NPE2021 tooling up to – transform tomorrow

It is all systems go for NPE2021: The Plastics Show, which is one of the biggest and most important plastics industry events in the world.

It is scheduled for May 17-21, 2021 at the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) in Orlando, Florida.

The automotive industry is the third-biggest user of polymers, after packaging and building and construction. Of the average of 30,000 parts in a vehicle, around 33% are currently made out of plastic. Around 39 different types of basic plastics and polymers are used by auto makers. Growth in automotive plastic consumption is being driven by the need to improve fuel efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions through lightweighting. Plastics can make vehicles safer due to the high absorption properties of the material.

Engineered plastics offer greater design freedom than metals. One of the outstanding features of NPE is that it hosts working equipment, which means that visitors can see the latest technology in action. More than 55,000 attendees from more than 120 countries will be able to select from over 2,000 exhibitors from the world’s leading suppliers and equipment manufacturers during the five-day trade show, according to PLASTICS President and CEO Tony Radoszewski.

“Already, more than 1,100 companies have committed to exhibiting at NPE2021, occupying nearly 1 million net square feet in exhibit space — reflecting the confidence our industry has in NPE. Over the coming months, we will work to fill the remaining spaces with new and returning companies that plan to showcase the latest technologies in equipment, materials, and plastics processes next May,” he says in a media release.

The automotive sector is expected to be well represented. “As consumer demand and government policy drive ever-more affordable and fuel-efficient transportation options, NPE will be the place to discover the latest solutions from pioneering manufacturers, processors, and automotive suppliers.

“NPE2018 demonstrated how manufacturers continue to replace traditional components with plastic-based alternatives, expanding the boundaries of what is possible in the automotive products that consumers depend on in their daily lives — from cars and buses to seatbelts and airbags.

“While about 1/3 of a vehicle’s roughly 30,000 parts are made of plastic, you can expect that number to grow as NPE2021’s exhibitors refine and improve existing components, and new materials, processes, and applications are created to enhance transportation machinery and technology,” say the organizers.

“Think of how many peoples’ lives plastics has already transformed, and think about how many products and sectors we’re still in the process of transforming,” says Radoszewski. “When we talk about transforming tomorrow, we’re talking about sectors ranging from automotive and transportation to consumer products and packaging and everything in between—and beyond.” In addition to the hundreds of machines operating at full capacity on the show floor, NPE2021 will feature new educational opportunities and new Technology Zones to make it easier for attendees to conveniently find exactly what they’re looking for.

“Every attendee can now customize their visit to make the most of their time at NPE. Plus, the zones allow exhibitors to aim to locate their booth in an area where the people in the aisles are interested in exactly what they’re selling,” adds Radoszewski.

“With these changes and our continued commitment to sustainability, NPE2021 will truly be the show for the plastics industry of the future. Whatever you’re looking for, you’ll be able to find it at NPE2021.”

Plastics Industry Association

The Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS), formerly SPI, is the only organization that supports the entire plastics supply chain, representing nearly one million workers in the $418 billion U.S. industry.
Since 1937, PLASTICS has been working to make its members and the industry more globally competitive while advancing recycling and sustainability. To learn more about PLASTICS’ education initiatives, industry-leading insights and events, networking opportunities and policy advocacy, and North America’s largest plastics trade show, click here.