Technological watch
Economic development of the plastics machinery
EUROMAP: In the run-up to the world’s leading fair K'2019, Europeanplastics and rubber machinery manufacturers see growing potential incircular economies in spite of economic downturn• EUROMAP forecasts a turnover minus of 10% for the current year• Insecurity in the automotive sectors, the image of plastics and economicweakness are slowing down business• Circular economy will become a game changer
Düsseldorf, 15 October 2019 – According to estimates, worldwide production of plastics and
rubber machinery rose by 1.3 per cent to 36.8 billion EUR in 2018. European plastics and rubber
machinery manufacturing accounted for the lion's share of 42.3 per cent.
For European plastics and rubber machinery manufacturers the year 2018 was also a growth
year, recording a plus of 1.9 per cent. However, last year already showed signs of an economic
slowdown. "After 10 years of continuous growth and an increase in the EUROMAP production of
59 per cent since 2010, 2019 will see the expected economic dip," says Luciano Anceschi,
President of the European umbrella organization of major national plastics and rubber machinery
associations (EUROMAP).
"Apart from a worldwide economic slowdown, it's above all the slump in the automobile sector as
well as decreasing investments due to political uncertainties caused by the trade conflict between
USA and China, the Brexit and unpredictable national laws for the use of plastics that are clouding
over business prospects," Anceschi adds. However, manufacturing activities in China, as second
largest customer country, have been shrinking for a while now, and this is not directly related to
the trade war. For all these reasons, EUROMAP expects a turnover decline of 10 per cent for
European plastics and rubber machinery manufacturers in the current year.
But circular economy has the potential to adopt the role of game changer. "The European
Commission demands the use of 10 million tonnes of recycled materials in Europe by 2025,"
explains the EUROMAP Vice President Michael Baumeister. "At present, we are standing at 2.5
million tonnes." says Baumeister. In addition, the European Commission requires that by 2030 all
plastics packaging must be recyclable.
"These measures help improve the image of plastic packaging," Anceschi is convinced. As a
result, this will lead to a considerable development of the recyclate market. "Circular Economy will
thus become a growing business field," stresses Baumeister, "and have positive impacts on
machinery manufacturers who enable a functioning circular economy by applying their
technologies."
The European manufacturers of plastics and rubber machinery see a good opportunity in the
discussions about the use of plastics to achieve greater transparency. This will show the benefits
of plastics with regard to the CO2 footprint compared to other solutions. They are rising to the
challenges presented by circular economy and positive outlook for the future.
rubber machinery rose by 1.3 per cent to 36.8 billion EUR in 2018. European plastics and rubber
machinery manufacturing accounted for the lion's share of 42.3 per cent.
For European plastics and rubber machinery manufacturers the year 2018 was also a growth
year, recording a plus of 1.9 per cent. However, last year already showed signs of an economic
slowdown. "After 10 years of continuous growth and an increase in the EUROMAP production of
59 per cent since 2010, 2019 will see the expected economic dip," says Luciano Anceschi,
President of the European umbrella organization of major national plastics and rubber machinery
associations (EUROMAP).
"Apart from a worldwide economic slowdown, it's above all the slump in the automobile sector as
well as decreasing investments due to political uncertainties caused by the trade conflict between
USA and China, the Brexit and unpredictable national laws for the use of plastics that are clouding
over business prospects," Anceschi adds. However, manufacturing activities in China, as second
largest customer country, have been shrinking for a while now, and this is not directly related to
the trade war. For all these reasons, EUROMAP expects a turnover decline of 10 per cent for
European plastics and rubber machinery manufacturers in the current year.
But circular economy has the potential to adopt the role of game changer. "The European
Commission demands the use of 10 million tonnes of recycled materials in Europe by 2025,"
explains the EUROMAP Vice President Michael Baumeister. "At present, we are standing at 2.5
million tonnes." says Baumeister. In addition, the European Commission requires that by 2030 all
plastics packaging must be recyclable.
"These measures help improve the image of plastic packaging," Anceschi is convinced. As a
result, this will lead to a considerable development of the recyclate market. "Circular Economy will
thus become a growing business field," stresses Baumeister, "and have positive impacts on
machinery manufacturers who enable a functioning circular economy by applying their
technologies."
The European manufacturers of plastics and rubber machinery see a good opportunity in the
discussions about the use of plastics to achieve greater transparency. This will show the benefits
of plastics with regard to the CO2 footprint compared to other solutions. They are rising to the
challenges presented by circular economy and positive outlook for the future.
This project has been co-funded with the support of the LIFE financial instrument of the European Union [LIFE17 ENV/ES/000438] Life programme
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