Equiplast 2029 – Plastics & Rubber Industry Expo Spain

What to expect in 2029

Equiplast 2029 will bring together the plastics and rubber industry in Barcelona for a major professional exhibition focused on machinery, processing technologies, materials, recycling, automation, digitalisation and sustainable production. Organised by Fira de Barcelona, Equiplast is positioned as an international meeting point for companies across the plastics and rubber value chain.

The next edition is scheduled for May 2029, with the exact calendar dates to be announced. The official event website currently identifies Gran Via in Barcelona as the venue and presents Equiplast as an event dedicated to the transformation of plastics and the development of more sustainable industrial solutions.

The exhibition is expected to connect machinery manufacturers, raw-material suppliers, processors, recyclers, technology providers, research organisations and industrial buyers. The 2029 edition will build on the event’s established focus on sustainability, circular economy, digital transformation and industrial competitiveness.

Industrial technology showcase: Visitors can expect machinery, production systems, automation equipment, materials, moulds, peripherals, software, recycling solutions and technical services.

Sustainability and circularity: Recycling, recycled materials, biodegradable solutions, resource efficiency and circular production are expected to remain important themes.

Professional business environment: Equiplast is designed primarily around professional visitors with purchasing, engineering, production, research and management responsibilities.

Cross-sector applications: Plastics technologies serve industries including packaging, automotive, construction, electronics, healthcare, agriculture and consumer products.

Knowledge and networking: The event combines exhibition areas with technical presentations, demonstrations, industry discussions and business networking.

Event dates

Equiplast 2029 is planned for May 2029 in Barcelona, Spain. The organiser has not yet published the exact opening and closing dates for the 2029 edition, so visitors should check the official event website as the exhibition approaches.

The event traditionally operates as a professional trade fair rather than a consumer exhibition. Its programme is designed to allow visitors to compare technologies, meet suppliers, examine machinery and discuss production requirements directly with manufacturers and solution providers.

The 2029 opening hours, visitor accreditation deadline and detailed daily schedule have not yet been announced.

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Venue & exhibition site

Equiplast 2029 will be held at Fira de Barcelona’s Gran Via venue in Barcelona, Spain. The venue is one of the city’s principal exhibition complexes and is used for major international industrial and technology trade fairs.

The official Equiplast website identifies the Gran Via venue as the location for the next edition.

Venue: Fira de Barcelona – Gran Via

City: Barcelona, Spain

Exhibition complex: Gran Via

The exhibition environment is particularly suited to industrial demonstrations because Equiplast includes large machinery, processing equipment and production technologies that require substantial exhibition space.

Equiplast is also closely associated with Expoquimia, creating opportunities for visitors to discover complementary chemical, materials and industrial technologies. The most recent joint edition occupied Halls 2 and 3 of the Gran Via venue, although the final hall allocation for 2029 has not yet been published.

Full industry programme

The detailed Equiplast 2029 programme has not yet been released. Based on the event’s established sector structure and most recent programme, visitors can expect a broad industry programme covering the complete plastics and rubber production ecosystem.

Raw materials and additives: Materials, polymers, additives and specialised formulations for different processing and end-use requirements.

Transformation machinery: Injection moulding, extrusion, thermoforming, blow moulding and other processing technologies.

Peripherals, parts and components: Auxiliary equipment, machinery components and systems supporting plastics and rubber production.

Moulds and dies: Industrial moulding technologies, tooling, dies and associated engineering solutions.

Semi-finished and finished products: Plastic and rubber components, industrial products and application-ready solutions.

Automation, measurement and control: Industrial control systems, sensors, measurement equipment and production monitoring.

Hardware and software: Digital tools, industrial software, manufacturing management systems and connected production technologies.

Environment and recycling: Mechanical recycling, chemical recycling, waste treatment, resource recovery and circular production.

Industrial and occupational safety: Safety equipment, workplace protection and industrial risk-management solutions.

Research and technology transfer: Universities, technology centres, R&D organisations and companies commercialising new technologies.

Subcontracting and services: Engineering, consulting, maintenance, technical services and specialist industrial support.

These 11 sectors form the established strategic structure of the exhibition and provide a useful indication of the areas visitors can expect to encounter in 2029.

Featured companies & exhibitors

The official 2029 exhibitor list has not yet been published. However, the latest edition included a substantial group of international machinery manufacturers, materials companies, automation specialists, recycling businesses and technical suppliers.

Companies represented in the latest Equiplast exhibitor programme included:

Machinery and processing: Arburg, Engel, Haitian Iberica, BMB, Netstal, Negri Bossi and Wittmann.

Materials and polymers: Albis, Bada, Guztec Polymers, Ultrapolymers Spain and Tecnopol Snetor.

Automation and equipment: Alimatic, Coscollola, Centrotécnica, Imvolca and Promak Solutions.

Tooling and components: Hasco, Husyca, Mecasonic and Protecnic.

Industrial solutions: AGI, Ar Sistemas, Epsan, Gravipes, Pena Grup, Raorsa and WTS-Wapf Technological Solutions.

These companies are examples from the most recent exhibitor ecosystem rather than a confirmed 2029 exhibitor list. The official 2029 directory should be consulted once participation is opened and the organiser publishes the updated list.

Industry sectors & technologies

Equiplast covers technologies used throughout the plastics and rubber value chain, making it relevant to both manufacturers and industrial end users.

Plastics processing: Injection, extrusion, thermoforming, blowing and other transformation processes are central areas of the exhibition.

Rubber processing: Equipment, components, materials and production technologies serving rubber applications form part of the wider event scope.

Recycling: Mechanical recycling, chemical recycling, sorting, recovery and recycled-material applications are increasingly important areas.

Circular economy: Exhibitors demonstrate ways to reduce material consumption, increase reuse and improve end-of-life recovery.

Digitalisation: Industrial software, connected machinery, data analysis, automation and smart manufacturing support the move toward more efficient factories.

Robotics: Robotics and automated systems can improve production consistency, efficiency and process control.

Advanced materials: High-performance polymers, recycled polymers, bio-based materials, biodegradable materials and specialised compounds are important areas of development.

Quality and control: Measurement, inspection, sensors and automated control technologies help manufacturers improve production quality.

The latest programme placed particular emphasis on sustainability, circular economy, materials and applications, recycling technologies and digitalisation and competitiveness.

Products, machinery & innovations

Equiplast is particularly valuable for visitors who want to see industrial equipment rather than only discuss technologies theoretically. Machinery and equipment manufacturers use the exhibition to present production systems, components and process improvements.

Potential product categories for 2029 include injection moulding equipment, extrusion systems, automation equipment, moulds, dies, material handling systems, auxiliary machinery, recycling equipment, measurement technology and industrial software.

Sustainable materials are another major area. The latest edition’s Rethinking Plastic programme showcased products and materials based on recycled, renewable and biodegradable sources.

Visitors may also encounter innovations designed to improve:

Production efficiency: Faster processing, lower downtime and improved equipment utilisation.

Energy performance: Technologies intended to reduce energy consumption during plastics processing.

Material efficiency: Systems that minimise waste and improve material utilisation.

Recycling performance: Equipment and processes for recovering valuable plastics from difficult waste streams.

Product quality: Advanced monitoring, inspection and control systems.

Factory digitalisation: Data-driven manufacturing, industrial AI and connected production systems.

Demonstrations & technical presentations

The 2029 technical programme has not yet been announced, but Equiplast’s recent programme demonstrates the type of knowledge-sharing activity visitors can expect.

The Rethinking Plastic area has become an important platform for technical presentations, industry discussions, practical examples and networking around sustainable plastics.

Recent content has included presentations on robotics and automation, digital transformation, advanced mechanical recycling, chemical recycling, biodegradable materials and additive manufacturing.

Robotics and automation: Technical sessions have examined Robotics 4.0, automation adoption and the integration of digital technologies into industrial environments.

Recycling technologies: Presentations have explored mechanical and chemical recycling, including technologies for recovering materials from complex plastic waste.

Advanced materials: Sessions have examined biodegradable materials, composite materials, high-performance polymers and new material applications.

Additive manufacturing: Technical discussions have examined the transition of 3D printing from prototyping toward industrial production using advanced polymer materials.

The final 2029 programme will determine the confirmed speakers, presentation subjects, demonstrations and technical sessions.

Ticket types & registration

The standard professional visitor model for Equiplast has historically included free accreditation through professional registration. The latest organiser information also promotes free professional admission through participating associations and partners.

For 2029, the organiser has not yet published the final visitor registration conditions.

Professional visitor accreditation — $0

Previous editions have offered free professional accreditation, allowing qualified industry visitors to access the exhibition and relevant activities.

Association invitation — $0

Industry associations and collaborating organisations can provide professional invitations to their members under the organiser’s participation arrangements.

Exhibitor registration: Exhibitors participate through separate commercial packages, with participation conditions depending on stand size and selected services. These are different from visitor admission.

The 2029 registration system should be checked once it becomes available for the final accreditation requirements and access conditions.

Trade visitor & professional access

Equiplast is aimed at qualified professional visitors involved in purchasing, production, engineering, research, management, product development and industrial operations.

The organiser’s visitor profile identifies groups including production managers, R&D managers, waste managers, plastic transformers, chief technical officers, process engineers, purchasing managers, formulators and industrial and product designers.

The exhibition is particularly relevant to professionals working in:

Plastics transformation: Manufacturers and processors seeking new machinery, materials and production solutions.

Packaging: Companies developing flexible, rigid and specialised plastic packaging.

Automotive: Manufacturers and suppliers using technical plastics and advanced components.

Construction: Businesses using polymer-based construction products and materials.

Recycling: Waste processors, recyclers and companies developing circular material systems.

Industrial manufacturing: Companies seeking automation, control systems, components and production equipment.

Exhibition halls & floor plan

The final Equiplast 2029 floor plan has not yet been published. Visitors should therefore avoid relying on specific hall or stand numbers until the organiser releases the official plan.

The latest joint Equiplast and Expoquimia edition occupied Halls 2 and 3 at Fira de Barcelona’s Gran Via venue, with Equiplast’s exhibition offer organised around its 11 strategic sectors.

The eventual 2029 floor plan is expected to help visitors locate machinery manufacturers, raw-material suppliers, recycling specialists, automation companies, mould and tooling providers, software companies and technical service providers.

A final hall allocation will also make it easier for visitors to plan supplier meetings and identify machinery demonstrations before arriving.

Business meetings & networking

Business networking is a central purpose of Equiplast. The exhibition brings together suppliers and professional buyers who can discuss machinery purchases, materials, production projects, recycling requirements and technology partnerships.

The event’s professional audience includes a high proportion of visitors with purchasing decision-making responsibilities. The organiser reported that approximately 70% of the visitors at the previous edition held positions with decision-making capacity, while 66% of the latest edition’s visitor profile was identified as having purchase decision-making responsibility.

Supplier meetings: Buyers can compare equipment, materials and services directly with manufacturers.

Technical discussions: Engineers can discuss specifications, integration requirements and production challenges.

Business development: Companies can identify distributors, technology partners and new commercial opportunities.

International networking: Equiplast attracts exhibitors and visitors from outside Spain, providing opportunities for cross-border business development.

Industry connections: Associations, technology centres and research organisations create additional opportunities for collaboration and technology transfer.

Event rules & visitor information

Equiplast is a professional trade exhibition, so visitors should register through the official accreditation system before attending.

Visitors should carry their accreditation or digital registration information as required by the organiser and follow all venue security and access instructions.

Professional access: Registration information may be used to qualify visitors according to professional profile and industry interests.

Photography and filming: Visitors should respect exhibitor restrictions when photographing machinery, prototypes, displays or confidential demonstrations.

Safety: Machinery demonstrations and industrial equipment may involve moving components, heat, electrical systems or other hazards. Visitors must follow exhibitor and venue safety instructions.

Business conduct: Exhibitors’ technical information, demonstrations and commercial materials should be treated appropriately, particularly where confidential product-development information is being discussed.

How to get there

Equiplast is located at Fira de Barcelona’s Gran Via venue in Barcelona, making it accessible from Barcelona Airport, central Barcelona and the wider metropolitan transport network.

The Gran Via complex is located in the southern part of Barcelona and is connected to the city by metro, bus and road networks.

From Barcelona Airport: International visitors can reach the venue by taxi, private transfer, bus or public transport connections.

From central Barcelona: Visitors can use the city’s metro and bus network to reach the Gran Via exhibition complex.

By taxi: Taxis provide direct access from the airport, hotels and central Barcelona.

By car: The venue is accessible from Barcelona’s major road network and surrounding metropolitan areas.

Visitors should check the official Fira de Barcelona travel information before travelling because transport routes, entrances and parking arrangements can change.

Public transport & parking

Public transport is a practical option for visitors travelling to Gran Via.

Metro: Fira Barcelona Gran Via is served by Barcelona’s metro network, with the nearest stations providing access to the exhibition complex.

Bus: Local and metropolitan bus routes connect the venue with different areas of Barcelona and surrounding municipalities.

Airport connections: Barcelona Airport is relatively close to the Gran Via exhibition district, making the venue convenient for international visitors.

Taxi: Barcelona taxis provide direct transport between the venue, airport and accommodation.

Parking: Visitors travelling by car should check the current Fira de Barcelona parking information before arrival. Parking availability and access arrangements may vary depending on other events taking place at the Gran Via complex.

Accommodation areas

Barcelona offers extensive accommodation options for Equiplast visitors, ranging from business hotels near the exhibition centre to hotels in central neighbourhoods.

L’Hospitalet de Llobregat: Staying around the Gran Via and L’Hospitalet area can reduce daily travel time to the exhibition venue.

Plaça d’Espanya: This area provides convenient access toward Gran Via while also offering restaurants, hotels and public transport.

Sants: Barcelona Sants is useful for visitors who want strong rail connections as well as access to the exhibition centre.

Eixample: Eixample offers a broad choice of hotels, restaurants and business services with connections to the exhibition district.

Barcelona city centre: Visitors combining Equiplast with business meetings or tourism may prefer central Barcelona, although daily travel to Gran Via will take longer.

International attendees should consider airport connections and daily transport when selecting accommodation.

Accessibility

Fira de Barcelona’s Gran Via venue is designed to accommodate professional visitors with different accessibility requirements.

Visitors requiring assistance should indicate their needs during registration where the available registration system provides accessibility options.

Accessible entrances: The exhibition complex provides accessible routes for visitors with reduced mobility.

Wheelchair access: Exhibition areas and public visitor facilities are designed to support wheelchair users.

Accessible facilities: Visitors can use accessible facilities within the venue, subject to the specific arrangements of the exhibition.

Assistance: Visitors requiring additional assistance should contact the organiser or venue team before arrival so suitable arrangements can be confirmed.

Because the 2029 venue layout and access arrangements have not yet been published, visitors with specific accessibility requirements should verify the final information with Equiplast before attending.

Previous year’s highlights

The previous edition demonstrated the scale and professional character of Equiplast and its position within Spain’s plastics and rubber industry.

The latest edition of Equiplast and Expoquimia attracted 20,803 visitors combined, representing a 10% increase compared with the previous joint edition. Together, the exhibitions featured nearly 800 exhibitors and more than 1,600 represented brands across Halls 2 and 3 of Fira de Barcelona’s Gran Via venue.

Equiplast itself presented a broad commercial offering covering machinery, equipment, raw materials, additives, moulds, dies, peripherals, semi-finished and finished products, automation, software, recycling and technical services.

Machinery: Transformation machinery and automated production systems remained among the strongest areas of the exhibition.

Recycling: Environmental and recycling solutions received increased attention as the plastics industry responds to circularity requirements.

Digitalisation: Industrial software, automation, robotics, measurement and process control were prominent technology themes.

Sustainable materials: Recycled, bio-based and biodegradable materials were highlighted through the Rethinking Plastic programme.

Professional audience: The event attracted decision-makers from plastics transformation, packaging, automotive, construction, recycling and other industrial sectors.

These previous-edition results provide context for Equiplast 2029 but should not be interpreted as confirmed attendance or exhibitor targets for the future edition.

Official tickets & registration

Equiplast 2029 registration details have not yet been released. The event’s established model is centred on professional accreditation, and previous editions have provided free access for qualified professional visitors.

Professional visitor accreditation — $0 reference price

The previous professional visitor model has offered free accreditation. This should be treated as reference information until the 2029 registration system is officially opened.

Exhibitor participation

Exhibitor participation is separate from visitor registration. The organiser’s most recent participation information offered exhibition space starting from 16 square metres, while partner participation had a larger minimum space requirement. Commercial exhibitor pricing is not yet available for 2029.

Official website: Equiplast official website (https://www.equiplast.com/)

Visitors should use the official Equiplast website for the eventual 2029 accreditation form, confirmed opening information, exhibitor directory, programme, floor plan and professional visitor instructions.