Digital buyer journeys
What digital buyer journeys means for buyers and exhibitors in this sector.
Event overview
Overview
Plastics Live Ireland 2026 is set to be a pivotal event for the plastics and polymer manufacturing sector, taking place on 2-3 December at the Athlone International Arena. This exhibition will gather over 100 exhibitors and 1,000 attendees, showcasing the latest technologies and innovations in the industry.
Attendees will have the opportunity to engage with key suppliers and industry leaders, making valuable connections that could shape their future projects. Plastics Live Ireland takes place.
TL;DR
- 1Dates and Venue: Plastics Live Ireland takes place on 2-3 December 2026 at Athlone International Arena, Athlone, Ireland.
- 2Scale and Focus: The event features over 100 exhibitors and 1,000 industry attendees, showcasing innovations in plastics and polymer manufacturing.
- 3Organiser: Hosted by PLASTICS LIVE IRELAND, registration is available at plasticslive.ie.
- 4Buyer Authority: Attendees include engineers, production managers, and procurement professionals from various sectors.
- 5Entry: Free registration is available for visitors; confirm details on the official website.
Why visit
Visitors will benefit from direct access to industry experts and suppliers, allowing them to explore new technologies and solutions for their manufacturing challenges. The event will feature networking opportunities, insightful discussions, and practical insights from industry leaders, making it a must-attend for anyone in the plastics sector.
Why exhibit
Exhibiting at Plastics Live Ireland provides companies with the chance to showcase their innovations directly to decision-makers in the industry. The event features over 100 exhibitors and 1,000 industry attendees, showcasing innovations in plastics and polymer manufacturing. Attendees include engineers, production managers, and procurement professionals from various sectors.
Attendees, exhibitors & solutions
Who this event is for
Visitor profile
Typical attendee groups you can expect to meet.
Manufacturing engineers seeking new technologies
Production managers looking for efficiency solutions
Procurement professionals sourcing materials and equipment
Quality assurance specialists focused on compliance
Technical specialists exploring automation options
Decision-makers in the plastics and polymer sectors
Exhibitor profile
Main supplier and exhibitor segments present at the show.
Suppliers of injection moulding machinery
Manufacturers of advanced materials and additives
Providers of automation and robotics solutions
Companies specializing in tooling and mould technologies
Firms focused on recycling and sustainable manufacturing
Vendors of precision and micro-moulding technologies
Product categories
Key solution areas showcased across the event.
Injection moulding machinery and equipment
Automation and robotics solutions
Materials and additives for plastics processing
Tooling and mould technologies
Quality control and inspection systems
Recycling and sustainable manufacturing technologies
Location & Facilities
Venue
Athlone International Arena
University Road (R916), Athlone, County Westmeath, Ireland
Facilities
Parking
Athlone International Arena in Athlone typically provides on-site or adjacent visitor parking during major trade fairs; confirm daily rates, payment methods and hall access on the organiser or venue website before travel.
Food options
On-site catering
On-site diningParking: Athlone International Arena in Athlone typically provides on-site or adjacent visitor parking during major trade fairs; confirm daily rates, payment methods and hall access on the organiser or venue website before travel.
Gate: Follow organiser signage to the main visitor entrance at Athlone International Arena for badge collection; allow extra time for security screening during peak morning arrival.
Attend
Entry & tickets
Free registration
Who runs the show
Organisers
PLASTICS LIVE IRELAND
Intelligence
Market context
Key market insights, trends, news and related events to help you understand the bigger picture.
Athlone, Ireland
Why it matters
On 2026-12-02 to 2026-12-03, Plastics Live Ireland in Athlone covering Injection moulding machinery and equipment, Automation and robotics solutions, Materials and additives for plastics proc gives trade buyers a single calendar window to compare suppliers, validate specs on the stand, and book follow-ups before the next buying cycle - especially when your roadmap matches the published exhibitor profile.
Industry trends
Key trends shaping this market and its wider industry.
Sustainability in procurement
What sustainability in procurement means for buyers and exhibitors in this sector.
Automation and labour efficiency
What automation and labour efficiency means for buyers and exhibitors in this sector.
Regional supply-chain resilience
What regional supply-chain resilience means for buyers and exhibitors in this sector.
Hybrid engagement models
What hybrid engagement models means for buyers and exhibitors in this sector.
Plan your trip
Travel & logistics
Local currency · USD
Arrival airports
Choose from the following airports, with convenient access to the event and venue.
Dublin Airport
Largest international gateway; express buses and rail connections to Athlone available. Confirm timetables
TBA
to venue
Approx. 1 hour 30 minutes by car
by car
Ireland West Airport Knock
Closer regional airport with UK and European links; check seasonal schedules
TBA
to venue
Approx. 1 hour 15 minutes by car
by car
Shannon Airport
Alternative gateway with transatlantic routes; confirm car hire and bus connections
TBA
to venue
Approx. 1 hour 30 minutes by car
by car
Hotel tiers
A range of accommodation options near the venue and across key areas.
Shelmalier House
4-star hotel
Athlone, approx. 430 m from the venueFree Wi-Fi, free parking, kid-friendly, smoke-free property
Shamrock Lodge Hotel
3-star hotel
Athlone, approx. 2.9 km from the venueFree breakfast, free Wi-Fi, free parking, spa, bar, restaurant, room service, kitchen in some rooms
Creggan Court Hotel
3-star hotel
Athlone, approx. 1.2 km from the venueBreakfast (paid), free Wi-Fi, free parking, pet-friendly, bar, restaurant, room service, golf
Home Inn
Unrated guesthouse/inn
Athlone, approx. 2.2 km from the venueBreakfast (paid), free Wi-Fi, parking, restaurant, kitchen in some rooms, airport shuttle, accessible
Bastion B&B
3-star B&B
Athlone, approx. 2.6 km from the venueFree Wi-Fi, kid-friendly
Local transport
Get around the city with these convenient transport options.
Taxi
Estimated costApprox. EUR 12-16 one way; confirm meter fare
Best forAthlone town centre to Athlone International Arena (approx. 4.8 km)
Bus
Estimated costApprox. EUR 2.00-2.50 single adult fare; confirm current Leap card or cash fare
Best forLocal Bus Éireann route from Athlone town centre to the venue district
Rail + taxi
Estimated costApprox. EUR 15-20 combined for the taxi leg; train fare varies by origin
Best forIrish Rail to Athlone station, then taxi to Athlone International Arena
Parking
Estimated costApprox. EUR 5-10 per day; confirm rate with venue
Best forOn-site parking at Athlone International Arena
Ride-hail
Estimated costApprox. EUR 10-15 one way; availability may vary
Best forAthlone town centre to Athlone International Arena (approx. 4.8 km)
Walking
Estimated costFree
Best forAthlone town centre to Athlone International Arena
taxi
Estimated costApprox. USD taxi/rideshare from DUB to venue (estimate; confirm before travel)
Best forDublin Airport (DUB) to Athlone International Arena
Approx. 1 hour 30 minutes by car; Largest international gateway; express buses and rail connections to Athlone available. Confirm timetables.
taxi
Estimated costApprox. USD taxi/rideshare from NOC to venue (estimate; confirm before travel)
Best forIreland West Airport Knock (NOC) to Athlone International Arena
Approx. 1 hour 15 minutes by car; Closer regional airport with UK and European links; check seasonal schedules.
Weather
December 2026 No event-specific weather data was captured. Athlone sits in Ireland's midlands, where conditions are changeable across the year; check a forecast for the show dates before packing.
Plan for the climate
Check temperatures and pack accordingly
Venue connectivity
Confirm mobile roaming or local SIM options for business visitors to Ireland.
Ride-hailing
Taxis
Public transit
Car rentals
Cultural notes
Useful information to help you have a smooth and respectful visit.
Getting in from the hotels
Captured driving routes from Athlone town to Athlone International Arena take about 8-11 minutes; check whether your hotel is walkable, since listed options sit roughly 430 m to 3 km from the venue.
Local currency
Prices in the hotel and flight captures are quoted in euro (Ireland); budget in EUR and confirm card acceptance at smaller B&Bs.
Practical guides
Visitor & Exhibitor Essentials
Everything needed to arrive prepared, navigate the event, and make the visit productive.
Flights
Destination: DUB
Flight captures for Irish gateways show typical short-haul fares from Dublin, Cork, Shannon and Knock. Sample Dublin-Edinburgh nonstop from EUR 43 and Dublin-Manchester nonstop from EUR 30; Cork-Manchester and Cork-Edinburgh nonstop from EUR 30-32; Shannon-London nonstop from EUR 30; Knock-London nonstop from EUR 30. Long-haul samples include Shannon-Boston with 1 stop from EUR 518 and Knock-Milan with 1 stop from EUR 427. Fares are dated examples, not event-week quotes: compare current fares for your travel dates and allow transfer time to Athlone by road or rail.
Transport
Get to the venue and around the city with these options.
Airport → venue: Primary gateways: Dublin Airport (DUB): Approx. 1 hour 30 minutes by car; Ireland West Airport Knock (NOC): Approx. 1 hour 15 minutes by car; Shannon Airport (SNN): Approx. 1 hour 30 minutes by car. Allow road or rail time to Athlone International Arena; on-site parking is usually available at major exhibition venues.
Hotel → venue: Precinct hotels near Athlone International Arena: Athlone, approx. 430 m from the venue: Shelmalier House; Athlone, approx. 2.9 km from the venue: Shamrock Lodge Hotel; Athlone, approx. 1.2 km from the venue: Creggan Court Hotel.
Ride-hail: Ride-hailing apps are commonly used in Athlone; confirm local availability before travel.
Public transit: Athlone is served by Irish Rail (Dublin Heuston to Galway line) and Bus Éireann regional routes. From Athlone station or town centre, take a local bus or taxi to Athlone International Arena. Confirm timetables on irishrail.ie and buseireann.ie.
Parking: On-site parking is available at Athlone International Arena; confirm daily rates and hall access on the organiser or venue site.
Weather
Plan and pack for the event climate.
Month: December 2026
Temperature: Approx. 3-8°C (37-46°F) in December; rain likely, pack waterproof layers and warm clothing.
Seasonality: No event-specific weather data was captured. Athlone sits in Ireland's midlands, where conditions are changeable across the year; check a forecast for the show dates before packing.
Packing: Pack layers and a waterproof outer layer for changeable Irish weather, plus comfortable shoes for walking between halls and nearby hotels. Confirm the final forecast close to your travel date.
Plan your trip
Planning
Best day to visit: Day 2 (mid-show)
Mid-show days at Plastics Live Ireland usually combine full exhibitor attendance with scheduled B2B meetings, before early pack-down on the final day.
T-1
Confirm your visitor registration and badge collection details on plasticslive.ie.
T-2
Book accommodation in Athlone town centre early; December dates can fill up.
T-3
Plan your journey to Athlone International Arena: Dublin Airport (DUB) is about 1.5 hours by car.
T-4
Download the show schedule and shortlist exhibitors in injection moulding, extrusion, recycling and materials.
T-5
Check Irish Rail and Bus Éireann timetables for connections to Athlone.
T-6
Pack waterproof clothing and comfortable shoes for changeable December weather.
T-7
Bring business cards and a notebook for machinery demonstrations and supplier meetings.
T-8
If travelling from outside Ireland, verify entry requirements and bring a valid passport.
T-9
Pre-book a taxi or confirm ride-hail availability for the final leg to the venue.
T-10
Check the venue's parking options and daily rates if driving.
Sample visitor itinerary
Route-optimised day
Day 1 · morning
Registration and hall orientation at Athlone International Arena
Day 2 · core sessions
Supplier meetings and product demos
Day 3 · wrap-up
Final negotiations and follow-up
Networking spots
2Plastics Live Ireland registration concourse
Athlone International Arena
Central meeting point before and between hall appointments during show days.
Organiser B2B lounge (if offered)
Athlone International Arena
Hosted matchmaking and buyer programmes when published by the organiser.
Budget
Costs & budget
Build your working budget
Adjust the inputs below to create a directional event budget.
Estimated budget
Live estimate
- Hotel × 2 nights$190.00
- Per diem × 2$150.00
Estimated total$340.00
This is a directional estimate. Please verify live rates before booking.
Decision
Visit, exhibit, or skip?
Should you go?
Use this quick check to decide whether Plastics Live Ireland fits your visit, exhibit or skip plan.
QUESTION 1 OF 6
For Plastics Live Ireland, what is your primary role on the show floor?
Decision matrix
Compare participation options side by side to choose the best fit for your objectives.
visit
Your category focus and target suppliers align with the official exhibitor profile.
Best for
Buyers, engineers, and delegates sourcing Injection moulding machinery and equipment and Automation and robotics solutions solutions and benchmarking suppliers at Plastics Live Ireland in Athlone.
Min. budget
$450.00
Timeline
4-8 weeks before opening day for registration, hotels, and travel.
Risks
Session times and ticket tiers may change - confirm the official agenda before booking.
exhibit
You have a defined lead-generation or distributor recruitment goal for this market.
Best for
Brands and manufacturers launching Injection moulding machinery and equipment and Automation and robotics solutions products who need qualified meetings with the event's trade audience.
Min. budget
$2,200.00
Timeline
3-6 months for stand booking, freight, staffing, and pre-show marketing.
Risks
Booth pricing and corner premiums vary by hall - confirm with the organiser sales team.
skip
Audience, geography, or commercial goals do not justify travel and stand costs this cycle.
Best for
Teams with weak category fit, budget constraints, or overlapping commitments during the Athlone show week.
Timeline
N/A
Risks
Skipping may mean missing buyer meetings if competitors exhibit or attend the same week.
Gallery
Photos
FAQs & glossary
Answers
Frequently asked
Glossary
- Plastics Live
- The trade exhibition and conference for the plastics industry in Ireland, covering machinery, materials, processing and recycling.
- Injection moulding
- A manufacturing process where molten polymer is injected into a mould cavity to form parts.
- Extrusion
- A continuous process that pushes melted plastic through a die to create profiles, film, sheet or pipe.
- Thermoforming
- A process where a plastic sheet is heated and formed over a mould using vacuum or pressure.
- Polymer
- A large molecule made of repeating units; the base material for plastics.
- Compounding
- The process of blending polymer resins with additives, fillers or colourants to create a homogeneous compound.
- Circular economy
- A production and consumption model that keeps materials in use through recycling, reuse and design for recyclability.
- Regranulation
- The mechanical recycling step that melts and re-extrudes plastic waste into pellets for reuse.
- Bio-based plastics
- Plastics derived wholly or partly from renewable biomass sources rather than fossil fuels.
- Toolmaking
- The design and manufacture of moulds and dies used in plastics processing.
- Masterbatch
- A concentrated mixture of additives or pigments dispersed in a carrier resin, added during processing.
- Injection moulding machine
- The equipment that melts, mixes and injects polymer into a mould.
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Also known as
Alternate names and search phrases for this event.
- Athlone plastics event
- Ireland plastics industry
- Plastics Live Ireland 2026
- Plastics Live Ireland Athlone 2026
- Athlone Ireland
- Polymer Manufacturing
- Automation
- Sustainability
- Injection moulding machinery and equipment
Digital business cards for the show floor
Display a free company card at your booth, or share your professional card on the show floor.