Indiaplast 2019 showcases the best of plastics industry

At a time when use of plastic material has become cynosure of controversy, the first edition of Indiaplast, held at India Expo Centre from 28 February to 4 March 2019, showcased the best of plastics manufacturing technology.

07 Mar 2019 | By Rahul Kumar

The India’s plastics industry is evolving. It has the highest growth rate in the world and comprises more than 25,000 companies, over 3 million people, with estimated exports of finished goods to double in the next five years.

Globally, India is emerging as a leading hub for plastics manufacturing and processing. Such advancements on a global scale call for an assembly of all plastics manufacturers and dealers in India and the world, to come together and showcase the magnitude of this sector. Indiaplast 2019 offered that platform.     

The 100% sold out show, with sprawling display of live machines, the exhibition hosted 945 exhibitors from over 18 countries. The show also had dedicated country pavilions, recycling pavilion, innovation pavilion and more.

Inaugurating the event, Amitabh Kant, IAS, CEO, NITI Aayog, congratulated the organising team for bringing all stakeholders from the industry together, which includes 750 exhibitors from India.

“We have more than 40,000 processing units in MSME, producing vast range of products with processing capacity over 35-million tonnes. Also the processing capacity has been growing at 13% CAGR, which is unparalleled,” Kant said. “The processing industry is expected to invest over five to 10-billion dollars in coming next five years. This is a huge and expanding market.”

Kant said as India has just begun the process of urbanisation, the next five decades will see 700 million people move towards urbanisation and the demand of plastics will grow from 12-kg per capita to 50-kg per capita. “The annual import of plastic is 3.5-billion and the country exports 7.5-billion, which shows the competency of the processing sector,” Kant said.

He also pointed out that there is a huge untapped local market. He also added that for the growth of the industry, steps in recycling and reusing of plastics is very important.

Underlining the importance of technology, Mahendra N Patel, chairman, PMMAI, said, “There is a perception that Indian machinery lacks in latest technology advances. Indiaplast showcases technology from Indian manufacturers, which is at par with the best in the world. In fact, almost all PMMAI members are routinely exporting machines around the world.”

Last year, over 300 members of PMMAI exported machineries worth Rs 2,000-crores.

The exhibition witnessed a footfall of 1.24-lakh business visitors from across the country.

Sunil Jain, president of Rajoo Engineers, and treasurer of PMMAI announced that the next PMMAI exhibition will be called Plastfocus 2022, which is scheduled to be held from 4 to 8 March 2022.