OBALKO: The Largest Packaging Congress in the Czech Republic and Slovakia
OBALKO is the largest professional congress dedicated exclusively to the packaging market in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Every year, it brings together hundreds of professionals from manufacturing, distribution, retail, and packaging companies to one place, where they gain up-to-date insights, share experiences, and establish new business contacts. Participation is traditionally free of charge for producers and distributors of packaged goods.
The congress offers a rich program that combines inspirational presentations, panel discussions, case studies, and plant excursions. An integral part of the event is also the speed-dating meetings, enabling targeted B2B encounters between participants and packaging solution providers.
The evening program traditionally culminates in the festive announcement of the winners of the prestigious OBAL ROKU competition, which not only honors innovations in the industry but also provides opportunities for informal networking among professionals.
OBALKO represents a key gathering of the packaging world, where knowledge, experience, and business opportunities are shared across the entire market.
This year's topic: Packaging Balance
How to find stability in an environment full of contradictions
The packaging industry is balancing on a fine line between increasingly strict regulations (PPWR), the pressure for sustainability and recyclability, the rise of AI, automation and digitalization, and the reality of production operations, which often remain analog and constrained by time, capacity, and input material quality. The result is a situation full of paradoxes, where customer expectations, legislative demands, and technical limitations collide. How can we find balance in this ever-changing environment – between innovation, functionality, and regulation, or between vision and reality? Join 500 packaging industry professionals on October 16–17 at the 13th OBALKO congress and take part in the discussion on finding balance in the packaging market.
WHAT DOES THE OBALKO CONGRESS CONSIST OF?
Full-day conference program
The joint morning session on the main topic of the congress
Like each year, the morning program of the conference will be focused on the main topic of the current edition. You can look forward to a well-known keynote speaker, presentations by packaging experts and a top-to-top panel discussion featuring Czech and Slovak business leaders.
The joint afternoon program: Packaging best practices
The entire afternoon part of the conference is dedicated to packaging best practices – the best case studies from the Czech and Slovak packaging markets. The program council of the congress is scouring the market to bring you the most innovative packaging solutions, which will as always be presented by the producers or distributors of the packaged goods themselves.
Interactive workshops
The programme will now include interactive workshops that will give participants a practical insight into the latest trends, challenges and innovations in the packaging industry.
Rich accompanying program
BizPACK: New contacts in 10 minutes
The goal of the BizPACK program is to mediate meetings between the partners and participants of the OBALKO congress. Listen briefly and without obligation to the offer of leading companies in the packaging industry. One meeting will last 10 minutes, and if you are interested in the offer, you can arrange a follow-up meeting.
Obal roku ceremony: Awards for the best packaging
A unique opportunity to see the best packaging at the best packaging congress. A unique chance to meet all packaging experts in one place at one time. The ceremony will take place after the end of the professional part of the congress program. Thanks to the connection between the OBALKO congress and the Obal roku (Packaging of the Year) ceremony, there will be more participants than ever before. The event has a truly international reach thanks to the connection with the WorldStar Packaging Awards.
Packaging Business Mixer: The chance to network
After a demanding conference day, the Packaging Business Mixer, with its rich program, will provide the perfect setting for networking. Over a drink and a plate of tasty food, you can continue the discussions started during the conference day or start a whole new discussion.
Packaging in action: A behind-the-scenes look at production
We encounter packaging at every turn, but how well do we really understand it? OBALKO offers a unique opportunity to visit the production plants of selected congress partners with expert interpretation. You will not only get a chance to see the whole production process and better understand the benefits of such products, but you will also get a second chance to discuss issues related to the packaging industry.
PARTNERS
ABOUT THE LAST CONGRESS OBALKO 12
The 12th edition of the OBALKO Congress took place on 17-18 October 2024 at the Aquapalace Hotel Prague. It was attended by 484 people, making it the largest gathering of packaging professionals in the Czech Republic. The conference program featured 36 speakers, panelists and moderators, and the congress was supported by 39 partners.
Full details of this record-breaking event can be found on the history page.