SHANGHAI – 16 June 2008 — Chinese manufacturers of consumer and industrial products are increasingly turning to technology as the answer to rising labor and quality costs. This move has created considerable opportunities for international and domestic suppliers of processing and packaging technology and a surge of interest in this sector.

According to the organizers of ProPak China 2008, China’s premier processing and packaging technology trade show, which will take place at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre ( SNIEC), Pudong from 9 –11 July 2008, demand for space in the exhibition has never been higher.? “Space bookings are 20% up on the 2007 show, ” claimed Brendan Jennings, General Manager of China International Exhibitions, the exhibition organiser. Jennings added, “2008 will be record size for ProPak, reflecting the new demand by Chinese manufacturers seeking the latest processing technology. In the late 1990’s only international companies or their joint ventures used advance technology in their plants in China. Following the rise of labor and material costs, Chinese companies have found that to compete, even in the domestic market, they must also install the latest processing and packaging technology into their factories”.

Over 500 companies from 21 countries will bring new and innovative processing and packaging technology and solutions for industry including dairy, pharmaceutical, cosmetics, food, snacks, confectionery, beer, beverages, FMCG and industrial manufacturing to the show. This year however, the organisers claim that more than 40% of exhibitors will feature processing equipment specifically for food, beverage and dairy industries, with significant display from industry leaders including Heat and Control, Visys FoodTech, Oystar, GEA Tuchenhagen, Aeroglide, Urschel, FMC Food Tech, ARBURG Wittmann, Yamato, Jin Yi , Volant, Beijing Xinnenggaoke and many more. “ This year, ProPak China has recruited more processing companies than ever before” stated Vicky Leung, Assistant Project Director of ProPak China.? Heat and Control, a world leader in dry foods processing technology and a regular exhibitor at ProPak China will show food processing lines made in their East China factory. While Beijing Xinnenggaoke, a new exhibitor at ProPak China are offering a wide range of dry and liquid food processing equipment. Vicky Leung added : “ ProPak China is the priority choice and proven platform for the industrial buyers sourcing the latest processing and packaging equipment in China.? Most of the exhibitors are repeat clients as this show delivers an increasing number of high quality visitors every year, both from China and overseas”.

ProPak China is unique amongst trade shows in China by virtue of the significant presence of international exhibitors participating every year. This year, ProPak China 2008 has again won the support of international/regional pavilions

from Germany, Japan, Korea, Taiwan Region, UK and USA.? Trade associations and organisations which are supporting these pavilions include German Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Association (VDMA): the largest foreign pavilion at the show, Japan Packaging Institute (JPI), Japan Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Association (JPMMA), Korea Trade Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA), Korea Packaging Machinery Association (KPMA), Taiwan Association of Machinery Manufacturers (TAMI), Processing & Packaging Machinery Association (PPMA), Food Processing Suppliers Association (FPSA) and Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Institute (PMMI).?? </P>

Alongside the ProPak China 2008 exhibition, many specialist industry conferences and events on packaging and processing are scheduled including: technology regulations for safe pharmaceutical manufacturing, Packaging Innovation Awards by Ringler Publishing, development of canning technology in China, FMC Food Tech seminar. In addition, a series of liquid packaging meetings including the Annual General Meeting of the Brewing Committee of the China Food Industry Association and Technology Forum and a seminar on beverage trends in East China by the Shanghai Beverage Association. All these meetings provide further opportunities for exhibitors and visitors to network with industry peers