CHINAPLAS 2016: Dynamic industry thrives in adversity

CHINAPLAS, Asia's No.1 and world's No.2 plastics & rubber trade fair, recorded 148,575 in four days, setting a new record since its debut in 1983, according to the official statement from the show's organizers. The second show day saw the peak of visiting numbers at a headcount of 54,823. Compared to the show held in Shanghai in 2014, the number of visitors this year increased by 13.96%; and compared to 2015 in Guangzhou, the increase is 15.84%.

The exhibition is well-recognized by the plastics & rubber industries the world over and with improvement of the living standards in many developing countries pushing demand for consumer goods and packaging, the number of overseas visitors this year reached 39,454, setting a record as it accounted for 26.55% of the total. The ten regions topping the chart are Korea, India, Taiwan, Japan, Indonesia, Vietnam, Iran, Thailand, Hong Kong, and Malaysia, among over 160 countries and regions.

Apart from the significant growth in the number of visitors, CHINAPLAS 2016 also achieved record heights in the show scale in terms of exhibition area and number of exhibitors. The show covered an exhibition area of over 240,000 sq. meters with a participation of 3,335 exhibitors from 39 countries and regions, of which 35% were overseas exhibitors and 14% joined CHINAPLAS for the first time.

Feedback from both exhibitors and visitors were very positive and encouraging. The exhibitors are generally satisfied with the visitor quality and their participation results. Most of them agreed that the participation of CHINAPLAS 2016 exceeded expectations as the visitor profiles are getting more international, and so is the trade fair itself.

Meeting the challenges
To cope with the demand of enterprises and challenges they will face, CHINAPLAS 2016 set ‘Greenovation for a Smart Future' as the show's theme, and focused on the topics of smart manufacturing, automation and green technology. To cater to the market trends and buyers' needs, and bring forward-looking and innovative inspiration to the industry, many concurrent events such as ‘Design x Innovation', ‘Industry 4.0 Conference' and ‘The 2nd Medical Plastics Conference' were held.   Sustainability focus has been enhanced with many exhibitors demonstrating their products  

As the launching pad for new technologies, CHINAPLAS 2016 saw more than 40 kinds of ground-breaking technologies launched either in the world or Asia. The exhibition is not only a platform for sourcing and technology know-how exchange, but also a value-added, professional and technology-oriented trade fair. The development trend of CHINAPLAS is well-matched with the technology upgrade and specific needs from downstream high-end buyers.

The next CHINAPLAS will be held on May 16-19, 2017 at China Import and Export Fair Complex, in Guangzhou, China.  
 
Highly positive exhibitors’ feedback  

Many exhibitors rated CHINAPLAS 2016 high in terms of sales opportunities and networking. They believed that their products were at the right place and at the right time given the huge visitor numbers at this year’s edition.

Guangdong Forstar Precision Machine Co Ltd (www.forstar-pm.com) is one of the fastest growing machinery makers in southern China. The company demonstrated a PET injection molding machine. The machine can save up to 40-50% electric power and shorten the formation period up to 30-50% than the traditional ones. The machine is perfectly designed for productions of various types of plastic bottles.



The company also displayed its high-end energy saving precision injection molding machine, which is used for the production of plastic covers of electronic devices.  Mr. Liu Guo Mao, Vice General Manager of the company said, "We have spent extra effort on R&D to develop higher precision and much more energy saving machines. I think customers always demand a machine of these. In fact it is a major trend in the injection molding machinery industry."   

With Swiss precision engineering combined with over 35 years’ experience, Herzog (China) Co. , Ltd (www.herzog-ag.com)  exhibited at CHINAPLAS 2016 its excellent shut-off nozzles, which are used exclusively in plastic injection molding processing and are often an essential component of the machine. “Installed at the crucial interface between heated injection unit and cooled mold, the nozzle is the gateway which regulates the melt flow while bearing the entire contact force of the machine.” Mr. Paul Coffey, President of Herzog explained.  
 

To cover today’s spectrum of applications Herzog continuously develops and expands its selection of shut-off nozzles. The product profile ranges from custom-engineering solutions for specific demands, through pneumatic and hydraulic needle and bolt style nozzles, to economical spring loaded systems.  Mr. Coffey said, “By following a customer intimacy philosophy we work closely together with injection molding machine manufacturers and processors worldwide and this feedback loop helps us to realise our customer’s exact needs. This is achieved and supported by having our own companies on three different continents - Europe, USA and of course, in China.”  
 
Liaoning North Dynasol Synthetic Rubber Co., Ltd. (LND) (www.dynasolelastomers.com) is a joint venture set up by Dynasol and Shanxi Northern Xing’An Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. At CHINAPLAS 2016, LND has brought a variety of styrene-butadiene copolymers including SBS, SSBR and LCBR, which can be widely used in asphalt and polymer modification, as well in adhesives, sealants, thermoplastic compounding and other industrial goods formulations, including automotive and medical.
 

Mr. Raul Olabarrieta, Sales Director of LND says: “Nowadays, the market, particularly Chinese market’s demand for our products is growing, which means our clients are growing. In addition, Chinese users become more and more demanding; Chinese government releases stricter regulations pertaining to environment, medical applications and food contact compounding. All of these challenges are actually a great opportunity for LND to compete because we have well-established technology from our mother company. The competition is huge in this market and if you want to stand out, high quality is not enough. You also need to make innovations and create new revolutionary products from time to time to meet the needs of market.”  Besides highly advanced technology and products, LND also established a Technical Service Center in Shanghai to give technical service to customers, find out the needs of customers and provide suitable, customized solutions.

Zambello (www.zambello.it) has participated in CHINAPLAS for more than 20 years. It witnessed the take-off of the Chinese economy. This expanding economy indicates that China is turning its emphasis from price-oriented to quality-oriented in its machinery production.  Zambello presented its latest innovative products at the exhibition. With the stable transmission system and a wide selections of single-screw and twin-screw extruders, Zambello’s speed reduction gearboxes remain at the top of the market. The models exhibited at CHINAPLAS represent a complete production line: TST 48/58-COR; ZT 60/70-COR-HT; MZPE2/200; and MNP3/160+LQ160L .

Zambello Riduttori Srl’s Manager for Asia, Mr. Homer Lee said, “I’m very positive on the future of China’s plastics industry and also think that there will be a strong cooperation between the manufacturers in China and Southeast Asian, where emerging demand in plastics machineries will be sustained due to the implementation of infrastructure development projects.”  Zambello’s goal in participating at CHINAPLAS differed a bit from those of the other manufacturers as it aimed to attract the attention of end-users since it is a well-known fact that many of the requirements in using Zambello’s gearboxes come from end-users.
 
As China’s leading plastic extrusion machine manufacture, Beier Machinery Group (www.beierpm.com) is doing very well in its export business. In 2015 the company's export has accounted for 65-70% of its whole business. At CHINAPLAS 2016, Beier’s two-floor booth is packed with Middle East, Europe, South Asia and other foreign faces.



Mr. Liu Feng, CEO of Beier Machinery Group, is very proud of the company’s being able to export machines to many developed countries and said, “In the past, machines made in China are mostly sold to those undeveloped countries. But things have changed. Nowadays, with the quality improvements, even these world's leading manufacturing countries like Germany, Japan and USA have bought our machines.”  He emphasized that quality comes first. “As long as we produce high-quality products, we will not worry about customers.”The company maintains strict product quality control and comprehensive after-sales service.  

As a leading TPE supplier, Ever Polymer (www.everpolymer.com) has been active in China's market since 20 years ago. To better serve this China market, it has set up a factory in Shenzhen to produce TPEs in 2005. However, with changes in the last decade of China's market and the rise of local enterprises’ competition, Ever Polymer had to shift its focus to the medical industry about 6 years ago, according to Mr. Gary Tu, General Manager. “Ever Polymer will continue to invest in it as people’s living standards improved and increased emphasis on health are factors that push the medical industry up. That’s why we think this industry is really the future.”  



Ever Polymer only produces its medical related materials in its Taiwan factory, which has dust-free and hygiene production environment. Countries with huge population like China and India are its target markets. The company has three brands of TPE for medical use: EVERLON, EVERMEDI and EVERSEAL.  The medical industry accounts for 15-20% of the company’s whole business, and it’s growing at about 50% annually.  


At CHINAPLAS 2016, the theme of Polyplastics (www.polyplastics.com)  exhibit,“Unlock Your Potential,” originated from the company’s commitment to always stay close to its customers, understand their needs, and be ready to provide the “Best Solutions” from all perspective.  The company presented its new DURACON® POM Grades for food contact applications. “This product is released for the first time at  CHINAPLAS.  DURACON® POM is used for food contact and drinking water supply applications in Japan, the US, and Asia due to its balanced mechanical properties and superior creep resistance, fatigue resistance, chemical resistance, and dimensional stability.



Recently, new grades have been developed that conform with regulations established by the European Union,” according to Mr. Cliff Chan, Senior Corporate Communication Manager, Greater China & ASEAN Region, Polyplastics China Limited. The company’s DURANEX® PBT LT Series guarantees a longer life cycle and can replace other high-performance resins. It maintains good electrical properties and formability as well. Compared to existing PBT grades, LT series has an unprecedented long life, improved reliability and is very suitable in electric cars and hybrid vehicles industry

"Helping Molders & Their Customers Succeed" is the mission of RJG (www.rjginc.com). Since its founding in 1985, RJG has been providing process control systems, cavity pressure sensing technology, and processing training to the injection molding sector.   RJG ‘s headquarter is in the US and it opened the China branch in Chengdu in 2012. But it has already started business in China more than 10 years ago through its Singapore office, hence China’s injection plastic industry is not new to RJG. According to Mr. Kenneth  Fassett, International Business Development head at RJG, besides Chengdu, now RJG China’s major business comes from Southern China. New sales offices will be opened in Shenzhen and Shanghai in next 2-3 years.



During Chinaplas 2016, RJG highlighted the eDART System™ - the plastics industry's first digital data acquisition platform with smart sensor technology, demonstrated independent valve gate control systems, and began offering piezoelectric and strain gage sensors. It compromises of eDART  conx™, eDART flx™ and eDART apex™. “Through utilizing the eDART System, you will be able to: verify whether the right processes are running, ensure that processes are running to template, and detect and contain short shots and other defects,” Mr. Fassett said.

RJG provides training for injection molding professionals at all levels. Mr. Fassett added that the RJG training is very practical, which distinguished the company from competitors. Everything that is learned in training classes can be directly applied into daily work.  

Synventive Molding Solutions (Suzhou) Co Ltd (www.synventive.com)  is a leading manufacturer of hot runner systems for the plastics injection molding industry. The company has a plant in Suzhou and a service center in Shenzhen to serve China customers closely. The company showcases its hot runner systems and components for the auto industry and electronics industry at CHINAPLAS this year.  

Mr. John Jofre, Vice President of Synventive (APAC) who has been working in China for 20 years witnessed the growth of the China plastics sector. International companies were the major suppliers of the industry years ago, but many local companies have become stronger and more competitive for these 10 years. To stay a step ahead of the competition, Synventive continues to invest heavily in the R&D of injection molding technology.   Mr. Jofre said, "The auto market accounts for 88% of our business. But the market is always challenging as it constantly demands new materials and requires new technology." Synventive expands its business in 3C and electronics. John continued, "in fact we started our service on high end electronics industry 5 years ago. We have a division for this sector as technologies and knowhow of hot runner systems for auto industry and electronics industry are rather different. Owing to our technical and marketing strength, our business in the electronics industry has been doing very well."

 
Dow Corning Corporation (www.dowcorning.com) is a global leader in silicon-based technology and innovation. One of its innovations is DOW CORNING@MB25-035 Masterbatch, which is designed to reduce the coefficient of friction (COF) in high-speed form-fill-seal (FFS) packaging operations.  It can be an alternative to organic additives, whose slip performance is known to degrade over time and at elevated temperatures.

Mr. Christophe Paulo, Plastics and Composite Marketing Manager of the company, said, "MB25-035 Masterbatch offers superior performance – from smooth dosing to extended slip performance to the elimination of troublesome build-up – enabling our customers to optimize their productivity and avoid the interruptions commonly caused by competitive products, particularly organics." In addition, MB25-035 Masterbatch does not exhibit stickiness and enables smooth feeding into the extruder. Further, it does not build up on extrusion dies or deposit gels on the film surface.