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The inaugural edition of the plastics and rubber processing fair in 1997 brought together 50 companies. One of them was ELBI-Wrocław. To this day, the company is managed by Bogusław Birmbach – President of the Management Board, and Małgorzata Birmbach – Member of the Management Board.

From Wrocław and Poznań to professional Kielce

– We started in 1994 with trade fairs in Wrocław. Then came Poznań – the exhibition halls were not yet adapted, everything was mixed together: plastics, metal, metalworking. It was chaotic. When we came to Kielce, everything became professional. PLASTPOL was more intimate, we all knew each other and there was a friendly atmosphere. After the fair days, we would meet in one of Kielce’s restaurants – everyone knew everyone, it was very pleasant. Year after year the event developed and the number of exhibitors grew. But those first editions – despite today’s scale – I remember with great fondness – says Małgorzata Birmbach.

One hall and warming up in cars

– The first edition of PLASTPOL took place in a single hall, in October, and it was cold. Cars were parked outside the building, and we warmed ourselves by sitting inside them with the engines running. The fair helped us enormously at that time – Małgorzata Birmbach recalls.

– The market was empty back then. People came, looked around, were interested, but usually could not afford to buy. Our products – Swiss and German – were technological “Mercedes-Benzes,” not “Fiats.” Their prices were not easy to accept at the time. But year by year things began to change and purchases became more frequent. Today, if someone wants a Mercedes, they buy a Mercedes. If they prefer a cheaper alternative, they look elsewhere. The Polish market has become more diverse – she adds.

“We have to focus on quality”

As she points out, the period of dynamic change came at the beginning of the 2000s.
– That was when development became clearly visible. Earlier, technical knowledge was high, but financial resources were lacking. Many customers kept their machines in garages and repaired everything themselves – as Poles are known to do. After 2000, something changed. Poles began to understand that if we want to produce for Western markets, quantity alone is not enough – quality is essential. And that is exactly what happened. The mindset changed, standards increased. We started improving our products, investing in better solutions, and reached the level we are at today – says Małgorzata Birmbach.

The new role of PLASTPOL

Today, the fair also serves a marketing and promotional function.
– It is our form of advertising. Thanks to our presence at PLASTPOL, customers are reminded that we exist, that we are active and still operating. But do we live solely off trade fairs? No. Our strength lies in long-term customers – those who once bought a system from us, are satisfied and return when expanding their next production halls. This is how it works: someone buys once, stays with us, does not want to change suppliers, and implements our technology in subsequent investments.

– We have built very strong relationships with our clients. We offer not only equipment, but also comprehensive installation, service and training. Everything is implemented directly at the customer’s site – emphasizes the Member of the Management Board of Elbi.

The international dimension of the plastics and rubber processing fair

The scale of the Kielce trade fair has also changed significantly.
– In the past, PLASTPOL featured only Polish companies. Today, there are exhibitors from China, Thailand and all over the world. This is what makes it strong – it has become an international event – says Małgorzata Birmbach.

As she emphasizes, PLASTPOL reflects what is happening in the plastics processing industry.
– All you need to do is walk through the exhibition halls to see where the market is heading. There are more and more stands, presentations are increasingly professional – yet I still remember the beginnings with great sentiment – she concludes.

The jubilee 30th International Fair of Plastics and Rubber Processing PLASTPOL will be held from 19 to 22 May 2026. We invite you to attend.