REPORT ON RUBBER BOARD S PARTICIPATION IN PLAST 2012 at Milan, Italy from 8 th to 12 th May 2012 Introduction PLAST, held in Milan every three years, is one of the most important exhibitions for Plastics and Rubber industry worldwide. Inspired by the responses received in PLAST 2009, conducted in 2009, and attended by 1478 exhibitors from 45 countries, the organizers were keen to arrange PLAST 2012 this year. The organizers see the fair as an important marketplace where all participants can gather market intelligence and have a forum for exchange of news and views. PLAST has proved itself to be beneficial for the rubber and plastic industries as the companies got to interact with a wide range of customers coming from different parts of the world. This exhibition was organized at Fiera Milano, a huge and spacious exhibition center that offers an organized venue for the exhibitors to display their products and also for the attendees to visit the event in an orderly manner. Venue PLAST 2012 was held at the new fairgrounds of FIERA MILANO spa, Rho- Pero, Milan, Italy. It was conducted in six halls at the ground floor covering a net area of 60,000 sq. m. from 8 th to 12 th May 2012. 1
Organisers and Supporting Organisations of the Fair The fair was organized by PROMAPLAST srl Centro Direzionale Milanofiori - Palazzo F/3 20090 ASSAGO, (Milan) Italy Tel. +39 02 8228371 Fax +39 02 57512490 E-mail: info@promaplast.org Web site: http://www..plastonline.org in cooperation with: Registered office: Piazzale Carlo Magno 1 20149 Milan Italy Head Office for PLAST 2012: Strada Statale 33 del Sempione, 28 20017 Rho (Milan) Italy Tel. +39 02 49971 Fax +39 02 49977379 E-mail: fieramilano@fieramilano.it Web site: http://www.fieramilano.com 2
and was held under the aegis of the Italian Ministry of Economic Development PLAST 2012 was supported by: Europes' Association of plastics and rubber machinery manufacturers c/o VDMA, FV KuG P.O.Box 71 08 64 D-60498 Frankfurt/M - Germany Tel. +49 69 6603 1831/1832 Fax +49 69 6603 1840 E-mail: euromap@vdma.org Web site: http://www.euromap.org PLAST 2012 was an event approved by: The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry 35 bis, rue Jouffroy d'abbans 75017 Paris France Tel: +33 1 42679912 Fax +33 1 42271929 E-mail: info@ufi.org Web site: http://www.ufi.org 3
Official Foreign Delegates At PLAST 2012, as in previous editions, the organisers had invited many national Associations of the sector from all over the world. Following is the list of countries from where Associations and foreign delegations were invited to the fair in Milan. Algeria Argentina Belarus - Bolivia Bulgaria Brazil Chile Colombia - Costa Rica Croatia Ecuador Egypt El Salvador - France Germany - Guatemala - Hungary India Indonesia Iran Jordan Kazakistan - Kurdistan - Lebanon - Libia - Malaysia Mexico Morocco Pakistan Paraguay - People's Republic of China Poland Romania Russia Serbia Slovenia South Africa Spain Taiwan Thailand Tunisia Turkey UAE UK Ukraina - Uruguay - USA Venezuela Vietnam. The Indo-Italian Chamber of Commerce and Industry was invited to represent India. Deputation of Officers Vide letter F No.11/6/2012-Plant (C) dated 11 th May 2012, Govt. of India has accorded approval for Rubber Board s participation in the event and deputed the following Officers of the Board for the purpose. 1. Smt. Sheela Thomas, IAS (Chairman, Rubber Board) 2. Sri. Thomas Sebastian, Deputy Director (Rubber Processing) The export sector of natural rubber was represented by two companies as noted below: 4
1. M/s AV Thomas & Co. Ltd (AVT) P.O. Box 520, Willingdon Island Bristow Road, Cochin 682 003 : represented by Sri. Padmakumar S (Deputy General Manager- Exports) 2. M/s Thomson Rubbers (India) Pvt Ltd IX/18C, Kanjirappaly 686 507, Kerala: represented by Sri. M.T.Thomas (Managing Director) and Sri. M. T. Sam (Director) Major Exhibit Categories The show was generally categorized as follows: 1. MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT FOR THE PLASTICS AND RUBBER INDUSTRIES. 2. RAW MATERIALS, REGENERATED MATERIALS AND COMPOSITES. 3. SUPPLIERS OF SEMI-FINISHED OR FINISHED PLASTICS AND RUBBER PRODUCTS AND CUSTOM PROCESSING SERVICES FOR THE PLASTICS AND RUBBER INDUSTRY. 4. SUPPLIERS OF CONSULTANCY SERVICES AND ORGANIZATIONS FOR THE PLASTICS AND RUBBER INDUSTRY. Exhibit Profile The whole range of products exhibited in PLAST 2012 are given below: Injection moulding, extrusion, blow moulding, thermoforming and welding machines Machines for foam, reactive and reinforced resins Molds and dies, laboratory control and test equipment, ancillary equipment for plastics and rubber processing. Machines for secondary processing, finishing, decorating, marking and 5
plastics packaging, as downstream equipment. Machines and equipment for the plastics and rubber recovery and Recycling. Raw materials, acrylics, polyamides, polyolefines, styrenes, vinylics, thermoplastic polyesters, thermosets, fluoropolymers, elastomers, pigments, colourants, master batches, fillers, reinforcements, additives, process auxiliaries and other plastics Secondary and regenerated raw materials like Regenerated Poly Ethylene Terephthalate (R PET), Regenerated Poly Ethylene (R PE), Regenerated Poly Propylene (R PP), Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene Regenerated (ABS R), Regenerated Poly Vinyl Chloride (R PVC), regenerated elastomers, composites of plastic, rubber and other materials. Semi-finished and finished products, household, electrical, electronic, industrial and agricultural applications and other plastics and rubber applications and processes. Product design, manufacturing and reconstruction services and other services for the plastics and rubber industry. Rubber in PLAST 2012 After several years, the "satellite show" - RUBBER 2012 came back during PLAST 2012. It was organized by PROMAPLAST srl with the collaboration of EDIFIS, publisher of "L'industria della Gomma", with the patronage of ASSOGOMMA, the trade Association gathering Italian rubber manufacturers and processors, member of FEDERAZIONE GOMMA PLASTICA. 6
The whole supply chain was arranged in a wide area in Hall 11, with several exhibitors, not only rubber processing plant manufacturers, which traditionally exhibit at PLAST but also rubber producers and companies that process elastic materials, elastomers, natural and synthetic rubber. Rubber Board The Rubber Board had reserved a standard booth measuring 18 sq. m. for the show and was allotted Booth No. D 32 in Hall 11 under Rubber. The show was open for visitors from 10.00 hrs to 18.00 hrs from 8 th May to 11 th May and from 09.00 hrs to 14.00 hrs on 12 th May Following items were displayed in the Rubber Board s stall. 1. Ribbed Smoked Sheet (RSS) actual size (a) RSS 1 (b) RSS 2 (c) RSS 3 (d) RSS 4 (e) RSS 5 2. Ribbed Smoked Sheet (RSS) - miniature samples (a) RSS 1 (b) RSS 4 3. Indian Standard Natural Rubber ( ISNR) - miniature samples (a) ISNR Latex grade (b) ISNR 20 4. Posters by Rubber Board and Exporters 5. Catalogues 6. Directory of Natural Rubber exporters from India The exporters were also given chance to exhibit their samples and posters. 7
Summary of participants in the show The Show featured 1514 exhibitors from 58 countries and the actual number of visitors to the show was 50593. Close to 80% of what was on display were machinery items. Many exhibitors reported that, although they attracted fewer visitors to the stands, those who did come were serious. According to the PLAST 2012 organizers, the number of visitors, considering the current negative economic situation, overcame the expectations of the major part of the exhibitors. Brief summary of the feed back from the stall A wide range of items under various product classifications were on display during the show. It was noted that, in general, the attendees to the show had specific interests and they visited selective stalls only. Most of the visitors to Rubber Board s stall were interested in natural / synthetic rubber and related products. The visitors profile included i) Dealers of various forms of natural rubber ii) Dealers of reclaimed rubber iii) Supplier of Mixers to Indian Tyre units. iv) Consultants v) Quality Control personnel vi) Coordinator for NR trade in Europe vii) Professors and students from Universities viii) Representatives from M/s The All India Plastics Manufacturers Association (AIPMA) and Indo- Italian Chamber of Commerce & Industry. The products on display and the posters captured the attraction of the visitors. Responses received during the event from around 60 visitors were encouraging. Most of them had left their business cards with us and a copy of 8
the same is attached as Annexure 1. Some photos taken during the event is appended as Annexure 2. Special attention was given to enquiries on the availability of different grades of natural rubber from the country. Students from various Universities showed interest to know about Natural Rubber and for most of them it was their first exposure to NR. Interactions with the visitors revealed that the demand for natural is good in the European market and the buyers are quite keen on the price competitiveness of Indian Natural Rubber. The exporters also had chance to respond to the trade enquiries from dealers and consumers of various grades of natural rubber. We had visitors from 23 countries. PLAST 2012 positive outcome Thousands of visitors from all around the world visited the six halls, hosting PLAST 2012, the largest European exhibition of the year for the plastics and rubber industry. The number of visitors has confirmed the importance of PLAST, the triennial rendezvous for the operators of the sector. Inspired by the responses received from PLAST 2012, the organizers have announced that it will be held again from May 5 to 9, 2015. The exhibition had showcased many innovations regarding materials, finished and semi-finished products and services and also had few international meetings and congresses on the main themes of topical interest for this sector. 9
Advantages of participation in the event The exhibition offered an opportunity for the overseas buyers to realize that India is a potential source for natural rubber. NR exporters from the country got an opportunity to explore the emerging European market by offering quality materials at competitive price. The show also aroused interest among some visitors in the procedure of production of natural rubber. Suggestions Good market potential exists for natural rubber in European countries and there are opportunities for Indian exporters to enter this market. Concerted effort is required to promote the Indian Natural Rubber in the world market by participation in similar exhibitions and buyer-seller meets to develop export capability in the Indian rubber sector. Acknowledgement We place on record our sincere thanks to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Govt. of India for giving us an opportunity to participate in PLAST 2012 at Milan, Italy. Thomas Sebastian Dy. Director (Rubber Processing) Sheela Thomas, IAS Chairman, Rubber Board June 2012 10
Business Cards Area of interest Dealer in all grades of Natural Rubber Manufacturer of rubber band. Area of interest- Sheet Rubber Plans to import different grades of NR from India. NR Trader in UK and Belgium