ArabPlast 2015
My time at Rapid News Communications has taken me to industry trade events over three continents, Europe (more specifically the Baden-Württemberg region of Germany), North America and now the Middle East as Editor of Middle Eastern Plastics Magazine, EPPM's exotic twin.
ArabPlast 2015 was something of a whistlestop trip, with just two full days on-site compared to bedding in for hauls of as long as seven days - a norm that will resume in two months' time at NPE2015 in Orlando, Florida.
Arriving in Dubai is something of a joy when the January climate you left behind in Manchester is a distant memory when you step outside into the warmth of the night. Together with our friends British Plastics and Rubber we made sure we packed our sunglasses, which were put to good use waiting for the bus to the Dubai World Trade Centre the next morning outside our hotel on Sheikh Zayed Road.
This was my first mistake. As the crow flies, our hotel was barely a five-minute walk from the show. But I hadn't factored in the fact we were on the other side of Sheikh Zayed Road and there is no way of crossing it. Indeed, when we did cross it, it was the shuttle bus - a journey that took around 15-20 minutes, travelling right into the financial district before turning about making what seemed to be a very easy stroll (forgetting the vast causeway of speeding vehicles) a bit more of a commute than previously thought.
I had also presumed we as media sponsors would be able to access the show floor at 9am. On the first day, not only were we turned away due to the show's official opening being at 10am, but even then we were told to come back later because the VIPs were still having their grand tour.
Two things Dubai has taught me: never presume and keep asking if at first you do not get the answer you would otherwise have liked - the latter is especially true of when we asked where the special annual print edition of Middle Eastern Plastics would be located, eventually being offered prime position on the dozen-or-so registration desks. Visitors to ArabPlast, I hope you grabbed a copy when you collected your badge.
But aside from these small grumbles, which could be put down from a lack of knowhow on my part, ArabPlast is an impressive assembly of plastics companies from all over the world, with even the smaller exhibiting companies going all out with their booths.
Borouge, understandably dominated the marketing around the show, as well as commanding the largest stand complete with detailed displays and a well-manned front desk. Standing at the Borouge booth the other significantly vast stands of A. Schulman (together with NATPET), Al Sharq and Astra Polymers made their presence known, while walking around the European pavilions more familiar names to EPPM Magazine including AMUT, Arburg, battenfeld-cincinnati and Croda came into view, even if their own offerings were not as gigantic as they might be at Fakuma or NPE.
The pace and atmosphere was business-like but far from frenetic and everybody was represented in some shape or form, be it through a distributor or affiliate, or in person. Machines hummed throughout the event, where packaging and recycling were the most prominent applications on display. Not surprisingly given the scale of the drinks bottling sector in this part of the world.
The GCC region, it seems, it a corner of the world that is swiftly adopting sustainability. Recycling is being heavily promoted with many of the companies we talked to saying it is the brands that are driving this down to consumer level and they hope the powers that be will enhance their efforts with legislation in the years to come.
I will be interested to see ArabPlast, and indeed other GCC events, evolve over the years. Perhaps recycling will be old hat by the time the next event comes around? Perhaps this was just a tiny glimpse of the potential for recycling in the Middle East? Either way, MEP is already looking forward to returning and thanks every company that spent time with us in Dubai - and apologies to those we did not get around to seeing.
For an Editor's Eye View of the show floor, click to our gallery. And don't forget to check out all the news MEP gleaned from ArabPlast 2015 on the Middle Eastern Plastics website.
