M-PLAS, the 4th International Plastics and Rubber Trade Fair for Malaysia, is set to kick off at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) in the centre of the capital city on November 4, and indications are that a wealth of the latest technology for the plastics and processing industries will be on show. M-PLAS will host an excellent balance of local and global plastic and rubber raw material and processing machinery exhibitors, thereby maximizing the benefits for trade visitors.

Some 200 companies from 15 countries will showcase their latest wares at M-PLAS, including national pavilions and groups from Austria, China, India, Italy, Malaysia and Singapore. The following is just a taste of what industry professionals can expect to see on the M-PLAS show floor.

Product highlights

The latest Bry-Air Honeycomb Dryer, for example, is light weight while also simple and easy to operate. It also boasts higher energy efficiency than conventional dryers. Dehumidification dryers also enable much better control over dew point and temperature. The Bry-Air Honeycomb Dryer incorporates the Ecodry desiccant rotor specially crafted for a very low dew point up to -65ºC.

Also contributing to environmental protection, local Malaysian company Biogreen Equation manufactures, markets, and distributes timed biodegradable polymers for the plastics industry. Their production facility is fully automated with provisions to scale up, and is strategically located near a port facility.

For its part, foremost polyethylene (PE) supplier ExxonMobil Chemical will showcase innovative, sustainable film solutions at M-PLAS. The company is at the forefront of metallocene PE technology, and it will present its market leading brands, Exceed mPE and new Enable mPE for lamination, shrink and stretch packaging, and heavy duty bag and agricultural film applications. Also on display will be Vistamaxx propylene-based elastomers, which offer new opportunities in cast film, blown film, extrusion coating and injection molding applications.

In the auxiliary field, the Edge-1000 from Gala Industries Asia is an economy based line that functions as a simple and easy-to-operate pelletizing system. It is engineered for pelletizing commodity type thermoplastics such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, and flexible PVC. Production rates are up to 1,000 kg/hr.

Manufactured by NichePlas of Australia, PurgeXR enables plastics processors to make rapid colour changes, clean polymer from equipment, and remove carbon build-up which can cause black specks in products. It is a cost effective solution for injection moulders, extruders and blow moulders. The company is represented by Enge Plas Automation Sdn Bhd at M-PLAS.

Local presense

There will also be a strong turnout of local plastics processors at M-PLAS through the Malaysian Products Showcase. They included Prestige Dynamics Industries (a leader in precision plastic injection molding and mold making), Polyparts (with particular strength in molding of engineering plastics), BP Plastics and Great Wall Plastic Industries (stretch film). Leading local material suppliers Peter Greven Asia (oleochemicals), Petronas (polyolefins), and Color Pigment (masterbatches) will also be in attendance at M-PLAS. Color Pigment specializes in color, white, and technical grade of calcium carbonate especially for breathable films and non-woven products, and performance additives for cling agents, antistatic agents and polymer processing aids.

Added value activities

Visitors to M-PLAS will also benefit from a host of events around the periphery of the show. A Comprehensive Training Course on Rubber Technology, for example, is being organized by Chatsworth Hall Pte Ltd and enys international pte ltd for early birds in town on the two days prior to the show: November 2 and 3. The organizers will follow this up with Plastics Technology - An Intensive Training Course, on November 5 and 6. And it doesn’t end there. A course entitled The Theory and Practice of Injection Molding will take place on November 7. All of these events are taking place on site.

The Malaysian-German Plastics Conference organized by the Malaysian Plastics Manufacturers Association (MPMA) and the German Engineering Federation (VDMA) returns to Kuala Lumpur during M-PLAS week. The conference dates are November 5 and 6. Presentations covering medical applications, ultrasonic welding, raw materials handling, and wood plastic composites are planned, to name but a few. The conference will take place at the adjacent Impiana KLCC Hotel.

Another event likely to be high on the agenda for show visitors is the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) Training Forum for the Petrochemical and Plastics Industry, which is being organised by MPMA together with the Standards and Industrial Research Institute of Malaysia (SIRIM). The Forum is supported by Petronas, and will present an overview of the techniques and applications of LCA, a method developed to calculate the environmental burden of a product.

About M-Plas

M-PLAS 2009 will be held from 4 to 7 November 2009 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, Malaysia. The trade fair is organized by Messe Düsseldorf Asia, endorsed by the Malaysian External Trade Development Corporation, and supported by the Malaysian Plastics Manufacturers Association, Malaysian Rubber Products Manufacturers' Association and K, the world’s No. 1 international trade fair for plastics + rubber. The 2009 trade fair is expected to attract some 8,000 trade visitors.

M-PLAS was last staged in Malaysia from 29 March to 1 April 2007. This world-class trade fair welcomed 6,729 trade visitors from 60 countries with 90 percent of the visitors from Malaysia. Trade visitors at M-PLAS 2007 were well satisfied with the latest developments, innovations and solutions in plastics and rubber machinery, equipment, products and services presented by the 158 exhibiting companies from 18 countries, including national groups from Austria, Italy and Singapore.

Opening hours

M-PLAS 2009 will open from 10.00am to 6.00pm 4 to 5 November and 10.00am to 5.00pm on 7 November.