A Voice for Europe – and for an Industry in Transition

Europe excels at packaging. Europe excels at mechanical engineering. And Europe excels at collaboration. But how can this strength be harnessed in times of increasing regulation, global competition, and technological transformation? This is exactly where Europama comes in.

At interpack 2026 in Düsseldorf, leading national associations of the processing and packaging machinery industry founded a new umbrella organization – the Processing & Packaging EU Federation. Members from Germany, Italy, France, Spain, the United Kingdom, and Switzerland – including VDMA, UCIMA, Evolis, AMEC, Automate UK, and Swissmem – are joining forces to speak with a single voice at the European level in the future.

This creates more than just an association. Europama sees itself as a permanent coordination platform for the entire industry – a place for exchange, a driver of joint positions, and a strategic network. Its goal is to consolidate the industry’s interests vis-à-vis European institutions, actively shape regulatory developments, and secure the long-term competitiveness of Europe’s mechanical engineering sector.

The foundation comes at a time of profound transformation. New EU requirements, rising sustainability demands, and issues such as AI, data regulation, and the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) are putting pressure on the industry – while also opening up significant opportunities. In this context, it becomes clear: individual national perspectives are no longer sufficient. What is needed are coordinated European responses.

The figures speak for themselves: around two-thirds of all processing and packaging machinery traded worldwide originates from Europe. In 2024 alone, the industry exported machinery worth approximately €35 billion. Germany and Italy rank among the global leaders, each holding around a 20 percent market share.

The federation aims to raise awareness of the industry’s strategic importance and to strengthen Europe’s role as a leading hub for processing and packaging technology.

Key focus areas include industrial competitiveness, technological sovereignty, sustainability, and fair competition in global markets.

With Riccardo Cavanna, President of the Italian association UCIMA, the new federation is led by an experienced industry representative. He is supported by Markus Rustler (VDMA) as Vice President. Together, they represent a new form of European collaboration – pragmatic, industry-driven, and future-oriented.

The founding of Europama sends a strong signal: Europe’s packaging and processing technology sector is moving closer together. Where national associations previously represented their members’ interests, a unified voice is now emerging – directed straight at Brussels.