Interpack 2026 will be one of the key venues for presenting processing and packaging solutions for the pharmaceutical industry. New therapies, increasing regulatory requirements and cost pressure are significantly changing the profile of the pharmaceutical sector, and thus the expectations placed on technology suppliers. Production processes are becoming more complex, more tightly integrated and more demanding in terms of quality, sterility, batch traceability and efficiency. In response to these challenges, the organisers of Interpack 2026 will consolidate the offer for the pharmaceutical sector in three halls, creating a coherent environment for the presentation of machines, materials and processes.
Interpack has long mapped the entire value chain in processing and packaging while creating clearly defined zones for individual user industries. For the pharmaceutical industry this means a concentrated space where packaging solutions, packaging lines, processing systems and digital tools are presented in direct connection. In halls 15–17, on around 40,000 square metres, companies such as IMA, Fette Compacting, Bausch & Ströbel, Uhlmann Pac-Systeme, Groninger, Multivac Health Packaging, Körber Pharma, Romaco, Optima, Harro Höfliger Verpackungsmaschinen, CAM and Marchesini Group will showcase their solutions. The offer for pharma will be partly combined with solutions for the cosmetics industry, as both sectors are characterised by high requirements regarding precision, hygiene and process reliability and in many areas rely on comparable technologies.
Positive outlook and rising requirements
The outlook for the global pharmaceutical market remains favourable. According to VDMA/Euromonitor, the value of pharmaceutical products manufactured worldwide in 2024 amounted to around 1.9 trillion euros. Experts forecast growth of 24 per cent by 2029. The main growth drivers are populous and dynamically developing markets such as China, India and Brazil, as well as regions in South East Asia, North Africa and the Middle East.
At the same time, the requirements for production and packaging are changing significantly. New therapies and highly active ingredients require flexible, networked production systems. Processing and packaging requirements are also increasing, while costs are rising, supply chains are becoming more volatile and there is a need for further improvements in process efficiency. The companies present in the pharmaceutical segment at Interpack 2026 illustrate the scale and complexity of these challenges.
Thomas Fricke, commercial director at IMA, describes the current situation as follows: "The pharma industry is undergoing major pressure due to the rise of biologics, Cell & Gene therapies and highly potent compounds, all of which require more advanced, flexible and connected technologies. Regulatory expectations for quality, sterility and real-time traceability continue to intensify. Economically, manufacturers face rising production costs, supply chain volatility and the need for faster, more efficient processes."
Joachim Dittrich, CEO of Fette Compacting, offers a similar assessment: "Rising regulatory requirements, high cost and price pressure, and expiring patents are forcing shorter time-to-market cycles. At the same time, highly active ingredients and individualised therapies are changing the demands on production and containment. Today, instead of optimising in isolation, companies need to interlink development, technology transfer and production based on data – it is the only way to make processes efficient, secure and scalable."
On this basis, new fields of tension are emerging. "Increasing demands for automation, data security and sustainability in particular are driving the pressure to transform. This pressure is heightened by regulatory requirements such as the PPWR. The outcome is a conflict of objectives between product protection, reduced packaging volume and cost-effectiveness," emphasises Michael Mrachacz, CSO and managing director of Uhlmann Pac-Systeme.
Michael Mrachacz, CSO and managing director of Uhlmann Pac-Systeme
Automation and sustainability as integrated goals
In the industry debate, the "automation or sustainability" alternative is appearing less and less often. In practice both areas are developing in parallel and are increasingly integrated. For pharmaceutical companies this means the need to address efficiency, quality, cybersecurity, regulatory compliance and environmental impact reduction at the same time.
"This is the big challenge for pharma, because they cannot focus on one of them and give the others a lower priority," explains Thomas Fricke (IMA). "Pharmaceutical manufacturers are therefore strongly investing in automation, AI-enabled intelligence and end-to end-data connectivity to enhance process control, reliability and throughput. Parallel to that, sustainability is becoming an increasingly important, separate strategic priority."
Marchesini Group also focuses on this interaction. "In recent years, we have established a cross-functional team that focuses in particular on analysing new packaging materials and their machinability, in order to turn the PPWR regulation into an opportunity. We are driving the replacement of PVC with recyclable mono-material solutions – particularly for blisters and trays – using materials such as R-PET, PP and PVC-free aluminium," says Valerio Soli, CEO of Marchesini Group.
Valerio Soli, CEO of Marchesini Group
According to Joachim Dittrich (Fette), efficiency and sustainability are now closely linked and can only become a real competitive advantage when combined with expertise in integrated process design. "The biggest investments are currently being made in automation, data-based process solutions and AI. Those who control their processes based on data are able to measurably optimise the use of materials and energy."
"A holistic approach is crucial," adds Michael Mrachacz (Uhlmann). "Sustainability must be compatible with machinability and efficiency – and we support our customers with our consulting services along the entire value chain."
Interpack 2026: concrete solutions for pharma
At Interpack 2026, the concrete results of current investment strategies of machinery and system manufacturers will be presented. Pharmaceutical companies will find solutions in the areas of automation, data integration and sustainable packaging. In halls 15–17, presentations of both complete lines and specialised machines, as well as digital tools for process monitoring and optimisation, are planned.
Marchesini Group will exhibit machines and lines for the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries in hall 15. The focus will be on sustainability, innovation – such as robotics, artificial intelligence and digital solutions – and aseptic technologies. "Marchesini Group will present several innovative solutions in the field of robotics at Interpack, increasingly integrated with artificial intelligence. The pharmaceutical industry requires production lines that are more and more sophisticated, safe and connected, in order to ensure products of the highest quality and safety," stresses CEO Valerio Soli, describing the company’s presence at the trade fair.
Uhlmann will also be located in hall 15. "At Interpack, we will be presenting, in digital form, the PTC 200 for parenterals in carton mono-packaging and the BEC 500 as an integrated blister and cartoning solution. The focus will be on material-efficient, recyclable solutions as well as software solutions and digital and analogue services for the optimal combination of sustainability, process reliability and cost-effectiveness," announces Michael Mrachacz (Uhlmann).
IMA will occupy an area of more than 4,500 square metres in hall 17, presenting, among other things, solutions in sterile processing. These include, as Thomas Fricke reports, "magnetic levitation technologies that enable fully gloveless filling lines for Cell Therapy products – a breakthrough in contamination control and process reliability – along with a new lab scale version offering greater flexibility for R&D teams." Additional highlights include a new generation of tablet presses, sustainable blistering platforms, automated cartoning delivering 70 per cent faster changeovers, modular auto-injector assembly and end-of-line solutions. These innovations are complemented by AI-driven digital support tools that enhance monitoring and predictive maintenance.
Thomas Fricke, commercial director at IMA
In hall 16, visitors will be able to meet, among others, Fette Compacting. "At our stand, we will be showcasing continuous manufacturing with the FE CPS, the latest containment solutions, emulators and lab services. The added value lies in shorter development cycles, greater product safety, reduced material consumption and a flexible production infrastructure that adapts seamlessly to new products and regulatory requirements," emphasises Joachim Dittrich (Fette).
Further details on all participating companies and their solutions can be found in the exhibitor and product database at: http://www.interpack.com/1410.
