The new exhibitors include Russian and foreign manufacturers of equipment for paper processing and coating, x-ray emitters, water-purification systems and commercial forests: Bekaert Solaronics (France), GAW Technologies (Austria), PCMC (Italy), Layher (Russia), RIF Spa (Italy), Ekotekhnika (Russia) and others.

Canada is a new country which is represented by the waste paper equipment manufacturer Emery International, and it is familiar with the North American technologies for the industry. Germany, Finland and China have set up pavilions.

“Companies from 24 global countries are participating in the exhibition, with about 50 first-time exhibitors, including Slovakian and Canadian participants. There are already 10% more registered visitors than two years ago. This indicates that the industry is alive, is developing and there is still interest in it”, noted Grigory Zaraisky, CEO of Relks at the official opening.

The Russian group of companies SFT Group, the manufacturer of a full mining industry cycle, from waste paper collection to production of cardboard and corrugated cardboard packaging.

“The company’s booth symbolises a careful approach to nature: the stylised trunks are made from corrugated cardboard, paper for crimping. Our business is linked to waste paper, we do not use primary fibre and do not participate in felling trees”, the Marketing Director of SFT Group Vladimir Khan said.

The ecologisation trend of the pulp and paper industry was presented by Dakt-Engineering, the manufacturer of equipment for degreasing and processing sediment: “Using our equipment, you can separate water from solid fibre and obtain a transportable sediment that is suitable for use, for example, as fertiliser, or landfill which does not harm the environment”, the company specialist related.

The forum is taking place on the site for the second time following the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, the St. Petersburg International Gas Forum, the International Forum Russian Industrialist, and more. “The new site is quite suitable for all the requirements of international exhibitions. The convention centre has been completely revamped and can simultaneously accommodate up to 10,000 delegates, navigation has been improved, food stations and a lounge area have been added, the Hampton by Hilton Hotel has been launched, and a customs-logistics centre has been opened”, Sergei Voronkov, ExpoForum-International CEO emphasised.