When Interplas, the UK’s largest plastics manufacturing event, returns to the NEC, Birmingham next month it will be the first chance for the entire plastics supply chain to meet face-to-face in over four years.
Visitors will see around 350 exhibitors present products, solutions, machine, and innovation from across the entire spectrum of moulding, forming and extrusion machines as well as materials, automation, contract manufacturing and supporting technologies such as software, testing, inspection, surface treatments and much more.
Alongside the exhibition, there is a full three-day conference with speakers, as well as supplementary seminars, workshops and events and multiple features on the theme of sustainability in plastics, including show floor demonstrations, exhibits and a dedicated conference programme.
The CPD certified conference programme will take place across two dedicated stages.The Advancing UK Plastics’ Stage sponsored by Bole Machinery will see experts offer insights, opportunities and advice on how to work together as markets, trends and regulations continue to change. Speakers will discuss changes in the industry as a result of Brexit, COVID-19 and the net zero targets. There will also be topics presented by specialists in areas such as medical, automotive, construction, extrusion and digital technologies
New for 2021 is the Sustainability Stage, sponsored by Coral Plastics, that will give visitors the opportunity to hear about some of the solutions for recycling and waste management issues, material innovations, and importantly a look at what is really deemed as sustainable’ when it comes to plastics.
There will be 40 free-to attend sessions over three days. Other key seminars include: “Can Attention to the Design of Plastics in Medical Devices Support Patient Safety?” Sarah Jennings, National Patient Safety Lead, NHS England & NHS Improvement and Paul Earnshaw, Senior Packaging Manager, Tesco will discuss “Packaging, Plastics and Sustainability – A Retailers View”.
The highly specialised area of manufacturing plastic parts for the medical industry is one of the fastest-growing sectors in the plastics industry. The Mediplas Zone will focus on the essential aspects and considerations of medical device manufacturing that are unique to the sector. It will also bring together a host of industry experts to offer practical advice and guidance from initial concepts and design ideas, through to materials and process optimisation.
The GTMA Zone will showcase GTMA member companies that are experts in tool and mould-making for the plastics sector.
The Knowledge Pavilion returns with a bank of highly-experienced industry personnel from a cross-section of major institutions to answer questions and resolve queries. Participants include KTN, The Polymer Machinery Manufacturers and Distributors Association (PMMDA), The Plastics Consultancy Network (PCN), The Worshipful Company of Horners and The Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3).
Women in Plastics will host a conference session, focusing on attracting, training and retaining talent in the industry and the Women in Plastics networking morning, taking place 30th September 2021.
Interplas has long been known to champions UK plastics talent and will once again welcome the ceremony for the Horners’ Award for Design and Innovation.
Duncan Wood, Chief Executive at Rapid News Group, organisers of Interplas comments, “We absolutely cannot wait to open the doors to Interplas in September and welcome back our exhibitors, speakers and attendees to the UK’s premier plastics event. We have two halls of exhibitors, with a huge range of new and innovative products to present to the market, alongside a world class multi stage conference programme. Pre-registrations are looking extremely encouraging, proof positive that the manufacturing community has missed the opportunity to interact in a live environment and with co-located shows like the PPMA Show, Med-Tech Innovation Expo and TCT 3Sixty alongside we are looking forward to presenting the best part of 1,000 exhibitors across the 5 halls…1,000 reasons to come and join us!”
Together with the NEC, Interplas is committed to a delivering safe and secure event which support the recovery of the UK manufacturing industry. To achieve this all attendees will be required to verify their COVID status on arrival at the venue.
Visitors can pre-register for free entry at www.interplasuk.com