The manufacturing industry worldwide has hit a bottleneck in its growth and recovery. With simmering trade tensions, the global economy is undergoing complex and profound changes. In a critical phase of adopting new development strategies, improving its economic structure and shifting the growth momentum, China has been cutting taxes and related costs to ease the burden of manufacturers with the aim of encouraging technological innovation and stimulating domestic demand. At the same time, the country continues to open up to encourage foreign investment. Embracing a new era for the plastics and rubber industries that is full of challenges and opportunities, Chinaplas 2019 - which runs from 21 May to 24 May - kicked off today in Guangzhou, the technological innovation hub and core city of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area. The show has attracted over 3,600 leading exhibitors from all over the world. With an exhibition space occupying more than 250,000 square meters at the China Import and Export Fair Complex, Pazhou, Guangzhou, the show will present to the world numerous pioneering technologies that are helping plastics and rubber companies to stand out and grow.
Technological innovation with plastics to foster high-quality development
Artificial intelligence, 5G wireless networks, big data, the Internet of Things (IoT), facial recognition technology, curved monitors, foldable screens - these terms have been catching our eye over the past year while giving rise to new materials, new equipment, and new opportunities. The key to high-quality development is technological innovation. The plastics and rubber industries - which together comprise a vital backbone of the overall manufacturing sector - are aggressively upgrading their production capabilities and their overall value chains.
Plastics is an indispensable part of human life and technological development. However, the potential of plastic materials has long been misunderstood and underestimated. Plastic materials now find use in a mind-boggling array of high-end applications, enabling creative and imaginative product design. Chinaplas, as a high-quality showcase for such technologies and as a vital business exchange platform, this year alone will introduce more than 180 cutting-edge, hot technologies that are being revealed for the first time in the world or Asia. A vast number of both Chinese and multinational exhibitors will use the occasion to display high-performance plastic materials and intelligent manufacturing solutions, to help propel these industries forward.
For the plastics industry and for other key end-use sectors, the annual Chinaplas show is like a top performance stage, which focuses on exhibiting emerging technologies and innovation. 5G, the next generation of wireless networking, will revolutionize countless aspects of our lives, and accelerate our adoption of a high-tech smart life. Many innovative technologies can be incorporated into 5G base stations and other applications. Low-dielectric constant modified plastics, antenna materials, heat-sink conductive materials, shielding materials and more also can be found in the show. Vehicles also are becoming "smarter" and more autonomous. With the implementation of intelligent networks, high-performance materials with good organoleptic properties, electrical conductivity, and color-changing ability are becoming more popular. Aesthetically pleasing, eye-catching, customized packaging is becoming an "accelerator" for boosting brand values. Many also are seeking quick and changeable technologies for 3D printing, as well as new, environmentally friendly and specialty plastic materials. In the medical field, high-purity, highly-transparent, and chemical-resistant medical-grade plastics and medical-grade silicone are gaining popularity. At the show, visitors also will find high-quality building materials solutions, offering high durability, strength, and toughness. Additionally, the show will actively promote new applications in other sectors, such as sports and leisure, and introduce various other innovative technologies that can be applied in several industries.
To assist industry players in identifying cutting-edge and popular "hardcore" technologies, the organizer will hold concurrent event "Tech Talk", which are open-forum discussions on the show floor that will showcase more than 40 innovative technologies, covering 11 major themes, such as long-fiber injection molding, 3D printing, Bioplastics, and new energy vehicles.
In response to the increasing demand and great potential in the medical market, "Medical Plastics Connect" will be held in the form of "Forum + Pop-up Kiosk + Guidebook + Guided Tour" to provide medical device, disposables and pharmaceutical packaging manufacturers with the latest medical plastics technologies around the world.
