One year ahead of the official opening, the “Plast 2015” (www.plastonline.org) industry fair, held from 5-9 May in Fiera Milano, Rho / Italy, has already attracted more than 1,000 exhibitors. Fair organiser Promaplast (Milan / Italy; www.promaplast.org) said the response to date affirms that despite the negative overall economic environment, the Italian and international plastics sectors continue to stand solid. The last “Plast”, held in May 2012, drew about 1,500 exhibitors and more than 50,000 visitors (see Plasteurope.com of 23.05.2012).

Despite the organiser’s optimism, recent figures released for Italy’s plastics sector show a disappointing 2013 performance, with demand from converters down almost 5% year-on-year (for details, see Plasteurope.com of 27.06.2014). The country now appears to be mulling a number of ways in which to emerge out of its current crisis – a detailed study on ways to preserve Italy’s plastics industry is available at Plasteurope.com of 15.04.2014.