SAIF Mohammed Al Midfa, CEO, Expo Centre Sharjah, attended an exhibition in Mumbai, India, that was organised by the centre’s partner, the All India Plastics Manufacturers Association (AIPMA).

Expo Centre organises in association with AIPMA the biennial international plastics exhibition and conference, Plastivision Arabia, in Sharjah.

At Plastivision Arabia 2012, some 150 exhibitors showcased their products with nearly half the participation coming from India and the remaining from 18 other countries. It attracted 7,000 visitors from 66 countries and also received extensive media coverage and had the distinction of seeing most live machines on display sold.

The second Plastivision Arabia is set to be held from April 7 to 10, 2014, at Expo Centre Sharjah.

The exhibition that Al Midfa attended in Mumbai was Plastivision India, one of the largest events of its kind in India and among the top 10 plastic trade shows in the world. It hosted a dedicated section for solar energy to create awareness about optimum use of solar power in the plastics industry.

Solutions exhibited at Plastivision India 2013 related to pumps, compressors and moulding machines that can be operated using solar energy. Plastivision India is held once in every three years by AIPMA, the oldest and the largest apex body of the plastics industry in India.

Al Midfa, who was the guest of honour there, said the Gulf plastics and packaging industry would be interested in the solar energy link highlighted at Plastivision India as the region was now laying strong stress on renewable energy.

“Plastic processing units require consistent energy for manufacturing plastics. The solar pavilion was introduced in Plastivision India 2013 with the objective of making all stakeholders aware of the productive use of solar energy,” said Ashok Mukherjee, chairman, Solar Energy Pavilion, Plastivision India 2013.

Variation in supplies and power cuts can lead to tremendous waste in terms of money and energy to the plastics industry. Units once shut down require intensive heat to restart. Use of solar energy enhances the core processing of plastics, resulting in an increase in efficiency, he said.

The solar pavilion at the show displayed a plane that can fly a full day and night on solar power without using a drop of fossil fuel.