Compared to the European market, Polish companies of plastics processing industry are found to be in exceptionally good position. According to the PlasticsEurope Association data, the demand for plastics has increased compared with the previous year by more than 3%, and thus exceeded 2.9 million tons. This amount represents approximately 6.3% of plastics consumption in Europe and puts Poland in sixth place in the ranking just after Germany, Italy, France, Spain and UK.
The business sector's optimism and dynamics were demonstrated by exhibitors of the 18th International Fair of Plastics and Rubber Processing PLASTPOL. This is one of Europe's most important exhibitions of plastics processing and rubber business sector; the event brought together 750 companies from 30 countries from all over the world and attracted visitors who called in the exhibition in thousands. In our part of Europe, Targi Kielce is the best place to see and become familiar with cutting edge technologies. The expo was the showcase for the representatives of all business sector groups - distributors, material producers and machines manufacturers.
Year after year the exhibition area grows bigger. The exhibition took up the six exhibition halls and among them Poland's most state of the art exhibition venue; each filled to the brim. The exhibition stands are the showcase for all kinds of machines and appliances used in plastic processing industry, tools and moulds utilised in this line of business supplemented with the whole variety of plastics and components, recycling technologies as well as IT systems which support the plastic processing industry in addition to technological solutions and ready-made products. The expo was also the display of complete process lines and manufacturing processes.
The second day of the International Fair of Plastics and Rubber Processing PLASTPOL featured the PlatinumPlast awarding ceremony. At the Gala the Expo distinction and medals were bestowed. And among the winners there was was Ulrich Reifenhäuser, not only is he the owner of the company which joined the trade show; he is also the Chairman of the Exhibitors Council at the K fairs Düsseldorf. In his speech he highlighted a huge role of the PLASTPOL expo for the European business sector; he also spoke highly about Targi Kielce's infrastructure and professional service .
At the afternoon gala the results of plastics processing knowledge contest OMNIPLAST were also announced; the event was designed for the 2014 PLASTPOL exhibitors. The first two stages of the competition were held in a remote mode. On Tuesday at noon there was the great final. The winners were presented with the exhibition space lease discount for the 2015 expo. These are the names of victorious contestants: (III) Bartłomiej SARNA, TECHPLAST, (II) Michał ŁUKAWSKI, TELKO Poland and the winner of the Omniplast 2014 title - Paweł RUP of A.SCHULMAN.
The exhibition was complemented with a rich and diversified programme of specialised conferences and discussions. The exhibition was traditionally accompanied with the Open Technical Seminar PLASTECH – INFO. The program included such topics as permissible dimensions deviations of mouldings, plastics co extrusion, extreme efficiency of high flatness multilayer films, intensive development of injection techniques with physical foaming, computer system for material selection at the product design phase, modern management of an injection moulding plant, plastics dyeing conditions, innovations in plasma preparation of plastic product for printing and varnishing.
Expo participants also had the chance to participate in brokerage meetings organised by the European Commission’s unit dedicated for entrepreneurs support - Enterprise Europe Network operating at Staropolska Chamber of Industry and Commerce in Kielce. The organizer selects partners for companies which join the sessions and arranges the meetings, translation services and organizational support before and at the meetings. The PlasticsEurope had also prepared the expo-related "ecological" meetings targeted at journalists. The Association welcomed guests to see the "Ecology-focused expo discussion on plastics at Plastpol 2014" - the exhibition presented the role of plastics in sustainable development as well as plastics industry's CSR.
A special attraction for the expo guests was prepared by Grupa Azoty. At its exhibition stand Azoty hosted the Olympic gamed medal winner Kamil Stoch, as well as Piotr Żyła, Artiom Lagut and volleyball players of Chemik Police - Katarzyna Mróz and Katarzyna Gajgał-Anioł.