INTERPLAS, the trade event for the plastics industry, has been rescheduled to September 28-30 this year due to the ongoing Covid-19 situation.
Organiser Rapid News Group revealed the venue remains the NEC in Birmingham and that the rescheduling reflects the ‘highest regard’ placed on the health, safety and wellbeing of attendees.
Duncan Wood, CEO of Rapid News Group, said, “The latest information in the UK means the right thing to do is to reschedule the event to enable a further 13 weeks of vaccinations to take place ahead of the event. On current deployment projections this has the potential to have a huge impact on attendee’s ability to visit and of course the subsequent ability for our community to come together for education, insight, networking and to do business.
“As an organiser we recognise these connections are what makes live events work and this adjustment means we can be sure of creating more of these connections for the community whilst safeguarding the health and wellbeing of all attendees.
“We are grateful to the NEC for working alongside us to identify a new dateline and I must also recognise the support of our key supporting associations and major exhibitors who have been steadfast in their support and wise in their counsel. This support is both valued and gives us renewed resolve to deliver the event the industry deserves when we get to September.”
Richard Hird, chairman of the Polymer Machinery Manufacturers and Distributors Association (PMMDA), backed the decision. He said, “In the ever-changing world that we find ourselves in, we have all learned to be flexible in how we conduct ourselves and our businesses. In this regard the PMMDA applauds Rapid News for working closely with their partners and stake holders to arrive at the decision to defer the date of the Interplas exhibition to its traditional September dates and move forward to September 2021.
“With so many global exhibitions cancelled over the last 12 months, PMMDA and its members will look forward to meeting up with their customers and partners, within a safe environment, at the UK plastics industry’s showcase event in September 2021. We’ll also welcome our members to PMMDA’s 55th Annual General Meeting which will be held on the second day of the show.”
Philip Law, director general of the British Plastics Federation (BPF), commented, “Given the uncertainty with the ongoing pandemic, postponing Interplas makes sense, so that it takes place when more of the country are hopefully vaccinated and travel restrictions are far less likely. The British Plastics Federation is looking forward to contributing towards an excellent presentation of the UK plastics industry at Interplas in 2021, demonstrating to the market our many strengths as a sector.”
Interplas 2021 will continue to be co-located with TCT 3Sixty, the event for 3D printing and additive manufacturing intelligence, as well as Med-Tech Innovation Expo, for the medical design and manufacturing technology sector.
