Post Show Report Mir Stekla 2021
22nd International Exhibition for Glass Products,
Manufacturing, Processing and Finishing Technology
Mir Stekla 2021 is the most expected event for professionals of the glass industry. For over 20 years, the exhibition has retained its position of being Russia’s largest showcase and networking platform of the glass industry. It greatly influences the revival of Russia’s best glass making traditions, and promotion of new technology and advanced equipment in this country’s market.
This year, the exhibition was particularly relevant as a tool to help rebuilding the glass industry after the pandemic. Despite the difficult conditions, there were a lot of visitors, and the show itself was large and very interesting.
Dates: 22–25 March 2021
Venue: EXPOCENTRE Fairgrounds, Moscow, Russia
Organised by EXPOCENTRE AO
Supported by the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade
Under auspices of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Assisted by the Glass Union, the Russian Union of Designers
Floor space: 6,200 sq m
Attendance: 5,160 visits over 4 days
Exhibitors: 99 companies
Foreign exhibitors: Belarusian Glass Company, Refmon ZRT, Horn Glass Industries AG, Shamvik Glasstech, European Chemical Industries, Mountain Glass Technology Co. Ltd, Electroglass Ltd, Ramsey Products Corporation, Best Makina, Glaston, Sefpro (SEPR), etc. (Products of foreign exhibitors, who couldn’t come to the exhibition due to the pandemic, were demonstrated by their Russian representatives)
Russian exhibitors: Sky Technology, Steklo Gaz, Stromizmeritel, Podolsk Refractories, Glavsorbent, Factory of Microelectronic Technologies, etc.
Countries: 16
Country pavilion: Italy (GIMAV, the Association of Italian Manufacturers and Suppliers of Machinery, Equipment and Special Products for Glass Processing, arranged the Italy pavilion featuring Alu-Pro, Diamant, Panini, Fenzi, Vetrolux, etc.)
Types of products on display: state-of-the-art technology for glass production, modern machinery, equipment and tools for manufacturing of a wide range of glass products for construction, furniture, automotive, medical, chemical, food and other industries, software for glass manufacturers and processors, architects, designers and contractors, R&D, educational solutions
Anna Sadovnichaya, Deputy Director General at EXPOCENTRE AO
“I am happy to see that, thanks to the measures taken by EXPOCENTRE to ensure safety in the time of pandemic, we are able to hold this exhibition in a fully-fledged offline format with the support of the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Glass Union, the Russian Union of Designers, and under the auspices of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.”
Francesco Pensabene, Director at the Italian Trade Agency (ICE) Moscow Office
“There is no doubt that Russia is our primary market. The glass processing machinery sector is crucial to the development of Italian trade on this market. So we could not miss an opportunity to be here. Not so many Italian companies have come here this time, but these are really strong companies. We view the participation in this exhibition as a perfect chance to enter the market. I believe that trade cooperation and general networking with EXPOCENTRE will grow and develop in the coming months and years.”
Petr Sychev, Chairman at the Glass Union Presidium
“The show is traditionally attended by a wide range of professionals looking for high-quality glass products, high-performance equipment for glass production and processing, and innovative technological solutions. I am positive that Mir Stekla 2021 will help restore, strengthen and expand business contacts, and establish supply and sales channels.”
Show highlights
There were 19 newcomers this year. One of them was a new Belarusian Glass Company, which includes four glassworks: Gomelglass (heat polished large format flat glass), Grodno Glassworks (wide-necked clear glass containers and narrow-necked containers), Neman Glassworks (mineral wool and crystal), and Belmedsteklo (medical glassware).
Shamvik Glasstech Pvt. Ltd (India) demonstrated glass container production equipment and world-class container machines. The Italian manufacturer of insulating glass Vetrolux S.r.l. showed technology for edge and surface treatment for flat glass.
GIPARD demonstrated glass moulds, furnace designs, and refractories. Factory of Microelectronic Technologies showed equipment for glass quality control.
Event programme
This year the Mir Stekla events were held in a hybrid format to enable a wider reach to a foreign and Russian regional audiences. All events proved to be very beneficial for glass business professionals.
The event programme of Mir Stekla 2021 was opened with the RBC Session on Investments and Innovations in the Glass Industry. It was organised by RosBusinessConsulting AO, EXPOCENTRE AO. Deputy Director at the Metallurgy and Materials Department of the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade Roman Kuprin, Secretary General at Glass for Europe Bertrand Cazes, Executive Director at the Glass Union Sergey Sekin, CEO at Glavsorbent Aleksey Glukhov and CEO at Bazis Oleg Ostrikov talked about the challenges facing the industry today, what decisions need to be taken by the authorities and business, and what strategic initiatives will be a development driver in the coming years. According to the experts, the glass and translucent markets are set to grow. The industry’s most urgent objectives are to develop products with improved consumer properties, to solve the existing problems of raw material supply, and to reduce the burden on the environment.
On the first day of the exhibition, the Glass Union, the Environmental Industrial Policy Center, and EXPOCENTRE AO organised the Panel on the Modern Glass Materials as a Tool to Adapt to Climate Change and Improve Energy Efficiency of the Russian Economy. Deputy Director at the Environmental Industrial Policy Center Tatiana Guseva highlighted the issue of limiting greenhouse gas emissions and improving the energy efficiency of the economy, which requires the use of energy-efficient glass in the construction industry. Environmental Advisor at Glass for Europe Stéphane Noël talked about Europe's experience in establishing climate regulations. According to the experts, climate change leads to more opportunities for the use of modern glass in construction. The panel participants discussed pre-financial evaluation of green projects, the carbon footprint of glass products, and other topics.
One of the central events was the Forum on Translucent Structures. Windows, Facades, Doors. It was organised by the Committee on Entrepreneurship in the Construction Sector of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Standardization and Conformity Assessment of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, the Russian Union of Designers, the Glass Union, the National Association of Construction Industry Participants, the Agency of Innovative Strategic Technologies, and EXPOCENTRE AO.
At the plenary session, Chief Editor at SSK-Inform Nikolay Gavrilov-Kremichev presented an analysis of the market of translucent structures in Russia. CEO at the Union of Manufacturers of Polymer Profiles Sergey Rusin elaborated on the current trends of the window market. Specialist of the Moscow Export Center Andrey Molotilov talked about Moscow’s experience in using crisis management support tools for exporting companies.
The forum also featured the discussion session on the industry and safety of translucent structures, relevant issues of the glass market. Waste management and recycling of translucent structures.
Watch the video broadcast
The Glass Union, the Association of Manufacturers of Glass Containers, and EXPOCENTRE AO held the Panel on Recycling and Re-use of Glass Waste.
According to the speakers, glass recycling is an important sector in waste management, necessary to protect the environment and conserve natural resources. However, this sector is poorly developed in Russia, and an overwhelming amount of glass is not recycled.
Deputy Director General for Legal and Analytical Support of the Russian Environmental Operator Aleksey Makrushin
reported on the shaping of the waste management system and changes in the Russian waste management legislation.
Watch the video broadcast
The Panel on Safe Glazing was organised by the Glass Union and EXPOCENTRE AO to familiarise designers, architects and real estate developers with the updated Regulations for Structures Enclosing Translucent Buildings. Design Regulations, which has been approved by the Russian Construction Ministry and will take effect in July 2021.
The discussion was moderated by Executive Director at the Glass Union Sergey Sekin, who underlined that glass was used as a mere window element a short time ago, but now its usage is much broader and there are glass products with new safety properties. Deputy Director of the Federal Center for Regulation and Standardization Alexander Neklyudov
described the Construction Ministry’s regulations dedicated to translucent fencing as unique, considering the absence of earlier normative analogues. He said, “The amendments made to the document last year brought the requirements for safe glazing to a new level. There were no such requirements, primarily from the angle of consumer safety, before.” Quality Director at the Simvol Glass Factory German Bezukladnov
and Research Fellow at Institute of Glass AO Stanislav Chesnokov also delivered their reports.
Watch the video broadcast
One more important event was the Panel on the Voluntary Certification System for Glass, Translucent Structures and Protective Equipment, devoted to combating counterfeiting on the market and protecting the interests of bona fide manufacturers.
The exhibition’s newcomer, the Grebenshchikov Institute of Silicate Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences, held a panel on introducing the results of basic research into production and training of highly qualified personnel for the glass industry.
Mir Stekla 2021 also included a number of presentations and workshops held by exhibiting companies. The visitors and exhibitors received the most useful information, had productive talks, concluded profitable contracts, and found new partners.
Feedback of exhibitors and visitors to Mir Stekla 2021 confirm the event’s success.
We are looking forward to seeing you the 23rd edition of the Mir Stekla at EXPOCENTRE Fairgrounds on 6–9 June 2022.
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Press Service, EXPOCENTRE AO