Milan, December 2017 – Yet, encouraging data for industrial production and, specifically, for the plastic-rubber sector. According to ISTAT (Italian National Institute for Statistics), production for September remains positive (+2.4%) compared to the same month last year, with a growth trend that has been moving forward since February 2017. As for the plastic and rubber goods industry, the index shows an increase of +2.3% compared to September 2016, while in the first nine months of the year the sector’s production shows an increase of +1.4%, with exports that are recording data higher than those recorded prior to 2008. Further confirmation of the strength of Made in Italy comes from the latest survey by the International Trade Centre (Unctad and WTO agency), which confirms our position as the second most competitive country in world trade after Germany, with a leading role played by the production of plastic products.

In this context, it is certainly not a coincidence that a leading role will be entrusted to the now imminent world of plastics, rubber and composite materials in the next edition of MECSPE, the event dedicated to the manufacturing sector 4.0 promoted by Senaf (Fiere di Parma, from 22 to 24 March 2018), which represents a fundamental reference point for industry 4.0 makers in Italy.

Among the most important events set to be yet another successful edition, is “Digital Factory 4.0”, the real “heart” of the exhibition where the key innovations of all the product categories present at the fair will converge and within which plastic will be one of the absolute protagonists. In a single pavilion (south entrance) systems and innovations in the field of digital integration that contribute to designing the industry of tomorrow, showing the decisive role of the enabling technologies 4.0 in the various sectors and application contexts will be presented and discussed.

The guidelines for the 2018 edition of “Digital Factory 4.0“, on which the supply chains will be included and developed, are:

1. Connectivity: tools for small businesses
2. Collaborative robotics in a parametrised and/or small batch production environment
3. Product development, with the aim of proposing a 4.0 methodology
4. Simulation of products and processes
5. Traceability of products and actions
6. Maintenance in all its aspects
7. Additive manufacturing: redesign and produce for lightening
8. Logistics 4.0

Among the supply chains present in the area, many are specifically dedicated to enabling technologies in the plastic world. Among these, attention is due to the project that not only shows potential, but is also a concrete and innovative solution managed as part of 4.0, laser welding of plastic parts, a new and very promising technology due to its application flexibility and its aesthetic performance. In the next edition of MESCPE, great attention will then be paid to “Smart Manufacturing”, always as part of the “Digital Factory 4.0” showing two different design techniques through the production of a single piece for the motorsport industry: traditional mechanical design and “generative design” combined with additive metal processing.

In addition to the heart of the Digital Factory 4.0 exhibition, with some of its initiatives, the plastics processing and rubber transformation supply chain will be present in Pavilion 6, where MECSPE will also present “the Circular Economy Arena 4.0”, a cycle of meetings organised in collaboration with the Plastix magazine as part of its 40 years of operation in which it will discuss the circular economy, the economic system designed to regenerate itself thanks to the reuse of material flows. The topic, to which enabling technologies of 4.0 can contribute to significantly, in terms of innovation, redesign and harmonisation of the plastic material production cycles, will be discussed with the participation of associations and companies within the Arena designed by designer and architect Michele De Lucchi and will be divided into different focus points (packaging, food, sport&leisure, consumer goods, automotive, electrical&electronic, medical) with the presentation of real cases. Outside the Arena there will also be a demo area with products on display and an itinerary providing more information.

However, MECSPE goes beyond the Parma event: after the success in Modena and Brescia, the Italian alternative to the industry 4.0 model will continue with 2 new legs of the “DIGITAL FACTORY MECSPE LABORATORIES, the Italian way for Industry 4.0“: in Naples, on 5 February, in which “Materials, Composites and Aerospace” will be discussed, and at the closing leg during MECSPE, scheduled for 22 March, following the inauguration, which will address the central role that man, with his uniqueness and prerogatives, must continue to maintain in a digitalised world.

I numeri di MECSPE 2017

45.817 visitatori, 105.000 mq di superficie espositiva, 2.051 aziende presenti, 10 Piazze dell’eccellenza, 58 Unità dimostrative e isole di lavorazione, 7 quartieri merceologici, 11 saloni tematici, 75 momenti formativi organizzati da aziende, università e associazioni.

 I saloni di MECSPE

Macchine e Utensili – macchine utensili, utensili e attrezzature; Fabbrica Digitale – tecnologie informatiche per la gestione di una fabbrica intelligente; Motek Italy – automazione di fabbrica; Power Drive – Sistemi – Componenti – Meccatronica; Control Italy – metrologia e controllo qualità; Logistica – sistemi per la gestione della logistica, macchine e attrezzature; Subfornitura Meccanica – lavorazioni industriali  in conto terzi; Subfornitura Elettronica – progettazione, lavorazioni elettroniche e componenti e accessori; Eurostampi, Macchine e subfornitura plastica – stampi e stampaggio; lavorazioni delle materie plastiche e della gomma; Additive Manufacturing – rapid prototiping e 3D printing; Trattamenti Superficiali – macchine e impianti per il trattamento e la finitura delle superfici; Nuovo salone dei materiali non ferrosi e leghe – alluminio, titanio, magnesio, compositi e tecnologie.

Per ulteriori informazioni

MY PR

Paola Gianderico – Davide Bruzzese

cel_ 331-7623732

tel_ 02-54123452 fax_ 02-54090230

e-mail paola.gianderico@mypr.it – davide.bruzzese@mypr.it

www.mypr.it