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PLAST 2026 opens at Fiera Milano
June, 9, 2026 - The twentieth edition of Plast, the leading European trade fair of the year dedicated to the plastics and rubber industry, opened on Tuesday 9 June 2026. Alongside Plast, the event marks the simultaneous inauguration of Xylexpo and Composites Future, the other two exhibitions within the MaTec - Next Materials and Technologies project, running from 9 to 12 June at Fiera Milano (Rho). Over the four days of the fair, thousands of visitors are expected from all major geographical areas. The opening ceremony took place at along Corso Italia, the central avenue of the fairground, at Pavilion 18. Attending the ribbon-cutting ceremony were:
With an exhibition area exceeding 40,000 square meters, the event organized by Promaplast serves as the reference platform for the presentation of processing machinery for plastics and rubber, as well as next-generation raw materials for the production of semi-finished and finished goods, and offers a unique opportunity for the development of new business relationships. The current edition has delivered positive results despite the complex international geopolitical and economic landscape, marked by trade tensions and instability across global markets. The Milan show is demonstrating its resilience with the participation of over 1,000 exhibitors from 45 countries - 44% of them international companies - 200 of whom were not present at either of the two previous editions. A result all the more significant in a challenging market environment in which strategic sectors such as the automotive industry are undergoing a period of profound transformation. Attracting 200 new exhibiting companies in this context is a clear signal of the industry's confidence in Plast as a platform for showcasing innovation and developing commercial relationships. The organisation has also worked to significantly increase the presence of international visitors, with representatives from the main destinations of Italian exports, through buyer delegations organised in collaboration with Agenzia ICE and strategic agreements with leading trade associations - both within the sector and representing key end markets. Over 300 delegate companies are expected, including around seventy from India and a similar number from Latin America. Satellite shows Plast, together with its three satellite shows - Rubber, 3D Plast and PlastMat - represents the entire supply chain of the plastics and rubber industry, occupying six of the eight halls at MaTec. Rubber is dedicated to the rubber sector, from materials to processing technologies and industrial applications. 3D Plast explores the frontiers of 3D printing and additive technologies applied to polymers. PlastMat focuses on materials innovation, a central theme in the evolution of the manufacturing industry. A market with strong potential The "Made in Europe" machinery sector is characterised by a strong export orientation, including towards emerging markets with a growing appetite for investment, and maintains a strategic role on the global stage. Access to these markets represents a decisive lever for consolidating the excellence of European companies, particularly manufacturers of machinery for processing plastics and rubber. In this context, Plast 2026 offers industry players a leading showcase for the most advanced solutions, with particular attention to the challenges of technological innovation and environmental sustainability.
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