Extrusion International 1-2026

12 Extrusion International 1/2026 INDUSTRY NEWS Equiplast 2026 Equiplast 2026 will lead the trans- formation towards a circular economy in the plastics and rubber industry, with an edition set to drive innovation in materials and processes, recycling and digitalisation. Currently, the trade show organised by Fira de Barcelona is close to being fully booked, with 95% of the planned exhibition space already reserved. It will bring togeth- er more than 400 exhibitors from 16 countries, a 12% increase compared to its previous edition, consolidating its position as the leading trade fair for the sector in the Iberian market and one of the most important in southern Europe. From 2 to 5 June, Equiplast will open its doors at Fira de Barcelona’s Gran Via venue, alongside Expoqui- mia, the leading meeting point for the chemical and process industries. Together, the two trade shows are expected to bring together an offer- ing of more than 800 exhibitors and attract around 21,000 professionals. The plastics and chemical industries are working hand in hand to develop more sustainable and innovative ma- terials and processes, driving the cir- cular economy and delivering value across multiple sectors.
 In this context, Bernd Roegele, Presi- dent of the Organising Committee, highlights: “The plastics industry is fac- ing decisive challenges in terms of sus- tainability and competitiveness. Equi- plast will be the showcase where the sector demonstrates how it is trans- forming its processes to move towards a circular economy, incorporating in- novation and technology for the ben- efit of society and the environment.”
 Greater offering and international reach Equiplast 2026 continues to grow in both the number of companies and its international profile and will occupy Hall 3 at the Gran Via venue. In addi- tion to Spain, the countries contribut- ing the highest number of exhibitors include China, Germany, Italy, Portu- gal, Austria, Turkey, France and the Netherlands, among others. Almost one third of Equiplast’s commercial offering will come from abroad.
 Xavier Pascual, Director of the trade show, explains: "We are building an edition that will mark a turning point. Growth in exhibitors and exhibition space, together with internationalisa- tion and the high quality of the event programme, reinforces Equiplast as the most relevant business platform for the plastics and rubber industry in Spain and southern Europe.” The most strongly represented sec- tors to date include machinery, equip- ment and automation systems; raw materials and additives; peripherals, parts and components; moulds and dies; and environment and recycling, the latter showing significant growth compared to the 2023 edition. Com- panies specialising in hardware and software, measurement, control and automation, semi-finished and fin - ished products, as well as subcontract- ing and services, are also taking part.
 Opening up new markets At the same time, Equiplast will roll out an invited buyers programme designed to attract distributors and decision-makers from six strategic markets for the Spanish plastics indus- try: Mexico, Turkey, Morocco, Algeria, Colombia and Guatemala.
 The initiative aims to generate tan- gible business opportunities by se- lecting buyers with specific projects from these countries. Mexico stands out for its export-driven growth in plastics-consuming sectors such as automotive, packaging and electron- ics; Turkey is undergoing a post-crisis recovery with renewed investment in industrial machinery; Morocco and Algeria offer opportunities in auto- motive, agri-food and industrial diver- sification; while Colombia and Gua - temala are emerging markets with strong export potential.
 In addition, Equiplast will be promot- ed in the European countries that tradi- tionally contribute the highest number of visitors to the show, with the aim of increasing the international share of at- tendees to over 13%of the total.
 Rethinking plastics One of the main new features of Equiplast 2026 is the revamped Re- thinking Plastics space, conceived as a knowledge and networking platform that promotes a positive vision of plastics within the circular economy. It will include conferences, round tables and case study presentations, an ex- hibition of solutions made from sus- tainable plastics, and a sector-focused communication area.
 Its programme of activities will ad- dress four key thematic areas: sus- tainability and the circular economy; recycling technologies; advanced materials and applications; and digi- talisation and competitiveness. In ad- dition, dedicated sessions will be held on topics such as biopolymers and biodegradability, chemical recycling of composites, energy efficiency, In - dustry 4.0 applied to plastics, regula- tion and industrial scraps, among oth- ers. The programme will also feature presentations of landmark projects showcasing the use of circular plastics in sectors such as packaging, automo- tive and healthcare.
 www.equiplast.com www.firabarcelona.com