Extrusion International 6-2021

12 Extrusion International 6/2021 INDUSTRY NEWS „ Amaplast, the Italian national trade association of some 170 manufacturers of plastics and rubber processing ma- chinery, equipment, and moulds, and a member of Con- findustria, held its annual member assembly at 16 Sep- tember 2021 at Milan. During the assembly, the members confirmed President Dario Previero and the Vice Presidents Gabriele Caccia and Massimo Margaglione for the two-year term 2021-2023. In his address to the assembly, Previero illustrated the performance of the Italian plastics and rubber process- ing machinery industry, commenting on the results of the first edition of the National Statistics Survey by the MECS- Amaplast Statistical Study Centre among some 350 man- ufacturers (employing a total workforce of 13,000) that generated revenues of nearly 3.6 billion euros in 2020, of which 76% from exports. While the industry closed the year 2020 with a negative balance, the deficit was not as bad as might have been feared after the complicated months of the pandemic. In- stead, companies showed recovery in the final months of the year, boosted by growth in the first half of 2021. This confirms the solidity and dynamism of the industry. The outlook for the upcoming months is marked by optimism bolstered by the positive signals arriving from various markets and applications. President Previero also reiterated the key themes faced by companies in the sector: from the expected reforms and support that will finally put the crisis behind us to eco- logical transition and from problems procuring materials, components, and qualified personnel to digital transfor- mation and new post-pandemic business models. In closing, the President commented on the complex is- sues relating to trade fairs and the path of synergy through association now fully implemented with ACIMAC (Association of Italian Manufacturers of Machinery and Equipment for Ceramics) and UCIMA (Italian Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Association). Previero’s address was followed by the round table dis- cussion “Sustainability 4.0”. Trade Fairs: Following the pandemic-induced upheaval in the world trade fair calendar, the service company Promaplast srl was forced to postpone the 2021 edition of PLAST, ini- tially from May to June in the hopes of quick positive de- velopments in the public health situation and then to a later year. In light of responses gathered from major exhibitors and openings in the FieraMilano calendar, the decision was made to reschedule the fair to 5-8 September 2023, a year after K and with a reasonable interval after the major in- ternational fairs for the sector. Six hundred exhibitors who were registered for PLAST 2021 have confirmed their participation in 2023 and have currently reserved 30,000 square metres of exhibition space. In consideration of the big push for ecological transition embodied in the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) and other instruments, Promaplast srl has an- nounced a new event called GREENPLAST dedicated to environmental sustainability, energy efficiency, recovery- recycling-reuse, and the circular economy. A showcase for the most advanced solutions in polymers, finished products, machinery, services, and much more. The fair will take place in Milan, 3-6 May 2022 in conjunc- tion with Ipack-Ima, Print4All, Intralogistica Italia, and, for the first time in Milan, Pharmintech. Round Table: “Sustainability 4.0”: The Amaplast assembly concluded with a round-table discussion titled “Sostenibilità 4.0”, with contributions from Camillo Rovida, Amaplast consultant; Marco Versari, President of Consorzio Biorepack, Public Affairs Manager of Novamont spa, and former Assobioplastiche President; Walter Ganapini, Honorary Member of the Scientific Com- mittee of the European Environment Agency, Co-founder of Legambiente, and former President of Greenpeace Italia; and Osvaldo Bosetti, Industrial Director of Europa Goglio spa. President Previero closed the assembly underscoring that Italian manufacturers of plastics and rubber processing machinery are ready to embrace the new challenges as an impulse to develop increasingly advanced technological solutions. A Più S.r.l. www.a-piu-srl.com AMAPLAST Assembly