Event review: Mir Stekla Mir Stekla goes hybrid

Mir Stekla 2021 goes hybrid

The 22nd International Exhibition for Glass Products, Manufacturing, Processing and Finishing Technology - Mir Stekla - took place in Moscow and included physical visitors as well as offline delegates in light of the pandemic.

Mir Stekla 2021, organised by Expocentre with the support of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation and held under the patronage of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation.

According to Anna Sadovnichaya, Deputy General Director of Expocentre: “This year, 95 companies from 17 countries demonstrated samples of the latest equipment and technology for glass production, modern machine tools, equipment and tools for the production of a wide range of glass products. The exhibition was attended by 5,160 specialists.”

The achievements of the Russian glass industry were demonstrated by the Russian exhibitors: Yta, Inmarket, Ritservice, Stanki Mira, Sky Technology, Steklo Gaz, Stromizmeritel, Podolsk Refractories, GlavSorbent, etc.

Among the participants were overseas companies from Belarus, Belgium, China, Czechia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Italy, Poland, Spain, Turkey, the UK, the USA, including Belarusian Glass Company, Refmon ZRT, Horn Glass Industries, Shamvik Glasstech, European Chemical Industries, Mountain Glass Technology, Electroglass, Ramsey Products, Best Makina, Glaston, Sefpro and others. The products of foreign exhibitors who could not personally attend the exhibition were presented by their Russian partners.

The Italian glass association GIMAV formed the Italian national exposition, which was presented by the companies Alu-Pro, Bottero, Diamant, EMS Group, Fermac, Forel, ICE - Italian Trade Agency, Panini, Revimac, Skill Glass, Vetrolux.

Francesco Pensabene, Director of the Moscow office of the Italian Trade Agency said: “Russia is undoubtedly our main market. And the sector of equipment for the glass industry is very important for the development of Italian trade in this market. Therefore, we could not miss the opportunity to be here. Not many Italian companies are represented this time, but they are really strong companies.” 19 companies took part in the exhibition for the first time. Among them was the new holding Belarusian Glass Company, which includes four glass factories: JSC Gomelsteklo, JSC Grodno Glass Factory (production of wide-necked containers from colourless glass and narrow-necked containers), JSC Glassworks Neman and JSC Belmedsteklo). Equipment for the production of glass containers, as well as world-class container machines were presented by the Indian company Shamvik Glasstech.

As part of the exhibition’s business programme, industry experts discussed topics of concern to the industry. In order to ensure a wide coverage of foreign and regional professional audience, the business programme of the exhibition was organised in a hybrid format (offline events with video broadcasting and the ability to remotely connect speakers). The events held proved to be as useful as possible for the glass business professionals.

The business programme was opened by the session of RosBusinessConsulting, Investments and Innovations in the Glass Industry.

On the first day of the exhibition, a panel on the Modern Glass Materials as a Tool to Adapt to Climate Change and Improve Energy Efficiency of the Russian Economy was held. The round table participants discussed the pre-financial assessment of green projects, the hydrocarbon footprint of glass products and other topics.

One of the central events was the Forum Translucent Structures. Window. Facades and Doors. Within the framework of the Forum, a discussion session Industry and safety of SEC, topical issues of the glass market, utilisation and recycling of waste SEC.

The participants of the round table Safe glazing - designers, architects and developers - got acquainted with the updated set of rules approved by the Ministry of Construction of Russia, dedicated to translucent enclosing structures. Also, within the framework of the exhibition, a number of presentations and seminars of exhibiting companies were held.

“Mir Stekla-2022 is set to be held at the Expocentre Fairgrounds, Moscow, from 6 to 9 June 2022. The exhibition will held as part of the large-scale industry Congress and exhibition event Russian construction week in conjunction with the new international specialised exhibition of construction, finishing materials and technologies – RosBuild. �