And the beat goes on: More events cancelled

Coronavirus playing havoc with plastics industry events calendar

  • Messe Düsseldorf cancels Interpack 2020
  • Bureau of International recycling reschedules World Recycling Convention 2020
    • Photo by CDC on Unsplash
    And the beat goes on....

    IFAT 2020 postponed due to coronavirus outbreak

    Messe München announces that the decision has been made to postpone IFAT 2020, the world's leading trade fair for water, sewage, waste and raw materials management. The decision was taken in the light of the recommendations of the German Ministry of Health and the Bavarian State Government, in consultation with the Executive Board of the Exhibitors’ Advisory Board and the conceptual partners with the health of exhibitors and visitors in mind. The new dates for the event have also been decided: IFAT will take place from 7-11 September, 2020.

    “Under the given circumstances, opening IFAT in May would not be justifiable towards our customers, in particular from a medical and economic perspective,” says Stefan Rummel, Managing Director of Messe München and responsible for IFAT. “Now, we are looking forward to host a successful IFAT 2020 in September jointly with the industry.”

    The Chairman of the Exhibitors' Advisory Board, its Executive Board and Managing Partner of the Kirchhoff Group, Dr. Johannes F. Kirchhoff, explains: "The conceptual partners of IFAT support the postponement of IFAT 2020. Based on the current situation, we estimate that the willingness of exhibitors and visitors to take part in the event is increasingly declining. Many companies have massively tightened the travel conditions for their employees, in addition to the personal insecurity of the individual and the unpredictability of further developments, jeopardizing the success of the trade fair in May. At the same time, the importance of IFAT for the entire industry is so great that we do not want to take this risk.”


    Purchased tickets and redeemed vouchers will of course remain valid for the upcoming event.

    Update: Interpack 2020 now also postponed, says Messe Düsseldorf

    Also today, Messe Düsseldorf had to make the difficult decision to postpone this year’s Interpack. The show, which takes place once every three years, has been rescheduled for 25 February to 3 March 2021. The same applies to components for processing and packaging.

    Update: Bureau of International recycling reschedules World Recycling Convention 2020

    Today, the Bureau of International Recycling announced it was rescheduling its annual Recycling Convention in Istanbul to 12-14 October 2020 due to growing concerns over the coronavirus (COVID-19). This decision was made after consulting with the local stakeholders in Istanbul, partners, staff, and  members.

    Coronavirus playing havoc with plastics industry events calendar

    March and April are traditionally busy months for the plastics industry. The current outbreak of COVID-19 is - understandably -  posing considerable dilemmas for event organisers everywhere. International travel has been severely restricted, and in some countries, prohibited altogether, making it impossible for visitors to attend this spring’s major events – had they even wished to brave infection to do so.

    It, therefore, comes as no surprise that, for the most part, organisers have decided to postpone or cancel the events planned for these two months, at least.

    For now, events scheduled in May, including the triennial Interpack at Messe Düsseldorf, will, for the most part, be held as planned, with the exception of the Vinylplus forum in Italy. Further changes may be announced as the situation develops.

    Important cancellations or postponements to date include:

    - JEC World 2019, scheduled for 12-14 March, rescheduled to 12-14 May 2020

    - Arburg Technology Days 2020, scheduled for 11-14 March. Cancelled

    - 30th International Colloquium Plastics Technology, scheduled for 11-12 March, rescheduled for 9-10 September 2020.

    - European Thermoforming Conference, SPE, scheduled for 18-20 March, rescheduled to 30 September - 2 October 2020.

    - BASF Atelier-Treff, scheduled for 24 March, rescheduled for 27 July

    - World Bio Markets, scheduled for 23-25 March, to new dates in November 2020.

    - PIAE Europe 2020, scheduled for 25-26 March, rescheduled for 28-29 July 2020

    - Plastics Recycling Show Europe, scheduled for 25-26 March. New dates to be announced - 2020

    - PET Monomer Recycling Forum, scheduled for 16 April. New date to be announced

    - Chinaplas 2020, scheduled for 21-24 April, rescheduled to 3-6 August 2020

    - VinylPlus forum, scheduled for 6-7 May 2020, rescheduled to 14-15 October 2020.

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