International Plastics News for Asia

Southeast Asia remains an important player in the global industrial arena and this was proven again when the region hosted its biggest exhibition, Manufacturing Expo 2022, where InterPlas Thailand along with other concurrent exhibits were co-locators. I had the chance to visit this exhibition in Bangkok and saw how the region’s businesses are emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic. The industries have adapted well under the new normal and business is now as usual, with investments in machinery and production inputs showing an upward trend.

In the same exhibition, the trend towards digitalisation and adoption of more sustainable production processes has become a primary focus among exhibitors and visitors, alongside increased interest in automation and smart manufacturing.

Colour management solutions are becoming more sophisticated and in this issue, we look at how colour inspection and management can be integrated into the workflow. Another aspect is on enhancing the aesthetic appeal of products through the use of colour masterbatch.

The automotive industry is an important recipient of innovations, notably in injection moulding. The enhanced properties of engineered materials have also been beneficial in the production of auto parts that meet global standards for strength, stability and heat resistance.