Extrusion International 2-2023

16 Extrusion International 2/2023 INDUSTRY NEWS ArabPlast 2023  ArabPlast, which will be held at the Dubai World Trade Centre from 13 to 15 December 2023, is the lead- ing trade fair for plastics, rubber, petrochemicals and packaging in the MENA region. Since 2004 Al Fajer Information & Services and Messe Düsseldorf have maintained a partnership, whose con- tinuation was secured by the signing of a contract in Düsseldorf on 27 February 2023. "ArabPlast is the lead - ing communication and business platform for the plas- tics and rubber industry in the Arab world," says Erhard Wienkamp, Managing Director of Messe Düsseldorf, and he adds: "I look forward to continuing our success- ful cooperation with Al Fajer Information & Services." The Gulf States are not only top producers and export - ers of petrochemical products but also suppliers of first- class plastics products. The robust economic conditions in the region ensure an excellent investment climate, which also results in increased demand for plastics. The latest edition of ArabPlast, held in November 2021 and still impaired by the pandemic, was a resound- ing success, counting 217 exhibitors and more than 11,200 visitors from 129 countries. ArabPlast provides experts and decision-makers from the region with an excellent opportunity to meet with raw material and technology vendors from around the world. For ArabPlast 2023 official national pavilions from Germany, Denmark, Switzerland, Egypt, Austria, Italy and Turkey are already planned. ArabPlast’s success is based on Messe Düsseldorf’s good relations established with the companies of the global plastics and rubber industry. Messe Düsseldorf owes its expertise especially to its role as organiser of K in Düsseldorf. Just recently in October 2022 at its 70th anniversary, K, which is held every three years, succeed- ed in bringing together 3,020 exhibitors from 59 nations with more than 177,000 visitors from all over the world. “With the support of our international partner, Messe Düsseldorf, the organiser of the world’s No. 1 trade fair for plastics and rubber, K, ArabPlast developed into the leadingevent in theMiddle East,” says NadhalMohamed, General Manager, Al Fajer Information & Services. ArabPlast is part of the Global Gate service brand, which bundles Messe Düsseldorf's worldwide range of international platforms for the plastics and rubber in - dustry. With its own events and strategic alliances with leading regional trade fairs for the plastics and rubber industry – such as ArabPlast – Messe Düsseldorf offers the industry tailor-made business platforms in relevant growth markets. www.arabplast.info From left to right: Nadhal Mohamed, General Manager, Al Fajer Information & Services; and Erhard Wienkamp, Managing Director of Messe Düsseldorf (Photo: Messe Düsseldorf) New Packaging Regulation – Views from the Packaging Supply Chain  At a conference entitled “Packaging regulations and the impact on the packaging supply chain” organ- ised recently by AMAPLAST (Italian Plastics and Rub - ber Processing Machinery and Moulds Manufacturers’ Association) and UCIMA (Italian Packaging Machinery Manufacturers’ Association), leading figures from the packaging industry and institutions discussed the criti- cal issues arising from the New Packaging Regulations and the various strategies that have been adopted. The importance of the topic for the industry was reflected by the presence of more than 150 companies. “We are not opposed to change,” said Riccardo Ca- vanna, Chairman of Ucima. “The problem is that this regulation is creating confusion. We have always played an important part in spurring the industry to achieve sig- nificant results in terms of the circular economy, but we need a concrete approach that builds on the progress made so far. Our shared goal is to protect the planet.” “The technical feasibility of the new regulation is by no means certain and requires careful analysis,” added Dario Previero, Chairman of Amaplast. “By working to- gether, our associations are able to voice the concerns of companies and help to find the best possible solu- tion.” Following the opening remarks given by institutional representatives, the speakers illustrated the key points of the New Regulation. Confindustria presented the strategies adopted to protect the sector and the entire supply chain and to ensure that the reform would be balanced and capable of strengthening the Italian pack- aging waste management system as a model that needs to be preserved and protected. Marco Ravazzolo (Confindustria – Industrial and sus- tainability policies) said: “We are unable to accept the way the new European regulation shifts the paradigm from recycling to reuse. This approach is not supported