Over 30 Italian companies are taking part in the collective - organized by Amaplast, a trade association representing some 170 Italian companies in the plastics and rubber processing machinery, ancillary equipment, and moulds industry and member of Confindustria - at the 24th edition of Interplastica, a specialized exhibition which is taking place in Moscow from January 25 to 28, 2022. Some twenty other Italian firms will participate individually or via the stands of their local agents or partners.

In spite of all the uncertainties generated by the worsening of the pandemic and the political and economic tensions characterizing the Russian economy in particular, Italian manufacturers of plastics and rubber processing technology continue to manifest interest in the Russian market, as evidenced by the amount of space occupied at the trade fair (the Italian pavilion covers more than 600 square metres, second only to the Germans in size).

The following Amaplast member companies are taking part in Interplastica: Amut, Bandera, Bausano, BG Plast Impianti, BMB, Borghi, CMS, Colines, Comerio Ercole, FB Balzanelli, Gamma Meccanica, GAP, Gefit, IPM, Itib Machinery International, Magic MP, Maris, Mobert, Moretto, Negri Bossi, Olmas, OMG, Polivinil Rotomachinery, Previero-Sorema, Tecnomatic, Tecnova.

The Russian Federation is one of the main outlet markets for Italian plastics and rubber processing technology. In the first nine months of 2021, exports for the industry reached the threshold of 60 million euros, exceeding the pre-crisis levels of 47 million euros in 2019.

A considerable share of sales by Italian plastics and rubber processing machinery builders to Russian customers continues to be represented by high-tech, high-intrinsic-value systems for primary transformation. These include, in particular, extrusion lines (over 14 million euros), thermoforming machines (more than 5 million euros), and flexographic printers (nearly 3 million euros). Most of the systems are devoted to packaging items production, with the packaging industry being a leading performer in Russia.

Another sector that is developing rapidly also in Russia is the recovery-recycling-reuse of plastics with a view to environmental sustainability and the circular economy. The simultaneous exhibition dedicated to green technologies titled “Recycling Solutions” is thus a fitting complement to Interplastica 2022. Participants include some of the major Italian manufacturers of systems and equipment for the recovery of plastic wastes, an area in which Italy boasts decades of experience, having been one of the first countries to develop the necessary technology.

Furthermore, the Moscow event also offers an occasion to publicize the first edition of GreenPlast to the Russian market. Organized by Promaplast, Amaplast service company, and dedicated to materials, technologies, and plastics and rubber conversion processes with a focus on sustainability, recovery, recycling, and energy efficiency, the new exhibition-conference will take place in Milan from May 3 to 6, 2022.