Expoquimia and Equiplast 2026: A Showcase of Innovation and Collaboration

From June 2 to 5, the Fira de Barcelona’s Gran Vía venue buzzed with energy as companies from diverse sectors gathered for a historic edition of Expoquimia and Equiplast. This event served as a melting pot for industry leaders, innovators, and enthusiasts to explore the latest advancements in chemical and plastics technology. AutoRevista reached out to three participating companies to gather insights on their experiences and impressions from the event.

Engel Spain: Pioneering Automation and Digitalisation

Engel Spain’s participation in Expoquimia and Equiplast 2026 was driven by a clear objective: to showcase how automated and digitalised production cells can enhance industrial competitiveness. Company representatives expressed that the overall outcome of the trade fair was highly positive, highlighting the quality of contacts made and the interest in solutions aimed at optimizing production efficiency, reducing costs, and ensuring greater process stability.

During the event, Engel Spain presented four operational production cells, each demonstrating various industrial applications. A standout was the column-free technology showcased with the Engel Victory 120 machine, which allows for increased flexibility in cell design and facilitates automation. This innovation significantly reduces changeover times and capital expenditure. Additionally, high-productivity applications in the packaging sector were highlighted using the fully electric Engel e-mac and e-motion machines, known for their precision, energy efficiency, and rapid cycle times, even in thin-wall processes with in-mould labelling (IML). The Wintec t-win machine also demonstrated its capabilities in efficiently producing large parts.

A focal point of Engel’s presentation was the Expert Corner dedicated to digitalisation, where they unveiled their family of inject AI solutions. These tools stabilize production processes through automatic real-time adjustments, reduce energy consumption, and minimize waste generation, showcasing the increasing role of artificial intelligence in the plastics industry. In the automotive and mobility sector, Engel’s solutions emphasized repeatability, quality control, and energy efficiency—critical aspects for demanding applications.

Looking ahead to future editions, including the one planned for 2029, Engel Spain’s management expressed a desire to continue focusing on technological innovation, sustainability, and digitalisation. They emphasized that advanced automation and artificial intelligence will be crucial in addressing challenges related to efficiency, traceability, and reducing environmental impact.

TechLabSystems: Engaging with the Market

For TechLabSystems, Expoquimia and Equiplast are essential events that facilitate connections with customers and provide insights into industry challenges. Javier Jiménez, Sales and Marketing Director, emphasized the importance of engaging with the market, listening to needs, and identifying collaboration opportunities. The outcome of the event was overwhelmingly positive, with numerous visitors to their stand, including both existing clients and new companies interested in their services.

During the trade fair, TechLabSystems showcased solutions designed to enhance the efficiency, quality, and sustainability of industrial processes. Jiménez noted that discussions revealed a growing interest in technologies that enable better manufacturing, lower resource consumption, and adaptation to new materials and regulatory requirements. This trend is particularly pronounced in the automotive and mobility sectors, where demands for quality, productivity, and sustainability are on the rise.

Jiménez believes that the trade fair should evolve as a meeting point for manufacturers, technology suppliers, and end-users. He envisions more spaces dedicated to real-world applications, sustainability, and digitalisation, as well as stronger links with key sectors like automotive, energy, and electric mobility. The ongoing transformation in the chemical and plastics industry, driven by the circular economy and energy efficiency, presents a significant opportunity for Expoquimia and Equiplast to remain a leading showcase for these trends.

MSG Dichtungswerk: Strengthening Market Presence

MSG Dichtungswerk’s participation in Expoquimia 2026 aimed to bolster their presence in the Spanish market and expand their network of partners, manufacturers, engineering firms, and end customers. Laila El Chaabi, Sales Director for Spain, highlighted the trade fair as an excellent opportunity to showcase their high-quality mechanical seals for various industrial applications, including pumps, agitators, and compressors.

The outcome of the event was very positive, with numerous high-quality contacts established across sectors such as chemical, petrochemical, pharmaceutical, food, water treatment, energy, and automotive. El Chaabi emphasized that their extensive range of standard mechanical seals and bespoke solutions are designed for maximum reliability and performance in demanding conditions.

In addition to their manufacturing capabilities, MSG Dichtungswerk showcased their engineering services, bespoke design, technical support, and rapid manufacturing. These offerings are particularly relevant to the automotive and mobility industries, where efficiency, safety, and reduced maintenance costs are paramount.

Looking forward, El Chaabi expressed a desire for Expoquimia and Equiplast to enhance their international dimension and promote high-level B2B meetings among manufacturers, end-users, engineering firms, and technology centers. She believes that focusing on innovation, digitalisation, industrial automation, energy efficiency, sustainability, and new materials will be essential drivers of transformation in the industry in the coming years.

The insights shared by Engel Spain, TechLabSystems, and MSG Dichtungswerk highlight the dynamic landscape of the chemical and plastics industry, emphasizing the importance of innovation, collaboration, and sustainability. As these companies continue to push the boundaries of technology and efficiency, events like Expoquimia and Equiplast will play a crucial role in shaping the future of the sector.