The high attendance of more than 8,200 targeted visitors from 40 countries including group delegations from China, India, Myanmar and Thailand at T-PLAS 2017 – the international trade fair for the plastics and rubber industries, affirmed its positioning as the industry and Thailand’s must-attend specialist event when it closed its doors last week.
This year’s edition saw an increase in visitors of 12% compared to 2015, with close to 30% coming from overseas, mainly from the Southeast Asian region. The 4-day exhibition presented a high-quality showcase of global innovations and solutions from about 250 companies from 25 countries, as well as national pavilion and country group representation from Austria, China, Germany, Malaysia, Singapore, and Taiwan.
Commenting on the success and internationality of T-PLAS 2017,
Mr Gernot Ringling, Managing Director of Messe Dῡsseldorf Asia, said: “The continued growth of T-PLAS is testament to the strength of the plastics industry in Thailand and the region. The increase in international visitors and line-up of exhibitors is gratifying and proves that the exhibition has built on its quality and with each edition being able to attract some of the best companies in the plastics sector as well as draw an increasingly relevant and high quality visitor base and profile.”
The visiting delegations from various regional industry associations representing downstream producers and processors, from automotive products, wire and electrical manufacturing, to food and FMCG packaging, and the well-attended technical presentations and expert-led seminars and conferences by over 350 attendees were also indicative of T-PLAS’s increasing relevance as a leading sourcing and networking platform.
With a show floor that was well-presented, covering the entire plastics value chain from raw material suppliers to plastics producers, compounders, converters, as well as distributors and consumers, according to first time exhibitor Altech Asia, its Sales Manager, Mr Taizo Okabe, said he was impressed with the range and quality of visitors which “exceeded our expectations. There has also been high interest in our machines and we are excited to be here to share and explain more about the solutions we have to offer.”
On the flexible plastics packaging front, there was high interest shown towards moulding machinery and for globally recognised manufacturer, Engel Austria, who exhibited for the second time, T-PLAS was the ideal platform for their expansion in the Southeast Asian market. “T-PLAS is a well-known exhibition so it makes sense for us to be here. More importantly, Engel is investing heavily in Southeast Asia, and to support our growth here, it is a good platform for us to communicate these changes,” said Mr Romain Reyre, President, Southeast Asia, Engel Machinery (Thailand) Ltd.
Commenting on the relevance and appeal of the Southeast Asian market, Deputy Director, Global Portfolio Plastics and Rubber, Messe Düsseldorf GmbH, Mr Thomas Franken, said that T-PLAS is an “interesting platform for international companies to showcase their products and that it is getting more important for German companies to be in the Asian market, especially when there is a strong demand for German products and machineries.”
“Feedback from the German exhibitors indicates that they have gained valuable and potential contacts from this region through the show, particularly from Thailand and the Philippines,” he added.
Similarly, for Vietnamese company An Phat Yen Bai Mineral and Plastic Joint Stock Company, who received strong business leads and a steady stream of enquiries, its business development manager, Ms Dang Thi Qunyh Phuong shared that, “we have received many potential customers so far, from countries such as India, Malaysia and even Morocco, and are going to conclude many orders. This has been a very good trade fair for us.” The company's success in securing orders and potential partners at T-PLAS 2017 avouches Thailand’s draw as the launch bed to expanding their clientele and company's visibility in the region.
Machinery and equipment dedicated for pre-processing and recycling mixers saw keen interest from trade visitors at T-PLAS 2017 with Thailand based company Labtech Engineering receiving very positive sales leads. “As a niche provider of laboratory polymer processing machines, we are very happy with the results, response has been very good and T-PLAS is a good place to exhibit,” said Mr Peter Jurgensen, President, Labtech Engineering.
Building upon its success as Thailand’s leading exhibition for the plastics and rubber sectors, T-PLAS will return from 18 to 21 September 2019 at the Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre (BITEC).
More information on T-PLAS 2017 will be released in a post-show report available shortly. For the latest updates, visit www.tplas.com
About Messe Düsseldorf Asia
Messe Düsseldorf Asia is a subsidiary of Messe Düsseldorf GmbH, one of the world’s leading trade fair organisers, responsible for organising more than 20 global No. 1 exhibitions in various industries including plastics, printing and packaging, and medical and healthcare - specifically K, drupa, interpack, MEDICA, COMPAMED and A+A held in Düsseldorf, Germany. With extensive expertise in organizing trade fairs in Southeast Asia, Messe Düsseldorf Asia has developed a portfolio of numerous trade fairs in the region since 1995. For more information on the exhibition, please visit mda.messe-dusseldorf.com
Space application is now open for T-PLAS 2019.
For more information, please contact:
Press contact Exhibitor contact
Mr Alvin Sim Ms Lee Ai Ling
Tel: (65) 6332 9621 Tel: (65) 6332 9644
Email: alvin@mda.com.sg Email: ailing@mda.com.sg
