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The show is set to attract thousands of international visitors
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Efficiency and sustainability will be key themes at the show
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A host of machinery processes will offer innovation
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The major players in raw materials supply will also exhibit
Chinaplas 2014 will be held from 23-26 April, 2014 at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre, PR China. The organiser says that exhibition space is expected to exceed 220,000m2 with more than 2,900 exhibitors and 120,000 visitors coming from 130 countries and regions.
China is an important market for European processors, with strong potential for trade links and collaborative technologies.
EPPM will be reporting live from the show in April; what follows is a run-down of the event and its significance for those considering making the trip to Shanghai. We hope to see you there!
China as a marketplace
It’s no secret that China is undergoing rapid industrialisation and urbanisation. The country’s five-year plan sets out a direction for the plastics and rubber industries, including lowering pollution and energy consumption, adding high-value and improving technology.
The good news is that the domestic market is showing increasing demand for cutting-edge plastic and rubber technologies. A steady increase in demand for high-quality plastic and rubber solutions is expected in China.
Eastern China is one of the leading regions of economic and industrial development, but it’s also experiencing growth as a base for raw chemicals supply. In 2012, around 25 million tonnes of plastic products were manufactured in the region, accounting for 44% of the country's production capacity. With well-equipped infrastructure and a strong industrial cluster effect, Eastern China has become an appealing prospect for some of the world’s biggest multi-nationals.
The Chinese government is set to invest 400 billion yuen each year, in order to improve the country’s water infrastructure. This, coupled with rapid urbanisation, should bring with it growing demand for plastic piping and contruction materials. Extrusion and injection moulding machinery sales are also set to rise as a consequence.
Like the rest of the world, China is also placing an emphasis on fuel efficiency in the automotive sector — a trend in which plastics will, of course, have a major part to play.
Moreover, showing continued environmental commitment, the five year plan aims to explore renewable energy, while solar technology is also on the rise. China’s environmental policies have also accelerated the development of the rubber recycling industry.
Finally, the market is preparing itself for further developments in plastic for medical devices. The emphasis here is on the basic equipment which is in the highest demand.
Ada Leung, Assistant General Manager of Adsale Exhibition Services Ltd, the organiser of the show, said: “As global economic focus shifts eastwards, more and more global buyers pay greater attention to China’s market. Chinaplas, with over 30 years of history, has become a high quality sourcing platform of both domestic and overseas technology for plastics and rubber industries as well as the downstream sectors, such as automotive, building and constructing, E&E, packaging, etcetera.”
Sustainability at Chinaplas
Reflecting the continued demand for more sustainable business practices, Chinaplas will promote sustainability under the theme of "Greenovation - Solution to Sustainability", with "The City of Tomorrow" and a "Green Conference" as two featured events.
"The City of Tomorrow" will feature a circular structure at Central Square of the exhibition centre to showcase a comprehensive sustainability model which covers four aspects, namely Green and Alternative Raw Materials, Energy-efficient Machinery, Plastics and Rubber Applications, and Recycling. Visitors will be able to explore the latest green messages and trends from manufacturing till the end of the life of the products through interactive displays and even games.
Also taking place during the show is the Green Conference, a two-day conference co-hosted by Adsale Exhibition Services Ltd, Plastics Information Europe (PIE) and the Association of Green Molding Solutions (AGMS). It will be held on the second and third day of the event (April 24-25), and sessions will include "Innovative Solutions for Plastic Recycling" and "Green Molding to Halve the Cost and Double the Wealth". The conference will highlight a range of topics, inclduding ‘green’ moulding, 3D printing, plastics recycling as well as various solutions for end-of-life plastic waste, and will see international brand names share their experiences and insights.
More information on the activities surrounding sustainability can be found at www.chinaplasonline.com/event.
Technological diversification
The organiser of Chinaplas says that this year’s event is moving with the times. Sophisticated, high-tech and diverse solutions and applications will be a key focus at the show. Specific technologies have been identified for highly relevant purposes, including safety, light-weighting, aesthetic appeal, multi-purpose functionality, heat retention, and water resistance to name a few.
Roughly speaking, the exhibitors break down as follows: over 1,000 will display machinery and raw materials specifically for the automotive industry; more than 600 will target the building and construction industries; over 700 will focus on electricals, IT and telecommunications; and finally, over 1,100 exhibitors will cater for the packaging industry.
Stanley Chu, Chairman of Adsale Exhibition Services Ltd, said: “Since the global financial crisis in 2008, the rapid development of the plastics raw materials and machineries in China have accelerated the upgrading of industries. Many companies understand that using low-end technology to operate cannot sustain their development. Technological and management breakthrough, quality upgrade and following government policies like energy saving, high efficiency and environmental protection are the best solutions. Corporations are suggested to change their marketing strategies according to the market variation, to concentrate the resources on the high-growth industries and areas, for example, increasing needs on the automation equipment resulting from the recent problems of rising salaries and labour shortage,”
Themes for an easy visit
Some aspects of this year’s show have been divided up by process, making for a straightforward visit. These technical zones will include:
• Extrusion Machinery
• Injection Moulding Machinery
• Chemicals and Raw Materials
• Auxiliary and Testing Equipment
• Mould and Die
• Film Technology
• Plastic Packaging and Blow Moulding Machinery
• Rubber Machinery and Equipment
• Chinese Export Machinery and Materials
• Bioplastics
• Semi-finished Products
A global event
Of the predicted 120,000 visitors to the show, the organisers suggest that 25% will come from overseas. Many will be looking to establish new trade partnerships, renew existing contracts or explore the technology on offer in China itself.
At the same time, the exhibitors themselves will come from all around the world. Many of the major European and American players are confirmed to exhibit. Providing a base for foreign trade will be the international pavilions, which will include Austria, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Korea, Switzerland, Turkey, UK, USA, PR China and Taiwan.
Exhibitor turnout
So, who’s going? Chinaplas always tends to attract the major names — and they do send their leading delegates to talk shop with clients and prospective customers, no matter where they fly from. This year, the exhibitor profile represents a combination of western and eastern technology. So far, a few of the familiar processing equipment brands include Haitian, Chen Hsong, Husky, Engel, Demag, SHI, Jwell, Jinhu, Liansu, Fangli, Mold-Masters, Yudo, ACS and Conair.
In the field of chemicals and raw materials, expect to see brands like BASF, Exxonmobil, Teijin Kasei, DSM, Mitsubishi, Polyone, Du Pont, DOW, SABIC and Lanxess on site.
What’s new?
The organisers have continued to invest in the event, with specific ‘upgrades’ taking place for 2014. To attract the larger names in the business, new ‘exhibition suites’ have been introduced. These standalone booths are located in a prime location in the central square of both the North wing and East wing of the exhibition grounds.
The sizes of the suites range from 150m2 to 300m2, and will act as both display areas for products and services, and meeting points for trade discussion. And it seems that the new strategy has paid off: currently, Bayer MaterialScience, Dow, Kolon Plastics, and Uniplas are among the names that have confirmed to exhibit in these exhibition suites.
The “Chinaplas Elite Club Lounge” has also been introduced outside hall E4, as a premium service for taking a break from a busy day at the show.
Free services in the lounge include WiFi and computer stations for internet access, magazines and newspapers, refreshments and power supplies for charging devices.
Ms Leung said: “We always aim at enhancing and improving our services for the exhibitors and visitors. The Exhibition Suite and the Elite Club Lounge are two of the major upgraded services. We hope that visitors not only find the right suppliers and acquire the latest technology here, but also visit this mega show more comfortably and easily. Since the show scale is large, visitors are encouraged to plan their visit earlier and stay the whole four days in order to grasp the most and best of the information here.”
Getting to the show
If you’re hoping to visit, it’s worth making contact with the major trade associations in your country first, as they may be offering assistance to members.
There is a wide variety of options for flying from Europe into Shanghai, many with stops at Dubai. The exhibition centre is located 33 km away from Pudong International Airport to the east, and 32 km away from Hongqiao Airport to the west. Getting there from Pudong is simple, about 35 minutes by taxi or about 40 minutes via the airport bus line (take lines No. 3 and No. 6). By Metro, take Line 2 to get off at Longyang Road Station where you can walk or change to Line 7 which goes direct to the centre.
Alternatively, if you’re coming from Hongqiao Airport, it’s about 35 minutes by taxi, or on the metro, take Line 2 again as above.
Naturally Shanghai has plenty of hotels, and around the centre there’s plenty of choice for accommodation with suitable business facilities. If you’re staying in Shanghai, there are several modes of transport available for travelling to and from the show.
