PLASTPOL 2026
A milestone review of 30 years of innovation in Kielce
State-of-the-art machinery in action
Innovation serving the automotive and design sectors
Education and the future of industry talent
New goals for the sector
A jubilee summary of 30 years of innovation in Kielce
The PLASTPOL International Fair for Plastics and Rubber Processing has entered its fourth decade, reaffirming its status as the premier industry event in this part of Europe. At the 30th edition, held from May 19 to 22, 2026, at Targi Kielce, 660 exhibitors from 36 countries showcased the sector’s potential. Nearly 15,000 visitors had the opportunity to explore the technologies of tomorrow—solutions addressing the increasingly stringent requirements of the circular economy.
State-of-the-art machinery in action
Demonstrations of machinery operating through full production cycles took center stage in the exhibition halls. Attendees could watch live as injection molding machines, extruders, and advanced robotic systems produced everything from high-precision medical components to everyday items made from recycled materials. This clear shift toward circularity was not merely an exhibition theme but the focal point of all substantive discussions—including a key conference on the PPWR regulation, where experts analyzed the new rules’ impact on supply chains and the need for European manufacturers to redefine their raw material strategies.
Innovations serving the automotive industry and design
The event’s substantive value was enhanced by the PLASTECH INFO seminar—”No World Without Plastics”—and by panel discussions on innovation in infrastructure and polyolefins. Significant emphasis was also placed on building business relationships; the Connect Plast initiative and specialized sessions showcasing Italian solutions for the automotive sector opened up tangible avenues for international expansion for entrepreneurs. Design creativity was recognized through the TOP DESIGN competition, which demonstrated that modern industrial design is an integral part of the industry’s evolution.
Education and the future of the industry workforce
The 30th-anniversary celebration also provided an opportunity to honor the individuals who laid the foundations of the Kielce trade fairs with “Architect of Success” statuettes and to support young talent during the final of the OMNIPLAST competition. This latter initiative—which has long promoted technical knowledge among school and university students—demonstrates the vital importance of integrating the academic community with industrial practice within the sector.
New goals for the sector
Capping off three decades of development, PLASTPOL 2026 distinguished itself as an edition that not only took stock of achievements to date but, above all, charted the course for necessary transformation. The combination of a cutting-edge technology exhibition and debates on the regulatory and environmental future confirmed that Kielce remains a central hub for the exchange of expertise within the European industry, prioritizing innovation, competitiveness, and full environmental responsibility.
During the trade fair, we visited the stands of the following companies:
GM Color (based in Bydgoszcz, Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship) – a manufacturer of color concentrates and modifying additives for the plastics industry.
EKOCHEM (based in Głogów, Kujawsko-Pomorskie Province) – which presented its latest plastic recycling line, LRA-NEXQ
