Booth number at Taipei PLAS 2006 hits new record

This article was published by the Taiwan Headlines on March 23, 2006. It features the 2006 Taipei International Plastics and Rubber Industry Show (Taipei PLAS 2006), which takes place at the Taipei World Trade Center from March 23 to 27. In the show, a total of 2,028 booths are occupied by 377 exhibitors from Taiwan and overseas. Both the number of booths and exhibitors are up 10 percent when compared to the last show that was held two years ago. Both have also hit all-time records.

The biennial plastics and rubber industry show was launched 20 years ago. It has been co-organized by the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) and the Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry.

Currently, Taiwan is the world's 5th-largest producer and 4th-largest exporter of plastic and rubber processing machines. In 2005, the production value of Taiwan-made plastics and rubber processing machines amounted to NT$37.2 billion (US$1.16 billion), and 80 percent of these were exported. Taiwan's major export outlets for the machines include Hong Kong, China, Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam.

In recent months, the overall production value for Taiwan's plastic and rubber processing machinery industry has encountered a slight decline, due to the impacts of worldwide price hikes for plastic and rubber. However, since the beginning of 2006, many Taiwanese manufacturers have again gained momentum. Some major manufacturers are showcasing their latest all-electric plastics injection-molding machines at the Taipei International Plastics and Rubber Industry Show. Other companies display their dual-color injection-molding machines, bag-making machines, high-speed extrusion blow molding machines, and flexographic and rollgravure printers.