Dear Reader,
The corona virus confronts us with the big question of how the pandemic will affect the economy in general and the packaging industry in particular in the long term. The regionally quite different health crisis is on the way to causing an extraordinarily deep economic crisis from which not only the poorer countries of the world will suffer.
But it’s not just uncertainty that rules the day. Packaged products are more in demand than ever right now. Packaging producers have their hands full to meet demand. Machine and system manufacturers do a great job of looking after and supplying their customers - locally and worldwide - with the best possible service. There are no limits to creativity. Digitization provides the necessary boost.
Innovation instead of stagnation, courage instead of resignation, partnerships instead of hierarchies - this is how we can describe the mood that we encountered in the preparation of this issue, on the road, over the phone, in virtual meetings. On the one hand, there is an improved acceptance of plastic packaging on the consumer side. On the other hand, there is hope that customers will soon free up the investment backup, triggered by uncertainty. The packaging industry is ready to take on the challenges of the market and with competitors and meet them with new developments, on the market and the competition. Fit to battle.
Take care and all the best.
Yours,
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Otto Appel, PETnology/tecPET GmbH
