Plastics Live (incorporating Industry 4.0 in Plastics, Sustainable Plastics Live, and the 3D printing event AMPLAS) will be held July 5-6 2022 in Coventry, U.K. Since its launch last month, the event has garnered huge cross-industry support, a sign that the plastics industry has been starved of a forward-looking exhibition and conference that focuses on the present and future possibilities for efficient plastic manufacturing.

Scott Colman, Plastics Live Director says, “Plastics Live is all about innovation and is heavily future-focused. Those businesses who prefer to stand still will not be comfortable with our format. Those leaning forward will benefit and prosper from getting involved. The show will focus pragmatically on the options that exist for companies that are manufacturing plastic parts of any size, any level of precision, in any materials, and at any volume. The event has one key objective, and that is to allow plastics part and component manufacturers to see all the technology solutions that exist today to get innovative products to market in a cost-effective, timely, smart, and sustainable way.”

Passion for the Plastics Industry

The organisers of Plastics Live have a passion for the industry and have had a close association with the sector for over 20 years. A key motivation behind the event is a feeling that there needs to be a focussed event in the United Kingdom that showcases the very best of the plastics industry, and which will illustrate the positive things that the industry is capable of, and — above all — to communicate how plastics can be a unique and indispensable benefit both for the environment and for the global society.

Plastics Live will bring the sector’s most important manufacturing themes into the spotlight. It will directly tackle the plastics-in-the-environment theme that has so dominated the media recently through Sustainable Plastics Live, which will address the entire spectrum of environmental plastic issues and solutions. The much-discussed topic of 3D printing/ Additive Manufacturing (AM) will also be showcased under the banner of AMPLAS. This part of Plastics Live will display and help educate some of the trends in additive manufacturing and will show visitors how AM and injection moulding are becoming complementary technologies. Industry 4.0 in Plastics will demonstrate to visitors how “smart,” and connected operations are revolutionising the factory shop floor — improving product quality, reducing costs, increasing process transparency and delivering customer orders on time and right-first-time. Industry 4.0 is simply another term for preparing for the future in the most practical way possible.

Colman continues, “Plastics Live is the first event to draw together all the key areas of interest for plastic manufacturers under one roof. Our research has shown that there is a frustration among plastic manufacturers that they can only locate best-in-class exhibitors and educative conference sessions that address issues pertaining to 3D printing, true digital manufacturing, traditional plastic production technologies, and sustainability by attending numerous events. This frustration is compounded by the fact that few event organisers until now have recognised that all these important areas are interlinked, and so there is a real value in curating an exhibition and conference that covers all aspects of a modern and efficient plastic manufacturing process.”

“This is exemplified by the area of 3D printing. Companies that use traditional technologies or service providers are aware of 3D printing. 3D printing technology or service providers are aware of traditional alternatives. All are jockeying for position. At AMPLAS attendees will be able to see where the sweet spot is for each. The event will address various pertinent questions.  Can I get the volume of parts I need via 3D printing therefore getting them faster, with greater geometric complexity, less expensively? If yes can I justify machine purchase or should I use sub-contract services? Can I use 3D printing for short runs and then contract out volume runs to traditional contract providers? Can I justify the technology purchase of traditional plastic processing technology for in-house use? The answers to these questions will be different for all attendees. A standard plastics event will give them a partial set of answers. A standard 3D printing show will give them a partial set of answers. Plastics Live and AMPLAS will give them a holistic view, marrying 3D printing and traditional production technologies under one umbrella – manufacturing technologies that make stuff! The show is based around pragmatic solutions that can be used by attendees to get the best fit manufacturing technology, while at the same time integrating vital issues such as sustainability and Industry 4.0.”

Launch partners for Plastics Live

Plastics Live’s launch partners show the depth and strength of support that the event has as it draws together the key areas of interest to plastic part manufacturers, and include Engel, Hi-Tech, Fanuc, KUKA, intouch, BioCote, Billion, Plastribution, Wittmann Battenfeld, Davis Standard, Plastech, Spitfire AMS, Plastikmedia, Jellypipe, Sierra 57,  and Invotec Solutions

Colman concludes, “Plastics Live is for forward-thinking plastic manufacturers who are focussed and committed to their future viability and profitability. Conference and workshop sessions will offer visitors advice on how to future-proof business, how to use technology to improve output, save energy and the environment, and create the factories of the future. It will draw together leading technology and solution providers in what is set to be the largest plastics exhibition in the United Kingdom.”