11 May 2026 // Interplas Countdown, Humanoid Recycling Robots, and Precision Lab Tech

In today’s brief:📍 Interplas Countdown: Visitor registrations surge across the automotive and medical sectors as the 2026 show approaches. Key highlights include Intouch Monitoring’s interactive LEGO production demo, the UK debut of KRAIBURG TPE, and the latest energy-efficient machinery launches from ENGEL and Eurochiller.🤖 Humanoid Innovation: The Sharp Group trials an AI-powered humanoid robot at its East London recycling facility. Developed by TeknTrash, the Alpha robot is designed to mirror human movement to tackle high staff turnover and improve worker safety in hazardous sorting environments.🔬 Laboratory Precision: Intelicare introduces the Fontijne LabEcon 100 to the UK market. This specialist laboratory platen press provides ultra-precise low-force control, specifically developed for sensitive R&D applications in drug encapsulation, microfluidics, and battery research.🛢️ Global Markets: Oil prices spike toward 103 dollars a barrel following tensions in the Strait of Hormuz. We look at the immediate impact of global energy volatility on UK manufacturing costs and the wider logistics sector.For the full stories, visit plastikmedia.co.uk.