Intelligent manufacturing to drive industrial growth

With the theme "Greenovation for a Smart Future", CHINAPLAS 2017 (The 31st International Exhibition on Plastics and Rubber Industries), Asia's No. 1 plastics and rubber trade fair, places strong emphasis on "Intelligent Manufacturing", "High-tech Materials" and "Green Solutions" via a wide range of innovative exhibits from more than 3,300 companies. As a leading platform showcasing advanced new materials, equipment and technologies, CHINAPLAS will fully demonstrate its role as a key contributor to industrial growth with its 16 theme zones.

Since its debut in 1983, CHINAPLAS has been dedicated to satisfying the demands of customers in the key end markets, including automotive, building and construction, packaging, electrical and electronics, information technology, telecommunications and medical. The last edition of CHINAPLAS successfully welcomed 148,575 visitors, among which 39,454 were overseas visitors from over 160 countries and regions. 

Green solutions as part of the agenda
The year 2016 was marked by global efforts to move toward a more sustainable society. With the United Nations' announcement of 17 sustainable development goals agreed by world leaders, reducing the impact of man and manufacturing on the environment has been topping many global development agendas.

Manufacturing industry has no other viable strategic option than to adopt green solutions as it moves forward. Given such international economic circumstances, CHINAPLAS 2017 brings together and highlight a series of green solutions, such as advanced equipment that can achieve zero VOC emissions; and degradable and recyclable materials that enable lightweight, multifunctional and low-carbon products. The "Recycling Technology Zone" will continue to present to visitors an abundant selection of best practices related to energy saving and environmental protection. 

The packaging industry has been moving toward adopting lightweight, thin films, degradable materials, and package constructions that resist water, oxygen, air and ultraviolet rays. Exhibitors at the show will be displaying examples of all such materials for the packaging industry. In addition, packaging-related machinery and automation equipment will be center stage, to include injection molding and extrusion technologies that deliver high-barrier end products, automatic detection equipment, and multilayer film technology. 

Intelligent manufacturing will still be the dominant theme of CHINAPLAS 2017. Based on the successful experience of the "Automation Technology Zone" in the show's past two editions, the area has been renamed the "Smart Manufacturing Technology Zone" and reshaped to help address the industry's avid interest today in intelligent manufacturing. 

That section of the show floor will feature a full range of new technologies and products, including mechanical arms, robots, automated systems, controllers, actuators and sensors. International visitors seeking high-quality, integrated solutions to their smart manufacturing challenges will not be disappointed. And they will find more cutting-edge technology in the "3D Technology Subzone", where 3D printers, 3D scanners, 3D printing software and 3D printing services will be displayed. 

A series of new high-performance materials will be on display during CHINAPLAS 2017, including but not limited to composites as well as other new materials that feature high strength, high barrier properties, good transparency, steaming and boiling resistance, UV resistance, anti-bacterial properties and biodegradability.

Special events

BASF and CHINAPLAS will showcase extraordinary prototypes for products that improve smarter living at the "Design x Innovation" event. They include a robot hand, an airless bicycle tire, a unique children's toy set and a hybrid electronic device - all developed through collaboration between top designers and brand owners, and facilitated by BASF and using its advanced materials. 

These co-creation projects have been named "TRIO" to reflect the cooperation between BASF, designers and brand owners. While BASF provides the material inspiration for the prototypes, the products are conceptualized by designers and brand owners. The innovations to be showcased include the RN30, a new concept vehicle jointly developed by BASF and Hyundai Motor Company, which combines key solutions from the chemical industry with purposeful aerodynamic design and specialized high-performance technologies. 

Another special event is the “3rd Medical Plastics Conference” which will tackle a myriad of edge-cutting and practical medical plastics products and solutions. The medical plastics conference covers topics comprehensively – from new materials applications to production technologies.