Rubber and plastic increasingly at the heart of the Mecpse show

From 26 to 28 March 2020 the 19th edition of MECSPE will be held in Parma (Italy). It is the most important Italian exhibition for the manufacturing industry with over 200 German brands present. Germany has confirmed its position as Italy’s top commercial partner for industrial products

According to ISTAT statistics, the trade volume between Italy and Germany recorded a further increase in 2018 reaching an all-time high of 128.4 billion euros, a growth of 5.4% compared to 2017. Last year, Italian exports to Germany reached 58.1 billion euros (+3.8% compared to 2017), while the value of imports was 70.3 billion euros (+6.8% compared to 2017). These figures confirmed Germany as Italy’s leading trading partner.
From the 5th Assobioplastiche report presented in June 2019 it emerged that the biodegradable and compostable plastics sector recorded a truly surprising increase, rising from just under 370 million euros in 2012 to 685 million euros in 2018 (+26%), with an average annual growth of about 11% and a significant increase recorded during the last year.
This is a sector that, on the whole, has increased its value by more than 85% compared to the initial years, and one which continues to grow through the investments being made in qualified workforce, cutting-edge machinery and equipment as well as innovative applications, in order to respond to major environmental questions and climate change by combining responsible production with recycling and regeneration.

12 themed exhibitions

These are sector trends that have always been at the heart of MECSPE, the Italian leading industry 4.0 trade fair organized by Senaf. This fair is now in its nineteenth edition and will be held at Fiere di Parma fairgrounds from 26 to 28 March 2020, confirming its role as a synergistic link between new production technologies and various industrial supply chains. Visitors will have the opportunity to discover not only the latest innovations in the various industrial sectors, but also the best digitisation solutions capable of putting “people at the centre” of the process, through suitable support in training and investment in human resources, to create know-how for their application. Visitors, exhibitors and companies will find the experience at MECSPE to be engaging and seamless, with 12 themed exhibitions offering an all-round view on materials, equipment and technologies.

Industry 4.0 and plastic processing

In particular, the Eurostampi exhibition in Hall 6 is dedicated to the world of plastics, rubber and composite materials. Here it will be possible to meet the major injection moulding machines manufacturers as well as rubber and plastic processing equipment manufacturers in general. Innovative materials and the area hosting plastic, rubber and composite processors, as well as standardised components for moulds and simulation and design software will also be part of the show.  The topic of the reuse of material flows will be one of the highlights of this edition and will be discussed with the contribution of associations and companies, as Industry 4.0 enabling technologies can provide a very important contribution in terms of innovation, re-engineering and harmonization of plastics production cycles. It will then be possible to understand in terms of industry 4.0 all the available technologies for “circular” design that involve processing technologies, materials and the product life cycle to achieve the reuse of materials.

Focus on sustainability

Among the initiatives of the 2020 edition that merit attention is an area entirely dedicated to the sustainability of materials, organised by Materioteca. Here a rich collection of cutting-edge products, materials, technologies and services which will be exhibited along case histories involving circular economy, materials obtained from waste, services that facilitate the closure of cycles, value chains that improve environmental impact and many other innovations including 3D printing of recycled materials. Industry experts will also be on hand to guide visitors through the latest industry innovations. Finally, this year Hall 6 will also host the Additive Manufacturing Exhibition, dedicated to professional 3D printing technologies that improve the effectiveness and efficiency of production and prototyping processes, guaranteeing greater flexibility while cutting costs and time. Here the issues of additive manufacturing will be illustrated with specific in-depth studies dedicated to metalworking, prototyping, modelling and industrial design. Innovations will be presented to visitors through case histories, application ideas and dynamic areas, intended to highlight the advantages and outline new competitive scenarios.