Extrusion International USA 2-2022

9 Extrusion International 2/2022 interplastica 2022 and upakovka 2022 Exceed Expectations „ After their four-day run as in-person events interplastica and upakovka – Processing & Packaging have achieved ex- tremely successful results. For the fi rst time since the begin- ning of the Covid-19 crisis, the trade fair duo took place live in Moscow. A total of 17,000 visitors came to the Central Exhibition Complex Expocentre from 25 to 28 to see the in- novations of 650 exhibitors from 32 countries, to make or intensify contacts and to take part in the extensive lecture programme. The mood in the halls was good, and exhibitors praised in particular the high quality of the contacts. “interplastica 2022 was a great trade fair. Germany, Italy, Austria and Switzerland were represented with of fi cial country pavilions, as was Russia with its key players,” said a delighted Thomas R. Stenzel, Managing Director of Messe Düsseldorf Moscow. “Trade visitors at interplastica were fi - nally able to exchange ideas with specialists in person again, discuss current issues in the industry and examine innovative solutions live,” continues Stenzel. Trade visitors from 63 countries, including Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Ukraine, unanimously praised the diversity of the exhibitors, their professionalism and the high level of trade fair preparation. During the four days of the fair, the atmosphere in the exhi- bition halls was exceptionally busy and positive. Suppliers from the fi elds of machinery and equipment for the production and processing of plastics and rubbers, raw and auxiliary materials, products made of polymers and rub- bers, as well as services for the plastics and rubber industry presented themselves in Moscow. Many leading companies in the industry were represented at interplastica 2022. Kalojan Iliev, Managing Partner at Erema Russia, sums up: “Our expectations of the event due to the current Covid situ- ation were exceeded. Our stand was very well attended, im- portant decision-makers were on site.” The Italian industry association AMAPLAST also underlines the high professional competence of the visitors: “The qual- ity of the contacts was excellent. The Italian companies are very satis fi ed with their participation and will de fi nitely take part in interplastica again next year,” says Eleonora Iula, Exhibition Department Project Manager. Thorsten Kühmann, Managing Director of the Plastics and Rubber Machinery Association in the VDMA, states from the perspective of the German industry: “Exports of German plastics and rubber machinery to Russia already fell sharply in 2019 compared to previous years. After a strong upward trend in 2020, however, a downward trend set in again in 2021. This means that the Russian market has currently dropped out of the top 10 most important sales countries, but this huge market will retain an important position in the future. Russian plastics processors value the long-standing relations with German mechanical engineering and the promise of quality “Made in Germany”. In addition, the machine builders are very well positioned in the topics of re- cycling and circular economy - which are also gaining enor- mously in importance in Russia – and can score points with their technologies against non-European competition.” The fact that Russia is planning to fundamentally mod- ernise its infrastructure in the fi eld of waste management in the next few years also brought a great response to the exhibition segment Recycling Solutions, in which exhibitors presented themselves speci fi cally with solutions relating to recycling. Equally in demand was the Additive Minded seg- ment, which was dedicated to applied science and additive technologies. A highlight of interplastica was once again the Polymer Pla- za. With top-class lectures and discussions on raw material production, application and processing, it provided valuable added value for trade fair visitors. Here, too, the theme day on circular economy and recycling was particularly popular. The next interplastica in Moscow will take place from 24 to 27 January 2023, again parallel to upakovka. www.interplastica.de „ From 3 to 5 May, the world of sustainable packaging will meet in Milan for Packaging Speaks Green, the inter- national forum on sustainability in the packaging supply chain which will be back as an in-person event in the Fiera Milano exhibition centre in Rho. The conference will be held in conjunction with IPACK- IMA, devoted to processing and packaging technologies and GreenPlast, which focuses on the plastics and rubber industry. Panel discussions, debates and presentations of case his- tories by prominent opinion leaders, industry stakeholders and institutional speakers will be held during this edition of the forum, which will present new tools and methods for the design, use, recycling and reuse of sustainable packag- ing. Packaging Speaks Green 2022 is organised by Pack Media, a leading publisher in the world of packaging, with the support of UCIMA (Italian Packaging Machinery Manufacturers’ Asso- ciation) andAMAPLAST (Italian Plastics andRubber Processing Machinery andMoulds Manufacturers’ Association). The fi rst edition of the forum hosted 35 international speakers, 450 participants from twenty countries and 40 accredited journalists. Following its success, the brand has been launched as a web magazine exploring the theme of green innovation. A shortened version called “Pocket” was presented at MEAT-TECH in 2021. In 2022 Packaging Speaks Green will be back for an exciting new edition. A Più S.r.l. www.a-piu-srl.com „Packaging Speaks Green 2022“