectors, X-ray systems, vision inspection and leak testing.

28

Design for recycling

Packaging design that uses compatible materials, removable components and clear sorting marks.