The International Fair of Plastics and Rubber Processing Plastpol 2026 confirmed the importance of Kielce as one of the key meeting places for the European plastics industry. The event brought together 15,000 visitors from Europe, Asia and Africa, as well as 660 exhibitors from 36 countries. For four days, the halls of Targi Kielce were filled with live operating machines, presentations of materials and technologies, and business talks conducted by manufacturers, suppliers and processors. Solutions for the medical, food, packaging, logistics, household appliance and automotive industries were at the centre of attention. Injection moulding machines, extrusion lines, industrial robots, complete automated lines and recycling technologies were running at the stands. During the demonstrations, exhibitors produced, among other things, insulin capsules, components for medical autoinjectors, lunchboxes, industrial parts and products made from recyclates and natural materials. As exhibitors emphasised, despite the slowdown in the European plastics market, companies continue to invest in process efficiency, automation, and reducing energy and raw material consumption.
The business scale of the event was reflected in the reported contracts and negotiations. During the fair, dozens of machines and complete technological lines for plastics processing were sold. Companies including Bole, Plastline, Plastigo, Proplastica, Sumitomo Demag, Bagsik, LS Mtron, Mapro and Muehsam Rozwiązania dla przemysłu reported signed contracts and advanced commercial talks. Adam Marciniak of Engel said: "Customers are increasingly looking for solutions that enable predictable production management, reduce the amount of scrap and optimise the consumption of energy and resources."
30th anniversary and awards for companies
The 30th edition of the fair had an anniversary character. During the Platinum Plast gala, companies that have been shaping the history of the event and the development of the plastics sector since the first editions were honoured. The "Architect of success" statuettes were awarded to Muehsam Jan Krzysztof i Wspólnicy, Dopak, Engel, Wittmann Battenfeld, Danje Polymer, Polimarky, A.Marciniak OT, Bagsik, Proplastica, Telko, Finke Colors, KGL, Elbi, P&F Wartacz, Łukasiewicz Research Network – Institute of Polymer Materials, Sumitomo Demag, Plastline, Asten Group, Mapro Polska, Hasco Hasenclever, Moretto Spa, Grupa Azoty, PlasticsEurope Polska Foundation, Enterio, the Polish Association of Plastics Processors and Tworzywa Media.
A special moment of the gala was also the distinction awarded to Kamil Perz, director of the Plastpol fair, who has co-created and developed the event for 30 years. The Management Board of Targi Kielce presented him with a statuette of Atlas carrying the globe, highlighting his energy and commitment to the development of one of the most important plastics industry events in Europe.
Gold Medals for technologies and products
During the gala, Plastpol Fair Gold Medals were also awarded to the most innovative solutions presented in Kielce. Among the winners were technologies addressing the current needs of industry, including automation, recycling, energy efficiency and artificial intelligence. The awards went to Xaloy Europe for the NeXtwin tungsten carbide conical barrel solution, Koltex PRS for the Erfor XR8 extruder, BMB Spa for the eKW20Pi/700 electric injection moulding machine, Thermoplay of the Spectrix group for solutions for zero-waste side injection moulding, Dopak for support of technological processes under industrial conditions, and Bole Europe Technology for direct injection technology for long-fibre-reinforced thermoplastic composites.
Gold Medals were also awarded to Polish companies Muehsam Rozwiązania dla przemysłu for a capper, Pawform for the E-Drive servo gearbox system, and KGL for recyclable Menubox packaging made of foamed polypropylene XPP film intended for takeaway meals. Distinctions in the competition were awarded to Plastoplan Polska, Mapro Polska, Ekochem, Ebs Ink Jet System Poland and Muehsam Rozwiązania dla przemysłu.
Omniplast and the conference programme
During the fair, the Omniplast competition, organised jointly with the portal tworzywa.pl for 15 years, was also decided. The initiative promotes specialist knowledge and experience among representatives of the plastics processing sector. The winner of this year's edition was Monika Zuber of Sierosławski Group, who received a statuette and a voucher worth PLN 8,000 for services during next year's Plastpol fair. Second place went to Tomasz Pyrek of DRP Group, who received a voucher worth PLN 6,000, while third place went to Justyna Przęczek of Polimer Projekt, with a voucher worth PLN 4,000.
Conferences, seminars and expert competitions were also an integral part of the event. The European premiere of the Plastics Europe report "Plastics in circularity – analysis of the situation in Europe" attracted the attention of the industry and the media. The foundation also launched the Circular Plastics Compass Starter series. During the Plastech Info Technical Seminar under the theme "There is no world without plastics", organised by the portal tworzywa.pl, market challenges were discussed. In turn, the conference organised by the portal eplastics.pl addressed PPWR, the new European Union regulations for the packaging market.
A new feature of this year's edition was the international event "Italian Polymers, Compounds & Masterbatch Solutions – Expertise Driving Innovation in Automotive", prepared jointly with Confindustria Polonia. Italian experts and companies presented solutions for the automotive industry, including polymers, compounds, colour masterbatches and technologies addressing the needs of the European automotive sector.
Trade fairs as a business platform and a preview of the next edition
Dr Andrzej Mochoń, President of Targi Kielce, emphasised the importance of direct meetings during trade fair events: "Trade fairs remain the most human place for effective business. Machines operating live show the full range of possibilities, and at the stands professional visitors have sales staff, technical employees and company management representatives at their disposal, so in one place they also receive complete information on how the technology works and negotiate prices."
The organisers have already announced the next edition of the event. The 31st Plastpol fair will take place from 18 to 21 May 2027 and will also use the new exhibition hall of Targi Kielce for the first time. As Kamil Perz, project director, announced, the new facility is intended to increase exhibition capacity for demanding industrial presentations and heavy technological lines. The hall, with an area of more than 15,500 square metres and a height of 15 metres, will allow stands up to 8 metres high. Direct access through seven gates is expected to improve the logistics of machine deliveries, while a floor load capacity of 100 kN/m² will allow the presentation of the heaviest equipment and large-scale industrial installations.
