Three groups of finalists with their works for the "future car" take a photo with organizers of CHINAPLAS 2012, which is scheduled to open in Shanghai on April 18.[Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]

SHANGHAI - Shanghai will host an international exhibition on plastics and rubber industries at the new international expo center in Pudong on April 18.

"The exhibition will show how it dedicatedly supports the plastic and rubber industries in heading towards the road of green manufacturing," said Stanley Chu, chairman of Adsale Exhibition Services Ltd.

The four-day event, called CHINAPLAS 2012, sponsored by Adsale, is themed as "the future is in plastics and rubber," which means that new materials, plastics and rubber have played a vital role in improving people's future life and promoting the continuous development of other industries.

The sponsor has set up an activity called "future zone" to showcase the unlimited creativity on plastics application, echoing the show's theme, Chu said.

The activity has received widespread support from East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai Society of Plastics Industry, Italian Plastics & Rubber Processing Machinery and Moulds Manufacturers' Association and Shanghai Automotive Trade Association.

The "future zone" consists of two programs, the first of which is called "nurturing our future," aiming at developing a "future car" by combining plastics and rubber technology, creativity and innovation.

The whole design, selection and production of the "future car" lasted five months with 15 groups of students from East China University of Science and Technology taking part.

Three groups of finalists, including Batshark, Elf and LeoHunter, emphasize design concepts on high performance and energy saving. The winning entry will be selected by a judging panel to showcase a 1:1 car model at the "future zone" during the show in April.

"I am happy to participate in the program which effectively inspired the creativity of the students and gave them a valuable chance to have face-to-face exchange with industry elites," said Tang Songchao, a professor from East China University of Science and Technology.

"It would be absolutely beneficial toward their future development," Tang added.

The second program of the "future zone", called the "premium design gallery" will showcase a series of new, unique designs from various plastic-made end products from Kingfa Sci & Tech Co Ltd, Dupont, Bayer and BASF.

The exhibition covering an area of 210,000 square meters is expected to have more than 2,700 exhibitors from 35 countries and regions, as well as 2,500 sets of machines in 11 themed zones, Chu said.

It will set up 13 pavilions from Austria, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, South Korea, China, Thailand, Turkey, the UK and the USA.

The exhibition will have more than 100,000 visitors, 20 percent of which are expected to be overseas buyers from 140 countries and regions, he said