Business & Money | Monday 23 March, 2015 12:36 pm |

The Downstream oil industry within the Middle East region is developing at a rapid pace as new technologies emerge and new global markets open up. With Saudi Arabia and UAE having the largest number of plastic converter companies, there is immense potential in new product development and applications with regards to polymers, resins that in turn demands advanced machineries and technologies.
Currently polymer sales within the GCC stand at US$23.8 billion and this is growing at an annual rate of more than 20 per cent, which demonstrates the sheer scale of the industry within the region and the market potential for suppliers looking at conducting business within the region.
Over the next five years, the number of polymer products produced within the GCC will double and by 2018 the total polymers capacity within the GCC is expected to reach 35.9 million tons. During the same period, 11.3 million tons of additional polymer capacity will come on stream and 22 per cent of this will be from new products.
To keep pace with the regions growing demands, Fleming Gulf Exhibitions is organising the Gulf Plastics and Polymers Show (GPPS), officially supported by the Gulf Plastics Pipe Academy, UAE. The exhibition will run from 8–10 September 2015 at the impressive and dedicated exhibition venue of the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), with the mission of bringing together plastic raw materials, machinery, equipment and finished goods under one roof. The show will also focus on the sustainable, bio- degradable plastics, to cater for the growing demand of this side of the industry.
To ensure that GPPS covers the needs of the vast market, the show is split into seven dedicated product zones: Plastic Converters; Machinery, Lab and Control Equipment; Polymers and Materials; Printing Solutions; 3D Printing; Recycling; and Plastics Products for Packaging and piping.
Mr Alex Heuff, Exhibitions Director of Fleming Gulf Exhibitions, comments: "We are expecting our exhibitors to be showcasing the latest technologies and solutions to help our visitors – i.e. buyers – improve their manufacturing capabilities and increase their output. Through our seminars, workshops, panel and round-table discussions, over two days exhibitors also have the opportunity to speak to a captive audience, educating the market on the latest techniques available within the industry. Visitors and delegates will have the opportunity to network and learn about the latest technologies and innovations within the industry.”
With the bulk of the GCC's polymers being commodity plastics, GPPS expects a fair proportion of the audience to come from consumer packaging. However, as the industry is so vast within the region visitors are also expected from the following sectors: construction, industrial packaging, textiles, consumer goods, agriculture, automotive, appliances, electrical and medical. Mr Heuff adds, "Our exhibitors can expect to meet with both C- Level decision making professionals, distributors, trader, consultants and agents as well as the more technical and specialist chemical professionals from around the region."
For more information, visit www.gpps.ae