PETpla.net Insider 12 / 2019

8 NEWS PET planet Insider Vol. 20 No. 12/19 www.petpla.net Plastics press conference at K show The Plastic Industry Association (Plastics) press conference at the K Show covered the latest developments for the next edition of NPE: The Plastics Show in Orlando, Florida, 17-21 May 2021, Orange County Convention Centre. As well as a new profile in the form of new key visuals and website, the motto of the trade show is to be “Transform Tomorrow”. As the non- profit organisation explained, this slogan intends to highlight the positive influence of, and changes in, plastic applications and products in everyday life - especially in the future - across all segments of industry. VP for Communications, Mrs Mia Freis Quinn, and VP Trade Shows and Marketing, Mrs Susan Krys, also explained the importance of the issue of global sustainabil- ity and recycling in the USA and from its perspective, and the management of plastic waste. According to Plastics, a variety of recycling projects are already being organised, including the Pacific Northwest Secondary Sorting Demonstration, and the participation in the promotion of educational projects on recy- cling was also highlighted. In addition to the objectives and topics for the upcoming NPE2021, the enthusiastic plastics expert and new President & CEO of Plastics, Tony Radoszewski, discussed the challenges and opportunities for plastics in the USA and in terms of the global import and export business. Radoszewski, who has some 40 years’ experience in the field, previously worked for Phillips Chemical; plastic pipe manufacturer Advanced Drainage Sys- tems; and was President of the Plastics Pipe Institute. Together with Economics Chief Mr Perc Pineda PhD, the team provided an overview of the latest developments and trends for plastics up to the year 2021. According to a study conducted by Plastics with Probe Economics LLC, U.S. plastics manufacturing as a whole grew by 6% from 2017 to 2018, from US$ 306.2 billion to US$ 324.6 billion. Mexico and Canada were found to be the main export countries of the USA in 2018, with a total export volume of approximately US$30 billion. While China is the USA’s third biggest export market, it had trade deficit of US$ 14.3 bil- lion in 2018 although, according to Mr Pineda, a trend towards reduced imports is expected by 2021. The USA saw an increase in the consumption of plastic products of more than 6%, from US $ 224 billion to US $ 238 billion. In comparison with 2018, the association predicts a fall in sales of machines and moulds in 2019, albeit with a positive trend over the next two years. In addition to the second edition of the “Bottle Zone”, the designated area for PET bottle production at the NPE, there will be new technology zones and a comprehensive supporting programme including information and training opportunities. The organisers are expecting more than 55,000 visitors and around 20,000 companies to attend the event. www.npe.org F.l.t.r.: Plastics new President & CEO Tony Radoszewski with Kay Barton That was Brau Beviale 2019 About 40,000 trade visitors (2018: 40,882), includ- ing around 18,000 from outside Germany, travelled to the capital goods exhibition for the beverage industry Brau Beviale to Nuremberg this year. With 1,088 exhibi- tors, 54 per cent from outside Germany, the exhibition provided an opportunity to learn all about the beverage manufacture process chain: raw materials, technologies and components, efficient and sustainable packaging, and creative marketing ideas. Once again this year, the exhibition had the key theme of “Future viability of the beverage sector”. The highly international make-up of the exhibitors and visitors was confirmed again this year, with exhibitors representing a total of 45 countries, mainly from Ger- many (504), Italy, China, the UK, the Czech Republic, Austria and Belgium. The approximately 40,000 trade visitors attended from 138 countries, with the majority, after Germany, coming from Italy, the Czech Republic, Austria, Russia, Belgium, Switzerland, the Netherlands, France and Poland. The themes in the supporting programme relating to the future of the sector were well received, as the organisers state. Discussions at the BrauBeviale Forum for instance ranged from open exchanges of opinion to highly contentious debate – not least in the issue of “Tap Water vs. Mineral Water” and the pledge question got the participants fired up, and vigorous discussion continued outside the forum. The event was rounded out with presentations on further topics of interest to the sector and top-level award presentations. The next edition of Brau Beviale will be held in Nuremberg from November 10-12, 2020. www.braubeviale.de/en