Takeaways from IFFA 2025: The future of labelling starts with dialogue

IFFA 2025 in Frankfurt brought together more than 63,000 visitors from around the world. For us, it was a powerful reminder of just how important personal interaction is in an industry that’s rapidly evolving.

Meeting customers and partners from across the globe

There’s no doubt that IFFA is a global event.
This year, visitors came from 144 countries, and we felt that clearly at our stand, where we had many valuable conversations with existing customers, new contacts, and partners from across the value chain.

“You can’t underestimate the value of meeting face-to-face with the people we work with. That’s where we get honest feedback – and where we truly understand what’s happening in the market,” says Sten Krag-Hansen, Sales Manager at HM Systems.

Reliability remains key – but automation and AI are setting the agenda

A clear theme at IFFA 2025 was the technological progress within automation and AI.
There were many impressive solutions across the exhibition, but in our experience, customers are primarily looking for dependable systems that are easy to integrate into existing lines – and that make daily operations more efficient.

“Many of our conversations focused on how we can help solve specific challenges – such as the need for increased output – through small adjustments and smart labelling equipment,” says Henrik Thomsen, Business Development Manager at HM Systems.

Sustainability is no longer just a buzzword

IFFA 2025 also made it clear that sustainability has become a central focus area.
There’s growing demand for concrete action, and sustainability is now about more than words – it requires tangible initiatives that go beyond checkboxes in an ESG report.

It’s not just about materials and energy use, but also about smarter production methods and reducing waste.
We clearly see this through the rising interest in solutions like Linerfree labelling and equipment, which enable precise, efficient labelling – without unnecessary resource waste.

Why We Participate in IFFA

It’s no coincidence that HM Systems once again chose to exhibit at IFFA.

“IFFA is the perfect platform for us, because it brings the entire industry together – from traditional players to those driving innovation. We use the fair to listen, learn, and exchange ideas with the people we develop solutions for. It’s a key part of how we do business,” says CEO Michael Rix.

IFFA 2025 confirmed what we experience every day:
The food industry is evolving at high speed, and there’s a strong demand for solutions that are both forward-thinking and practically applicable.

For us, the fair is about much more than showcasing our labelling equipment – it’s an opportunity to start the kind of dialogue that leads to stronger partnerships and better solutions.