One Week to Go: Interplas UK 2026 Returns to NEC Birmingham with 500+ Exhibitors Set to Showcase the Future of Plastics Manufacturing
May 27, 2026By Charlotte Penny
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The UK's triennial plastics event runs 2–4 June, headlined by circular economy innovation, AI-driven manufacturing, and the showcase of Future Makers' award-winning Carpet Creates project
Chester, UK — With just one week until doors open, Interplas UK 2026 is set to bring more than 500 exhibitors together at the NEC Birmingham from 2–4 June, marking the most significant gathering of the UK plastics industry in three years.
As the UK's longest-established and leading plastics manufacturing exhibition, Interplas's triennial format gives each edition particular weight — and 2026 arrives at a pivotal moment for an industry navigating rapid technological change, tightening regulation, and accelerating sustainability targets.
Visitors will gain direct access to the full plastics supply chain in a single venue, with leading names including Arburg, ENGEL, KraussMaffei, BOY, Motan Colortronic, Summit Systems, BMB, Bole, Sepro, Haitian, Borche, Sumitomo, Piovan, Ward Polymers, Husky Injection Molding Systems, Biesterfeld Petroplas, Hi Tech Automation and Wittmann Battenfeld joined by hundreds of specialist suppliers across machinery, materials, automation, tooling, and recycling technologies. Live demonstrations and new product launches will run across all three days.
Circular Design in Action: Future Makers and the Carpet Creates Project A standout feature of Interplas 2026 is the appearance of Future Makers, winners of the 2025 British Plastics Federation / Worshipful Company of Horners David Williams Award. The team will showcase furniture produced through their Carpet Creates project — a pioneering circular design initiative that transforms used event carpet into beautifully crafted, award-winning furniture pieces. It is a fitting story for an exhibition floor that has, until now, walked over the very material being reimagined.
Co-founder Tristan Hessing will deliver a session titled "From event carpeting to award-winning furniture: Circular economy in action", exploring the challenges and opportunities of applying circular economy principles to high-volume industries such as events. The presentation will detail innovative approaches to material recovery, granulation, pilot pelletisation, and thermoforming — offering attendees a working blueprint for closed-loop design in sectors where waste has traditionally been the default.
Interplas Insights: A Free Conference Programme Tackling the Sector's Biggest Questions Running alongside the exhibition, the free-to-attend Interplas Insights conference programme is built around three themes shaping the next decade of plastics manufacturing:
AI & Smart Manufacturing — Featuring Paul Byrnes (Mavarick) on utilising AI to manage risk in the plastics value chain, and David Raine (Sumitomo (SHI) Demag) on turnkey predictions and practicalities. Skills & Workforce Development — With Richard Brown (Sierra 75) on polymer training and workforce capability, and Amy Stanier (RAVAGO) on why plastic expertise needs a new approach to learning. Sustainability, Recycling & the Circular Economy — Featuring Robin Kent (Tangram Technology) on avoiding greenwashing, Jorunn Nilsen (Norner AS) on the safety aspects of recycled HDPE in contact-sensitive applications, and Steve Morgan (RECOUP) on pathways to UK plastics circularity.
The PlastikCity Pavilion Returning to Interplas, the PlastikCity Pavilion offers visitors a dedicated hub bringing together UK trade suppliers under one roof. It provides a focused environment for sourcing, networking, and discovery — particularly valuable for procurement and engineering teams looking to consolidate supplier conversations and find new partners across a curated lineup.
Why Interplas 2026 Matters For an industry under pressure to transform — from regulation, from customers, and from itself — Interplas 2026 offers something few other events can: a complete view of the UK plastics supply chain at a single moment in time, and the chance to see exactly how three years of innovation have reshaped what's possible. Attendees can expect:
Direct engagement with 500+ leading suppliers across the full plastics value chain
Hands-on demonstrations of next-generation injection moulding, extrusion, thermoforming, and recycling technologies
Expert-led insight on AI, skills, and sustainability through the Interplas Insights programme
Inspiring real-world case studies, including the Carpet Creates showcase from Future Makers
Unrivalled networking with the UK and international plastics community
Register Now Registration is free. Visitors can secure their pass at interplasuk.com. Interplas UK 2026 — NEC Birmingham, 2–4 June 2026.
