Plastpol09 Post Show Report

BPF Reports Successful Plastpol 2009

The British Plastics Federation returned to the strategically important Plastpol exhibition in Kielce, Poland (26th – 29th May 2009). This is the fifth time the BPF has led a British Pavilion at the event - now the largest plastics show in Central Europe.

The British Group comprised a Pavilion of eight companies located in Hall D and together with a further five exhibiting with their own local distributors and agents.
The British Group:

1. Applied Market Information (Market’s Research provider)
2. British Plastics Federation (UK Plastics Trade Association)
3. Cinpres Gas Injection (Gas Assisted Injection Moulding technology provider)
4. C L Rye Trading (Raw Material Supplier)
5. C R Clarke & Co Ltd (Thermoforming Equipment)
6. EPI (Europe) Ltd (Biodegradable Additive Supplier)
7. European Plastics News (Trade Magazine)
8. Hi-Tech Automation (Automation for Injection Moulding)
9. Isocool Ltd (Cooling System provider)
10. Meech Static Eliminators (Static Control Solutions)
11. Mattec (Real-time Monitoring Systems supplier)
12. Performance Masterbatches (Masterbatch Supplier)
13. Polymer Training Ltd (Polymer Training Centre)

Two further companies exhibited catalogues on the BPF Stand: Perrite – Compound supplier and Swish Building Products – a manufacturer of PVC profiles.

For more information about these companies please CLICK HERE

Despite the tough economic conditions the show was a great success and British exhibitors were very pleased with the show and reported generating strong leads.

Gary Probert, Hi-Tech Automation said: ‘We are certain that our introduction to a large and successful company at Plastpol, which would like to represent us in Poland will generate new business for Hi-Tech Automation allow us to expand our existing customer base. Thank you BPF for your professional service in helping Hi-Tech Automation identify a market with excellent potential for automation and robotics.’

Although the official 2009 attendance figures have not yet been released, exhibitors felt that numbers were slightly down on previous years, but that this did not detract from the overall success of the show. David Thomas, Managing Director, Performance Masterbatches Ltd. described the event as ‘A lively show reflecting the importance of Poland as a plastics manufacturing base in Central Europe, now and in the future.’

Plastpol Visitor and Exhibitor Numbers:
Year	Number of Visitors	Number Of Exhibitors
2005	13621	635
2006	16900	702
2007	14200	772
2008	16208	850

UK Trade & Investment Support The majority of British Exhibitors received a grant of £1000 from UK T&I towards the cost of exhibiting. In addition, UK T&I supported the British Pavilion, helping the BPF to provide extra signage and detailed guide to the British Group with contact details both in English and Polish. Additionally the BPF, in conjunction with UK Trade & Investment, held a Seminar on ‘UK Plastics Innovation’ on the second day of the show. Expert speakers spoke on innovative and cost saving solutions for the plastics industry.

Market Overview

In 2006 nearly 2 million tonnes of plastics were processed in Poland. Poland’s entry into the EU boosted the economy which helped sustain polymer demand growth of over 7% between 2005 and 2006. Demand was strong across all sectors and applications but particularly packaging, appliances, consumer electronics and automotive. The Polish plastics industry is now the largest in the Central European region in terms of both production and consumption levels and the plastics industry in Poland has grown at an astounding average rate of 13% for the last five years. 

Exhibitor Regine Futter, Publications Manager, Applied Market Information said ‘It has been a very good show. It seems that a number of companies are actively searching to expand and diversify their market, particularly the ones serving the automatic industry. Companies can not just rely on existing clients and are looking at new opportunities. This is probably why our stand has been so busy.’

For statistical information on the Polish Plastics Market (plus plastics data for 70+ countries) CLICK HERE        
   
For information on all Trade Shows attended by the BPF go to www.bpfevents.co.uk