The anniversary 30th edition of the International Fair of Plastics and Rubber Processing Plastpol will take place from 19 to 22 May 2026 at Targi Kielce. The organisers announce the participation of 600 exhibitors from more than 30 countries in Europe, Asia and the Middle East. The presentations will focus on technologies addressing the industry's key challenges, including energy efficiency, production digitalisation, the use of recyclates, automation and solutions supporting the circular economy. Conferences and debates devoted to the future of the sector will be held alongside the exhibition. As Targi Kielce President Andrzej Mochoń emphasises, "The plastics industry remains one of the foundations of the modern economy. Without it, the automotive, medical, electronics, construction, packaging and defence sectors would not develop. For 30 years, all links in this market have met at Plastpol, from raw material and machinery producers to technology users from many industrial sectors. This synergy has made the fair the most important event for the sector in Central and Eastern Europe."
The current situation of the European plastics industry is shaped by rising energy costs, increasingly restrictive environmental regulations and the ongoing development of the circular economy. These changes are forcing a restructuring of machinery and raw material production as well as business models. In this context, Plastpol remains a place to observe the development directions of modern industry and the solutions implemented in various market segments, from automotive and household appliances to medical, electronics, construction and defence. The technologies presented in Kielce are also used in packaging, pharmaceuticals and energy, showing the broad impact of polymer materials on the modern economy.
Machines increasingly integrated digitally
Just a few years ago, the main criterion for assessing machinery for plastics processing was above all productivity. Today, market expectations are broader and include process stability, reduced energy consumption, the ability to process recyclates and full digital integration. According to the announcement, the fair will present modern injection moulding machines using artificial intelligence to analyse production parameters in real time. Such systems are intended to independently correct process settings, reduce waste and predict the risk of quality defects.
Autonomous quality control systems, predictive maintenance, robotisation of entire production cells, machine integration with MES systems and digital monitoring of energy efficiency are becoming standard. Full electrification of machinery is also gaining importance, as it makes it possible to reduce energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions. The organisers emphasise that the technologies on display respond to the needs of almost all industrial sectors using plastics.
Intelligent lines and material development
The halls of Targi Kielce will also feature a new generation of fully electric injection moulding machines, intelligent robots and control systems using data analysis and artificial intelligence to optimise operating parameters. The machines are expected to produce live, among other things, components for medical autoinjectors, insulin capsules, lunchboxes, technical parts for industry and products made using microinjection technology. One of the lines is to present fully automated production of a piggy bank using materials containing natural raw materials and recyclates. Other solutions are to include the production of medical parts in a cleanroom environment and process stabilisation systems reducing the amount of rejects and energy consumption.
At the same time, the industry is paying increasing attention to raw materials. Plastpol is expected to present next-generation engineering plastics, bio-based materials, fibre-reinforced composites and advanced recyclates prepared for applications requiring high quality. Among the trends observed, the organisers point to materials designed for recycling and reuse, as well as multi-material solutions that combine different types of plastics in one product while preserving the possibility of material recovery.
Recycling as the main direction of change
One of the strongest trends remains the sector's transformation towards a circular economy. Machinery and raw material producers are developing technologies that enable the use of recyclates and the stable processing of secondary materials. During the fair, systems for regranulation, purification of material streams, intelligent dosing of raw materials and solutions enabling production using recycled materials and bio-based components are expected to be presented, among others.
The approach to product design is also changing. More and more materials are being developed with future recovery, easier recycling and reduced carbon footprint in mind. According to Plastics Europe data, the share of circular plastics in European production still amounts to around 15 percent, which shows the scale of the challenges facing the industry.
The importance of the sector goes beyond the processing industry itself. As Kamil Perz, project director at Targi Kielce, notes, "The importance of the sector goes far beyond the processing industry itself. The technologies presented at Plastpol are used in packaging production, automotive, household appliances, electronics, medicine, pharmaceuticals, construction, aviation and the defence industry." In automotive, plastics help reduce vehicle weight and improve energy efficiency; in medicine, they enable the development of cleanroom production and disposable equipment; and in electronics and energy, they form the basis of insulation systems and components for electromobility. They are also playing an increasingly important role in the defence sector, from lightweight composites to components for unmanned systems.
Programme of debates and industry presentations
Year by year, Plastpol is also strengthening its role as a platform for discussion about the future of the market. Even before the start of the fair, on 18 May at Targi Kielce, the Plastics Industry Meeting will take place, organised by PlasticsEurope Polska Foundation and the Polish Association of Plastics Processors. The debates are to concern the competitiveness of European industry, regulations and the future of the circular economy.
On the first day of the fair, 19 May, the report "Plastics in a circular economy, analysis of the situation in Europe", prepared by the Plastics Europe Foundation, will be premiered. Anna Kozera-Szałkowska, managing director of Plastics Europe Polska, says: "It is a broad review of data on plastics production and processing, as well as waste collection and treatment. This year, for the first time, the report analyses new data, including trade flows of plastics from fossil and circular feedstocks, to provide a fuller picture of material migration in Europe." On the same day, the Circular Plastics Compass Starter session devoted to the latest data and trends in the plastics market is also planned.
On the second day, 20 May, the technical seminar Plastech Info "There is no world without plastics" will be held, devoted to new materials, energy efficiency and the integration of production systems. On 21 May, experts will discuss the PPWR regulation and new rules on packaging and waste management, which are already affecting the strategies of plastics producers and processors across Europe.
As Kamil Perz, Plastpol fair director at Targi Kielce, concludes, "Plastpol 2026 will show an industry undergoing profound restructuring. For the plastics industry, the coming years will be a period of redefinition. And the direction of these changes will best be understood at Targi Kielce."
