A new trade association has been established as the European umbrella organisation for the processing and packaging machinery industry.
Established at Interpack 2026 in Düsseldorf, the Federation of Processing and Packaging Machinery Manufacturers (Europama) unites leading national trade associations that collectively aim to influence policy around the key challenges impacting the sector.
Funding members include Automate UK, VDMA (Germany), the Italian Packaging Machinery Manufacturers’ Association, Evolis (France), AMEC (Spain) and Swissmem (Switzerland).
Europama is dedicated to exploring core issues, including sustainability regulations, the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, industrial competitiveness, automation and robotics policy, and trade and manufacturing policy.
Wide network of counterparts
It will also assist its members in dealing with new regulations and offer member organisations access to a wide network of European counterparts, industry intelligence, regulatory guidance, and opportunities to participate in trade events across the continent.
Dan Thombs, chief executive officer at Automate UK, said the creation of Europama marked a “significant milestone” in strengthening ties between British and European manufacturing innovation communities.
“With two-thirds of all machines worldwide being made in Europe, it leads the future of processing and packaging machinery and is uniquely placed to align industry leadership with EU policy priorities while driving productivity and growth within the sector,” he said.
“Post-Brexit, it is vital that UK automation and packaging machinery businesses retain influence over regulations that affect European supply chains and exports, and it is our intention that in collaborating with our partners within Europama, our members will have a place in the discussions despite the UK no longer being an EU member.”
‘Policy and productivity body’
Scott McKenna, chief operating officer at Automate UK, added: “Automate UK has evolved in recent years, proving itself to be far more than an events organisation committed to supporting the manufacturing and automation sector and increasingly cementing its position as a policy and productivity body.
“The establishment of Europama represents our continued commitment to ensuring that UK businesses remain firmly connected to European manufacturing innovation networks.
“By creating stronger links between European automation and packaging machinery associations, we can in turn help members navigate increasing regulation and sustainability requirements, and provide them with the access, insight, and relationships they need to thrive in an increasingly competitive global marketplace,” he added.
