VDMA and Adsale, the organizer of CHINAPLAS, will jointly organize The Power of Plastics forum during the first three days of CHINAPLAS 2026, providing a dedicated platform for in-depth technical exchange.

VDMA and Adsale will jointly organize The Power of Plastics Forum.

The forum will continue key topics driven by VDMA member companies at the K-Show in October 2025. Sessions focus on plastics recycling, the processing of recyclates, and the opportunities arising from digitalization and artificial intelligence in plastics processing.

By linking technology, regulation, and real-world implementation, the forum underlines the industry’s commitment to innovation, efficiency, and circular solutions in a rapidly changing global market.

Technology focus at CHINAPLAS

CHINAPLAS reflects the investment priorities of processors and brand owners in China and the wider Asian region. Key topics include:

• Efficiency and productivity: High-performance injection molding machines, extrusion lines, and automated systems designed to reduce energy and material consumption

• Digitalization and smart manufacturing: Process monitoring, intelligent control systems, data integration, and predictive maintenance

• Recycling and circular economy: Advanced solutions for mechanical recycling, material handling, and compounding, supporting higher recyclate quality and closed-loop applications

• High-value applications: Machinery for demanding end-use sectors such as medical technology, lightweight construction, and functional packaging

European exhibitors use the show to demonstrate complete system solutions, combining machinery, automation, digital tools, and process know-how.

CHINAPLAS as a strategic platform

In a global exhibition landscape that is becoming increasingly crowded, CHINAPLAS stands out as an industry anchor event for the Asian market. It brings together processors, brand owners, material suppliers, and machinery manufacturers at scale and with strong technical depth.

For European plastics and rubber machinery makers, CHINAPLAS is not merely a regional fair—it is a strategic instrument for maintaining visibility, engaging with existing customers, and establishing new partnerships in a market that remains indispensable despite cyclical fluctuations.

China as second most important export destination for European plastic machinery.

Despite a challenging global market environment, China remained the second most important export destination for European plastics and rubber machinery in 2024.

Even with a 20% year-on-year decline in exports to EUR 2.9 billion, China continues to play a central role for European manufacturers, both as a major sales market and as an increasingly strong global competitor.

European suppliers retained a solid position in the Chinese market. Germany and Italy together accounted for 43% of all shipments of plastics and rubber machinery to China in 2024, underlining Europe’s technological relevance and long-standing customer relationships in the region.

Outlook

While short-term market conditions remain challenging, the long-term fundamentals of China’s plastics industry—large domestic demand, ongoing modernization, and rising quality requirements—continue to offer opportunities for technology-driven suppliers.

In this environment, CHINAPLAS plays a key role. A strong European presence sends a clear signal: Europe’s plastics and rubber machinery industry remains committed to the Chinese market—competing through innovation, technological leadership, and sustainable solutions.