Bharat Next – PLASTINDIA 2026 One Of The World’s Largest Show

Growth Dialogue with Mr. Alok Tibrewalla, Chairman, National Executive Council, PlastIndia 2026 Explained to Mr. Ginu Joseph (Text by Anagha Salvi Extract from Modern Plastics TV)

‘‘Don’t miss this. Don’t miss the opportunity of coming to PlastIndia 2026 and see for yourself, what is the bucket full of opportunities for next 15 years. So, Bharat Next is all about next 10-15 years. Bharat is growing, India is growing and don’t miss the opportunity to grow together. ’’

Tell us about you know how this idea of Bharat Next came into your mind or the team PlastIndia’ s mind?

First of all, please accept my heartiest congratulations, wishes and appreciation for all the team you have at Modern Plastics who are doing some wonderful work for plastic industry. So, thank you for everything that happens at Modern Plastics. Thank you.

So, I will plainly say it is very much inspired by our Honourable Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modiji, because a man who is working 18 hours is talking about India 2047. It is time that every Indian should start thinking what is ahead for Indians and Bharat Next is all about how do you see India in 10 years and how do you see India when you complete 100 years of independence. So, that is where this thought came to me. So, purely dedicated to Honourable Prime Minister. Because we believe we should start thinking 5 years, 10 years and 15 years from now instead of short term thinking. PlastIndia is in the next edition will be the 12th edition.

What are the changes compared to the previous editions?

PlastIndia 2026 is just not about an exhibition, it is about taking an exhibition beyond and about doing everything right which actually fulfils the purpose of having a show like this.

So, what you see in Bharat PlastIndia 2026 is while we proudly say it is the biggest show

You’re also researching graded structures. What’s behind that?

Dr. Hill: With graded layers, we can, starting from the substrate outward, increase the hard phase content where we need the final properties. The advantage: on the outside it’s then hard and wear-resistant. Associated with this, I do have poorer toughness, but I really only have the poor toughness on the outside. The rest of the component is still tough, and if a crack forms, it can be compensated for and stopped. This way we can design the properties across the component height. What we can do macroscopically in the welding process, we’re now trying to build up additively as well—in smaller and more complex ways. It is a really interesting topic.

That sounds like enormous, and especially time-consuming, development effort. What role does digitalization play in getting to the goal faster in product development and optimization?

Dr. Hill: A very large one by now. People have been trying for quite some time to monitor the process very precisely. In the powder bed process, for example, the melt pool is monitored very specifically to determine: Am I deviating somehow, in temperature or other parameters, where a pore, defect, or crack could later develop? There’s increased focus on improving the prediction. The next step is then for the system to automatically adjust the parameters when it determines that you’re heading toward a limit violation. This is particularly interesting with complex components with large transitions or thinwalled areas. So said, a lot of research projects are being carried out for this purpose by research institutions and universities.

Speaking of AI—how do you see its influence on additive manufacturing?

Dr. Hill: I’ve seen promising approaches that combine real-time monitoring like melt pool cameras with AI-supported evaluation. The system detects defects in real time, evaluates their influence on properties, and in a second step adjusts the printing parameters-possibly even only locally. This can be done wonderfully via an AI-controlled system. This is currently being researched. In general, there’s a strong focus on: What sensors are available, what feedback do they provide, and what can I derive from that for controlling and optimizing the process?

Because sensors are usually not cheap, the other question at this point is always one of economic viability.

Dr. Hill: Completely correct. You can install a lot of sensors, but if a printer costs 50,000 euros for instance and I install 10,000 euros worth of sensors, it may no longer be so economical—even if it’s technically perhaps highly interesting. I always have to look through the application lens and ask: What is actually necessary? What do I need to measure to control my process well? In the end, an economical product must result. We see the same thing with powder specifications. People are now trying to very strongly limit secondary elements like oxygen or nitrogen. You can work with protective gas in the furnace, smelt under vacuum, switch from nitrogen to argon to achieve higher purity via atomization. But is that technically really sensible? Am I thereby producing a product that generates real added value, or am I just making it more expensive?

Speaking of costs—what about series production?

Dr. Hill: The leap from prototype to series—the scaling—is always the big hurdle. Often people only think about the quantities or the manufacturing costs per part—all correct, but you mustn’t forget quality assurance. How is the quality of finished components checked? How is it ensured that the process runs stably? Is the material specification defined? Especially in aerospace to the venue. PlastIndia is giving them free space. PlastIndia is also covering all the expenses.

The idea is to give them audience to those 6-lakh people or to the captains of industry, because PlastIndia, we clearly believe what we have seen in the past. Many, many brilliant ideas and innovations have died in classrooms and college corridors because of financial pressure. we are trying to do hand holding for those people. So, when they come, there will be many, many exciting things for the people of industry to talk to them about the young minds, young ideas and then probably we will bring a change. We may create 10 more new entrepreneurs to this. Bharat Next is all about creating entrepreneurship.

As you said, there will be 6 lakh visitors, what will be the future you are looking for PlastIndia growth for Industry?

PlastIndia 2026, the response we have got has clearly drawn the line like you have 80,000 square meters allocated, you have 10,000 to 50,000 square meter in pipeline and still we are receiving calls every day for space. So, the space requirement itself tells how this industry is swelling. So, to me every 3 years or every 2 years, you will see a radical change in the terms of technology, in terms of scaling up, in terms of material and in terms of manpower.

This industry probably is the most dynamic industry you have in the world, which is changing at a very, very fast pace, So, probably you will need, the frequency of exhibition has to go up, like has to come down.

You will have more space required for putting up such mega shows. The incoming chairman, I think at PlastIndia, the biggest challenge will be, how will you fit in people who are interested in putting up show at PlastIndia. So, that is the size of industry.

What message you want to give to the Indian entrepreneurs?

Indian entrepreneurs, the simple message is, when we say Bharat Next, we did not say Plastic Next. Because we seriously believe and it is a fact that the future is about plastics.

Anything, you talk about medical, you talk about automation, you talk about defence, technology, irrigation, sanitation, plastic is integral. So, Bharat Next cannot be without use of more plastics.

India is going to see more consumption. Hence, there will be tremendous exponential opportunities for coming to the business of processing in plastics. So, this is your time. India is going to see this growth in next 15 years.

www.plastindia.org

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Ideas To Impact – PLASTINDIA 2026, A First-Ever Zero Waste Exhibition

Leadership Spotlight with Mr. Ravish Kamath, President, PlastIndia Foundation by Ginu Joseph Explained, (Text by Anagha Salvi Extract from Modern Plastics TV)

‘‘PlastIndia 2026, as we all know, we are going to have one of the world’s biggest plastic exhibitions in New Delhi at the Bharat Mandapam between the 5th to 10th February 2026. This event is eagerly awaited by the industry. We have a lot of new things coming up during this exhibition.’’

Tell us about Plast India Foundation and its activities?

It was established way back in 1987 with a combination of seven founder members and two constituent members which came in later on. The seven founder members are mainly the Plastics Export Council of India, All India Plastics Manufacturers Association, IPF from Calcutta, Gujarat State Manufacturers Association from Gujarat, IPI from Mumbai, CIPET, OPPI, the Organization of Plastic Processes of India, later we have added two constituency members which is the CPMA, this is the Chemicals and Petrochemicals Manufacturers Association and the PMMAI which is the Plastic Machinery Manufacturers Association. With this, we have the entire network of the plastic industry starting from raw materials, finished goods as well as the machineries. So, the entire PlastIndia Foundation has a representation from each part of the plastic industry.

What are the objectives of Plast India Foundation?

The objectives are very clear, with all these associations together, we are looking at trying to find a way in which we can do better for the plastic industry. In our interest, what we do is we are working very closely with the Ministry of Chemicals and Petrochemicals on various issues which are related to the industry. We also work with the Ministry of Commerce and Industries to take the issues which are related to the industries to their knowledge. We have interactions with them and we are working with them to do something better for the industry.

What is the happening in PlastIndia Foundation which everybody knows it is PlastIndia 2026?

As far as PlastIndia 2026, as we all know, we are going to have one of the world’s biggest plastic exhibitions in New Delhi at the Bharat Mandapam between the 5th to 10th February 2026. This event is eagerly awaited by the industry. We have a lot of new things coming up during this exhibition. We have more than 2000 exhibitors across India and approximately about 500 foreign exhibitors. The total area is around about 540,000 square meters in Bharat Mandapam. We also have the Convention Center at Bharat Mandapam, we have lined up a lot of new things during this exhibition.

The first and foremost is the zero waste exhibition. It will probably be the first in the world, first in the country where we will have a zero waste exhibition where every gram of waste which is being collected during the exhibition time will be disposed responsibly and ensuring that it doesn’t enter into the landfills.

In continuation, we also have the global CEO meet where we will have more than 150 CEOs attending this seminar where the issues of the industries will be discussed. We are expecting the Honourable Minister of Commerce, Priyush Goyalji to be there and also Shri Nikhil Meswani, Executive Director of Reliance Industries Ltd., amongst the chief guests of this function. So the industry issues will be discussed for about three hours and solutions to a majority of the problems could probably be looked at.

Could you please tell us about the current statistics of the industry?

The current plastic industry size is estimated to be approximately about 4 lakh crores and this is growing at a pace of approximately 12 to 15 percent per annum. In this, we also have exports worth about 12.5 million or almost about let us say 1 lakh and 10,000 crores which is happening out of the country in which approximately 50 percent of that is the finished products. Exports of the finished goods and this is also growing at a rapid pace of 8 to 10 percent.

We are talking about the Plastic and environment, what is your view on this?

As far as the environment is concerned, we are aware that the most important issues are with regarding to the management of the food waste, the EV waste and also the plastics waste. Currently, almost 90 percent of the waste which is being generated by the plastic industries are recycled. Hence, in my assumption apart from the fact that there is a little bit of an impact from the single-use plastics, the rest of the plastics are being disposed responsibly or at least recycled responsibly.

Could you please tell us about Plast India University?

PlastIndia University was established in the year 2016 in collaboration with the University of Massachusetts Lowel at Vapi, Gujarat and it is the first university for the plastics and polymers. We have flagship B. Tech plastics and polymer engineering and computer science and engineering also, integrated management courses and also, we are focusing on the research in plastics, technology, biodegradables.

What message you want to give to the Indian plastic industry as such?

As mentioned earlier, the Indian plastic industry is growing at a rapid pace of about 10 to 12 percent per annum. So, there is a lot of opportunity for the people in the country, the people in the plastic industry to expand their reach with new products and with new technology covering every aspect of plastics, starting from packaging, agriculture, Medicare as well as the environment. So, we are looking at a very good growth in the plastic industry and we are hoping that people will come and invest in the plastic industry.

www.plastindia.org

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Elecon At 75+ Years: A Deep-Dive Conversation On Innovation, Growth And Global Leadership

An Exclusive Interview with Mr. Prayasvin B. Patel, Chairman & Managing Director, Elecon Engineering Co. Ltd. with Modern Plastics India (MPI) Magazine a Part of Modern Plastics Global Network

Elecon began its journey in 1951. How has the company grown over the years?

In 1951, a visionary named Shri Ishwarbhai B. Patel laid the foundation of Elecon in Bombay. What began as a modest venture in conveying equipment manufacturing soon became a pioneering force in India’s industrial landscape. At a time when the nation was striving for self-reliance, Elecon’s innovation reduced dependence on imports and saved precious foreign exchange.

By 1960, Elecon had transformed into a Private Limited Company and soon after, relocated to Vallabh Vidyanagar, Anand, Gujarat. This move marked the beginning of a new chapter—one that aligned Elecon with Gujarat’s emerging industrial hub. Later, during that same year, Elecon became a Public Limited Company, opening doors to greater opportunities and growth.

The 1973s brought diversification. Elecon ventured into gear manufacturing, a bold step that positioned it as a leader in mechanical power transmission.

Over the following decades, Elecon expanded its portfolio to include industrial gears, gearboxes, mining equipment and material handling systems. Its products became fundamental to core industries such as steel, Power, Plastic, cement, sugar, paper, rubber, Navy With each milestone, Elecon strengthened its identity—not just as a manufacturer, but as a solution provider for India’s growing industrial needs.

Today, Elecon stands tall as one of Asia’s largest manufacturer of industrial gears solution and material handling equipment, serving clients across the globe. Its journey from a small workshop in 1951 to a multinational powerhouse is a testament to vision, innovation and resilience.

Elecon’s story is not just about machines and markets-it is about building India’s industrial backbone and carrying forward a legacy of excellence that continues to inspire generations.

Elecon first started by making conveyor systems. What inspired the company to expand into industrial gearboxes and material handling equipment?

With the growing demand in India’s industrial sectors, ELECON diversified its business into industrial gears and power transmission equipment in 1976, establishing a dedicated Gear Division to supply gearboxes to all major core industries. Over the decades, ELECON has progressed into one of Asia’s largest manufacturers of industrial gears, serving major core sector like cement, steel, sugar, power, mining, Indian Marine and other critical sectors with world-class engineering excellence.

Elecon is now Asia’s largest industrial gearbox manufacturer. What qualities or practices helped the company earn trust from customers around the world?

Today Elecon stands as a leader for industrial gearbox manufacturers by combining technological excellence, reliability, global quality standards. We always focus on innovation, robust manufacturing, dependable service and long-term partnerships has earned trust from industries worldwide.

Elecon serves clients across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, the USA and Africa. How do you make sure your products meet the different needs of customers in each region?

Elecon ensures global consistency in quality while allowing regional flexibility in design, compliance and service. This balance builds trust and long-term partnerships across continents

Innovation is a major part of Elecon’s identity. How does your team create new ideas ?

At Elecon, innovation is more than just a word-it’s part of who we are. Since its inception in 1976, the company has grown by staying ahead of industry needs and finding new ways to improve engineering solutions. Our ability to create fresh ideas comes from three main strengths: strong research and development, a deep understanding of industry requirements and, most importantly, our dedicated team of engineers.

www.elecon.com

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