Extrusion International 6-2024-USA

16 Extrusion International 6/2024 INDUSTRY NEWS Plastics and Rubber Machinery Manufacturing – Incoming Orders have Still Not Bottomed Out The plastics and rubber machinery industry continues to experience challenging times, with the latest figures for incoming orders and sales also being in line with the recent slump in demand. "We still have towait a little longer for the turnaround," explains Ulrich Reifenhäuser, Chairman of the Board of the Plastics and Rubber Machinery Association. "From January to August, incoming orders are still showing a decline of 16 percent compared to the previous year. The weak demand is affecting all markets equally – but the European domestic market in particular. Major markets such as China and the US are also weakening consider- ably, although we are witnessing individual glimmers of hope at a lower level in Mexico and India." Due to the fact that all existing orders have now been processed, the slump in orders is now also directly re- flected in sales figures. From January to August, these were 7 percent down on the previous year. "This means that we have to revise our forecast downwards for the current year. The expected lowest point in terms of in- coming orders has not yet been reached. We have to be prepared for a 10 to 15 percent drop in sales this year," explains Thorsten Kühmann, Managing Director of the VDMA Plastics and Rubber Machinery Association. Orders could improve somewhat towards the end of the year, as the first central banks are currently initiat - ing interest rate cuts, which will subsequently boost the capital goods sector. "However, due to the lag in pro- duction, it will take until the middle of next year for the positive impetus to be reflected in sales. For 2025, we therefore anticipate a sales growth of between 0 and minus 5 percent," Kühmann states. "Just in time for the K year, the downward trend is calming down, and com- panies in the plastics and rubber machinery industry can look forward with confidence to a successful K 2025." VDMA Plastics and Rubber Machinery Association vdma.org/plastics interpack and the World Packaging Organisation Expand Partnership interpack and the World Packaging Organisation (WPO) are intensifying their long-standing cooperation. The aim of the strategic partnership is to promote inno- vation, sustainability and the global exchange of knowl- edge in the packaging industry even more strongly. This cooperation has a long tradition: “We have been associated with Messe Düsseldorf for many years, and interpack has long since become a home for us in Ger- many. Together we want to achieve great things for the industry and support interpack with passion,“ says Luciana Pellegrino, President of the WPO. The WPO and interpack share many common goals, particularly in the promotion of innovation, sustainabil- ity, education and global networking. The expanded cooperation will promote important topics such as cir- cular economy, sustainability and resource conservation in the packaging industry even more intensively. „Our drive is to promote the development and progress of the processing and packaging industry and to ensure its success in the world's markets,“ says Thomas Dohse, Director of interpack, describing the trade fair's vision. „With the WPO, we have the ideal partner at our side to continue to fulfil these goals. Utilising our global net - work together is a great step.“ The WPO organises one of the world's most presti- gious packaging competitions with the WorldStar Global Packaging Awards. In 2026, the awards ceremony will once again take place as part of interpack, providing par- ticipants with a major international stage. TheWPO itself will have a stand at the trade fair and take part in various content formats at interpack, such as the TV studio and the Spotlight Forum. As part of a theme partnership, the WPO will also be involved in interpack channels such as Spotlight Magazine outside of the trade fair. The WPO was already a strong partner for the pre- miere of ‘Women in Packaging’ in 2023, when interpack organised a networking event and panel discussion for women in the packaging industry on a global level for the first time. This initiative was groundbreaking and other players in the industry are now also increasingly focussing on this topic. The WPO will also be on board again at interpack 2026 and as part of the interpack alli- ance trade fairs, contributing with panel discussions and its global women's network. Messe Düsseldorf GmbH www.interpack.de www.worldpackaging.org