中文From May 19–22, 2026, at the Fira de Barcelona, FESPA successfully launched Corrugated — a new dedicated expo and conference co-organised with Brunton Publications, designed to provide a targeted platform for small-to-medium sized corrugated converters navigating the technologies and regulations currently shaping their sector. The debut event attracted 1,257 visitors from 40 countries and delivered a quality audience that exhibitors described as commercially significant, with 71 percent of attendees holding senior roles and the same proportion possessing decision-making authority.
The Strategic Rationale Behind Corrugated
The launch was driven by the rapid growth of digital print in graphical packaging. Small-to-medium corrugated converters — companies that have traditionally operated in a market dominated by analogue flexo production — are now facing a dual transformation. On one side, digital print technologies from Canon, Durst, EFI, and HP are making short-run, high-value corrugated production economically viable for the first time. On the other side, regulations including the PPWR in Europe and extended producer responsibility frameworks globally are imposing new requirements on packaging materials that converters must understand and respond to.
FESPA identified a gap in the event landscape. Existing corrugated industry events tend to serve large integrated converters and focus on high-volume analogue production. Digital print events tend to serve commercial and wide-format printers with limited corrugated-specific content. Corrugated was designed to bridge both worlds, bringing digital print innovators together with corrugated-specific technology suppliers in a context focused on the specific needs of mid-market converters.
Exhibitor Composition: Bridging Two Communities
The inaugural event secured participation from leading corrugated brands — Advantive, Bobst, ePS, and Koenig & Bauer — alongside established digital print innovators familiar to the FESPA community, such as Canon, Durst, EFI, HP, and Kongsberg Precision Cutting Systems. This combination of traditional corrugated technology providers and digital print specialists is what distinguishes Corrugated from other events in this space. It gives attendees access to both analogue and digital production solutions in the same exhibition hall, enabling direct comparison and integrated planning.
Frederic Goudard, Marketing and Communication Manager at Bobst, described the event as a key platform to exchange insights, explore industry trends, and strengthen relationships shaping the future of packaging. Amit Shvartz, General Manager and COO of Scodix, called FESPA’s new Corrugated event a must-attend, noting that it offered the perfect opportunity to connect with key decision-makers and showcase latest innovations.
The Quality Over Quantity Metric
While 1,257 visitors from 40 countries is a respectable attendance figure for a debut event, the more significant metric is the quality profile. With 71 percent of attendees holding senior roles — directors, CEOs, owners, or managers — and 71 percent possessing decision-making authority, Corrugated delivered an audience that exhibitors could engage with at a strategic level rather than a purely informational one.
The largest audiences came from Spain, the UK, Italy, Germany, Romania, France, Netherlands, Portugal, Poland, and Ukraine, reflecting the European focus that FESPA events naturally attract. Among the attendees were leading multinational integrated companies with Group-level Technical Directors and Divisional CEOs from some of the world’s largest paper and packaging companies.
The collective median visitor budget of €177 million signals strong propensity to invest in new technologies — a figure that makes Corrugated commercially meaningful for exhibitors evaluating return on investment against other events in their calendar.
Canon’s Endorsement and the Future
Mathew Faulkner, EMEA Marketing and Innovation Director at Canon Europe, stated that FESPA is the ideal event for Canon in the wide-format market, uniting the community and providing a unique opportunity to explore emerging technologies. Whether it is décor, personalisation, or Corrugated — which Canon was proud to exhibit in and sponsor — FESPA is the perfect platform to showcase the power of digital print-on-demand across multiple verticals.
FESPA Corrugated Ambassador Nick Kirby described the debut as delivering a very successful first edition, with good footfall and great conversations on the show floor, coupled with the conference providing insightful presentations across market trends and the future of the industry. The overall feedback from visitors and exhibitors has been overwhelmingly positive, and a solid foundation has been developed for future editions.
Following the success of the launch, the Corrugated expo will officially return to the event calendar in 2028. For corrugated converters who attended the debut, the return date gives them a planning horizon for technology investment decisions. For those who missed it, the 2028 edition promises a more established event built on the foundations validated in Barcelona.
Source: FESPA — “Corrugated debut delivers high-value success for packaging and displays supply chain”
