At its recent general assembly, Assocomaplast, the Milan-based Italian trade association representing plastics machinery manufacturers and mould-makers, changed its name to Amaplast (AMP; www.amaplast.org). The acronym Amaplast stands for "Associazione Macchine Plastica". The association has also given itself a new logo, featuring the colours of the Italian flag.

“In a period when plastics are constantly in the spotlight and often criticised, this new name sends a positive signal and strengthens the idea of an organisation and a group of companies that are committed to developing and promoting cutting-edge technologies to produce quality products, with great concern for issues of eco-sustainability,” said AMP president Alessandro Grassi. The industry grouping counts more than 160 major Italian machinery manufacturers as its members.