Extrusion International 1-2026

11 Extrusion International 1/2026 aging ecosystem and our aim to bring international perspectives to the Chi- nese market,” says Evian Gu, General Manager of Messe Düsseldorf Shang- hai. “In future, we will be working even more intensively with partners from all over the world to develop potential in the areas of intelligent production and innovative materials together and to foster talent for the future of the packaging industry.”
 China’s importance for the pro- cessing and packaging industry is tremendous. The country is not only a key player; in many ways it is also intertwined with the global packag- ing industry. As the “workbench of the world”, China has enormous in- dustrial manufacturing power and therefore a strong, integrated pack- aging industry. Its high production density creates extensive demand for packaging ma- terials and machines. From cardboard packaging and films to complex fill - ing and labelling solutions, the pack- aging sector is growing in step with industrial production. At the same time, China is developing into one of the largest consumer markets in the world. A growing middle class and the boom in e-commerce are con- tinuing to drive demand for safe, sus- tainable and intelligent packaging solutions. The first interpack China will take place from 16-18 November 2026.
 Messe Düsseldorf GmbH www.interpack.de/en/ interpack_alliance/swop_-_Shanghai_ World_of_Packaging AI Innovation Hub Showcases Latest Innovations at Plastics Recycling Show Europe 2026 Artificial intelligence will take cen - tre stage at the Plastics Recycling Show Europe exhibition and confer- ence at RAI Amsterdam on 5-6 May 2026. A dedicated AI Innovation Hub will showcase the latest AI-driven so- lutions in plastics recycling in an im- mersive experience, guiding visitors across the full value chain from feed- stock and product design to collec- tion, processing and material sourc- ing. Live demonstrations will include swarm-robot sorting technology from Antfarm and a phone-based AI mate- rial analysis solution from Safi. Swarm Sorting Demonstration Antfarm will showcase a major step forward in robotic waste sorting tech- nology with its Swarm Alpha fleet of 6-10 robots that sort real-world waste streams including bottles, cans, and cartons. Also launched at PRS Europe will be Antfarm Beta, a next-generation sys- tem designed to sort up to 10 times faster than Alpha. Antfarm Beta in- troduces a fundamentally different approach, with robots picking indi- vidual objects and placing them into onboard bins until full, enabling dra- matically higher throughput. The demonstration will also high- light Antfarm’s real-time vision system powered by advanced AI models, en- abling accurate material recognition as sorting happens. A live dashboard will provide clear insights into system performance, including material types sorted, picks per minute, and revenue metrics. SébastienWillems,Co-founder&CEO, Antfarm said: “Compared to 2025, this year’s demonstration represents a major step change in both the range of materials that can be handled and the overall picking speed, underlining rapid progress in system throughput and maturity. Visitors will be amazed by how far our swarm has come.” Phone-based AI Material Analysis Demonstration Declan Clancy, Head of Product at Safi has outlined how visitors will be able to interact with its latest AI in- novation: "You will be able to use AI on a phone to analyse a typical bale of recycled PET material. You will be able to see the AI working live and try it for yourself.” AI is revolutionising recycling by streamlining material selection, prod- uct design, and collection routes. It improves sorting accuracy, reduces manual labour, and optimises facility performance to cut costs and environ- mental impact. AI platforms connect recyclers with processors, optimise pricing, and support data-driven de- cisions, while blockchain ensures full traceability and transparency. Visit the PRS Europe website to register to attend the exhibition and conference. Registration is free until 5 April 2026 and will be charged at €50 thereafter www.prseventeurope.com/prse2026/ en/page/visitor-registration The AI Innovation Hub will showcase the latest AI innovations in plastics recycling at PRSE 2026 (Photo from PRSE 2025)