Organisers of last month's annual PPMA Show said that the "green shoots of economic recovery were in evidence"at the event, with many exhibitors reporting sales and high levels of enquiries.
Ishida Europe said it achieved its leads target within the first two days of the exhibition.
Among the first time exhibitors, Suzanne Griffiths, managing director of Golden Valley Packaging Solutions, described the show as "the most successful exhibition we have ever attended."
Chris Buxton, PPMA chief executive, said: "There was a real buzz throughout the hall during the three days of the show and this reflected a more positive outlook from all sectors of our industry.
Ian Crawford, the PPMA Show group exhibition director, concluded: "Despite the recession, it is very clear that serious buyers in the market are starting to spend again and forward-thinking machinery manufacturers developing new equipment and services are able to capitalise on this."
Next year, the PPMA Show will become part of the Total Processing &Packaging exhibition, which is held every three years. It takes place at the NEC between 25 and 27 May. The next standalone PPMA Show will take place in September 2011.
