Indian packaging looks ahead to InterPack 2026

Global and domestically-based international players underscored a transition toward sophisticated, digitised, and sustainable solutions:

Festo (Ranjan Singh Chadda, national sales manager): The organisation emphasised a commitment to smarter, sustainable, and automated solutions as the “need of the hour.” Its focus includes seamless connectivity and a “no code” palletiser system, simplifying integration and changeovers.

Festo's new 80-acre factory in Bengaluru and its focus on skilling through programs like Festo Didactic and a vocational training academy underscore India's role as a major manufacturing and knowledge hub.

Cyklop (Drumil Kaloo, sales head - EWS India): This century-old, German-based firm is actively bringing its European expertise in origin marking and end-of-the-line packaging to the Indian market. The company is driving the adoption of sustainable packaging, notably through innovative products like paper straps and paper wrapping to reduce plastic use.

Cyklop is optimistic about the future, predicting a robust 17-18% CAGR for the Indian packaging industry over the next five years, and plans to open a consumables plant in India within two years.

Valco Melton (Dan Gardner, director marketing development): Showcasing a groundbreaking vision inspection system that utilises both visual and infrared lighting for 100% inspection of flexible packaging. This technology can detect critical defects in seals, zippers, and even debris inside a pouch—a major step forward for quality assurance in food and pharmaceutical packaging, and one that is poised for rapid success in India's fast-growing flexible sector.

Domestic firms elevating exports and quality

Indian manufacturers, driven by a commitment to quality and technical expertise, are increasingly viewing global events like Interpack as essential for expansion:

Unique Equipments (Gurunath Keshanur, director): Directly confirmed its plan to exhibit at Interpack 2026. As a Goa-based manufacturer of metal inspection systems (metal detectors) for the food and pharma industries, the company is focused on scaling its international presence, having already supplied to 18 countries.

To maintain a competitive edge, Unique Equipments ensures its machines adhere to global compliances like GMP, HACCP, and USFDA, and is planning to introduce new X-ray inspection machines to the market within a year.

Rothe Packtech (Ravindra Rothe, director): The Pune-based manufacturer of end-of-line packaging firm highlighted its global reach, with exports to 12+ countries and channel partners in Europe and Southeast Asia.

Rothe Packtech is a prime example of an Indian company committed to international quality, having delivered both CE and UL certified systems. The company, which is aiming for a USD 12-million turnover, is actively expanding its global network with a new MOU soon to be signed with a Canadian partner.

Synapse Robotics (Vijay Ram Balasundaram, founder): While focused on the high-growth domestic need for secondary and tertiary packaging automation (case packing and palletising), the Coimbatore-based firm’s core strength is providing customised, safety-conscious solutions to multinational clients.

With a strong in-house design team, Synapse Robotics applies stringent international safety and design standards—learned through projects with global brands and exports to the US, Middle East, and Malaysia—to all its solutions, effectively raising the quality bar across the Indian market.

Conveline (Krunal Patel, director): Conveline’s focus at Interpack is clear: On international markets. It aims to create a perception of Conveline as a very good Indian brand with quality and durability. The company believes that in Europe and the US, quality is the key parameter, and it delivers quality conveyors which are CE certified.

The collective message from the interviews points to a significant investment in automation, a clear drive towards environmental sustainability, and a non-negotiable adherence to global quality and safety standards.

This technological maturity is set to place India in a prominent position at Interpack 2026, showcasing the country's growing prowess as a reliable and innovative global packaging partner.