Special project of the exhibition RUPLASTICA2024: “MOLDS AND DIES: SHAPING CONTENT AND FORM”
Russian plastics processing is one of the production sectors that quickly responds to a changing situation and today has achieved great success in import substitution of goods. We are talking about items that people need every day in everyday life, and about industrial products. In the production chain from raw materials to the final product, everything is important: injection molding machines, peripherals, and the right material. But still, the mold is responsible for the final result – the accuracy of the product, its functionality, design. Its role is undeniable and deserves special attention, especially now, when it is necessary to expand the range of manufactured goods.
That is why at the RUPLASTICA-2024 exhibition, which traditionally takes place in January at the Expocentre Fairgrounds, a new special project «MOLDS AND DIES: SHAPING CONTENT AND FORM» will be launched.
For the first time, the topic of forming tools will be the focus of special attention at the exhibition. The project will be attended by Russian and foreign suppliers, industry experts and new players in the domestic market – a total of about 80 exhibitors from Russia, the CIS and foreign countries. 30 companies have already announced the presentation of molds as the main exhibits at their stands, another 30 will show tooling as an addition to the main injection or extrusion equipment. In addition, a representative exposition of molders is announced from China.
Among the project participants are such companies as “System”, “New Form”, “T-MOLD”, “IMID”, “PROF-NNOV”, PK TPYUG, “Europartner”, “Tehnoplast” (Rostov Mould Plant), "ON-RUS", "Engineering Company", 4D, GECH Automation Technology, "JC Times", Gorplast Plastik Kalip, 3Meksan Kalip Ve Plastik, Petka Mold, Kiranda Plastic Kalip ve Makina, Megaplast Kalip ve, Shenzhen Brosen Precision Mold, Mould-TIP, Wenyi Trinity Technology, New Tresing Stampi, Deckerform and others.
We invite you to take a look at this area of the industry, assess the situation and draw conclusions about why the mold market is the future and why you should look for them at RUPLASTICA 2024.
So, who formed the mold market in Russia?
Firstly, large European manufacturers are virtually monopolies, supplying equipment for the production of large-sized products, the automotive industry, multi-component casting, and products that require high precision work.
Secondly, Asian suppliers of molds, both with representative offices in Russia and localized only in Asia (China, Taiwan), supplying equipment of varying degrees of complexity and cost.
Thirdly, Russian companies that themselves develop and manufacture forming tools.
Fourthly, Russian companies that assemble molds from ready-made components.
What has changed recently?
The emotional background tells us that everything has changed, but in fact the centers of competence are still the same, only access to global manufacturers was first complicated by the pandemic, and then by external political circumstances.
What did manufacturers face?
European equipment is high quality, quite expensive and no longer so accessible due to sanctions. It is necessary to look for workarounds and new access routes.
It has already been partially replaced by Asian manufacturers: they supply a significant part of the forming tools for Russia. In three months you can get a small and not very expensive form. The equipment is available, but it is not always convenient to travel to Asia. And there is a waiting list for trusted manufacturers, so new reliable players are needed.
It is convenient to order from Russian companies, there is the possibility of debugging on site, but not everything can still be done from scratch in Russia. We need more information about what the Russian engineering school has to offer.
The raw material factor is included: the trend for the use of recycled materials is growing, in addition, many processors have switched to alternative raw materials. You need competence to work with it, to select the right equipment if this is a new project or an expansion of the range.
There was an increase in the supply of Asian injection molding equipment to Russia, new requests for suitable molds followed, and an additional need for coordination along the entire equipment chain arose.
Which industries today especially need forming tools, their integration into the production chain and new competencies?
Import substitution, which was discussed 10 years ago, has grown from a formal task into an urgent need: now Russian industry must produce everything itself. Therefore, the following growth zones have emerged for the production of plastic products, and therefore for the manufacture of molds:
— electrical engineering (boxes, holders, building elements);
— plumbing (everything for water supply, drainage, composite products, shut-off valves);
— everything for repair (shelves, fasteners);
— household items, household goods. These segments are experiencing a sharp increase in assortment. If the life cycle of such products was previously 10-12 years, then 7-9, now the design changes every 2-3 years. Today the market requires a wide range of products for containers and household utensils, and fashion is changing rapidly;
— package. International companies remain in the food industry, and accordingly, packaging maintains volumes. Food delivery services are developing — accordingly, the demand for containers, both disposable (like takeaway coffee and all kinds of boxes), and standardized and returnable ones, has increased in marketplaces and their warehouses.
Which industries will show growth in the future?
Automotive industry. Today it is in a dormant state, but will gradually develop, the arrival of new owners to production facilities is already underway and will continue until the end of the year at least, then an active phase will follow: debugging the release of new models, assembly with ordering individual components on site. All this will require new forms and tools.
The waste reform will continue: large-sized bins and containers will be steadily produced; in a few years, the facilities operating in this segment will require a large-scale update of the forming equipment fleet: there will be requests to existing large international suppliers and a search for alternatives.
The development of microelectronics, aviation, unmanned vehicles, and the production of batteries for electric vehicles are the growth points of the future increased demand for equipment for processing plastics and shaping finished products.
Today, in many ways, it is necessary to reassemble the industry, build new routes, and gain competencies in related fields. Where can we find a solution to all these problems?
On a site where all competencies in the technological field are collected in one place, where there is direct contact with suppliers along the entire technological chain from main equipment to peripherals, tooling and alternative raw materials.
The ideal connecting point is the largest and most authoritative international exhibition in Russia, RUPLASTICA 2024.
Here are all the components for successful assembly and reassembly of projects. Industry leaders are available — both companies and experts: technologists, engineers, specialists in foreign trade and financial issues.
Only here, in one place, suppliers of universal solutions and customers from specific areas of processing are brought together and can find technical solutions directly on site. This opportunity is provided by a combination of RUPLASTICA and UPAKEXPO expositions, a special project on recycled materials RECYCLING SOLUTIONS, a 3D technology zone ADDITIVE MINDED and a new project “MOLDS AND DIES”.
RUPLASTICA 2024 strengthens the emphasis on forming tools to provide polymer manufacturers with solutions in a rapidly changing environment.
So, what can you do by visiting RUPLASTICA 2024 and focusing on molds?
— Find a new supplier and make a choice in favor of a domestic or foreign solution.
— Collect a package of alternatives for purchasing forming tools.
— Estimate the cost of a new project, taking into account the cost of production, material, transport and time.
— Request cross references from suppliers of capital equipment and fixtures.
— Learn the nuances of using molds for the manufacture of packaging and products from recycled materials.
Where to watch the exhibition?
Pavilion 2, Expocentre Fairgrounds, Moscow, from January 23 to 26, 2024.
Where to listen to experts?
You can and should immerse yourself in the world of processing and get competent answers to pressing questions first-hand, and learn more about innovations in the field of plastic processing at the international conference “Plastic Molding and Blowing. Smart technologies". The event is organized by the magazine "Plastics" with the support of the special exposition “Molds and Dies”.
Experts will also discuss processing problems, including the use of molding tools, on the “Polymer Plaza” discussion platform.
We are waiting for you at the main industry exhibition!