K 2025

World's leading plastics industry trade fair opens its doors in Germany / 3,200 exhibitors, 180,000 visitors expected

PLASTICS MACHINERY

Fewer exports from Europe / Germany, Austria, France struggling / India booms as importing country

K 2025

The year 2024 was “lousy” for mechanical engineering – Ulrich Reifenhäuser / Turning point in trend not expected until 2026 / Almost 3,200 exhibitors expected

PLASTICS MACHINERY

The year 2024 swayed between crisis and catastrophe / Stagnation at best expected in current year / Increasing pressure of competition from Asia

INTERVIEW

German plastics machinery: “Investments are being made with the handbrake on” – Reifenhäuser chief sales officer Marcel Perrevort

GERMAN PLASTICS MACHINERY

Drastic slump in incoming orders for plastics machinery in 2023 / Ulrich Reifenhäuser confirmed as VDMA chairman

PLASTPOL

Poland's international trade fair scheduled for 21-24 May

REIFENHÄUSER

Tracing technology for standardised digital product passports

POLIBAK

New line for PP cast films in operation

POLAND

Plastpol exhibition space grows 40% in 2023/ Attendance surges / Polish plastics industry eyes chance to replace Russian, Belarussian exports / Lower sector investments spark concerns

RESEARCH

Project to increase recyclate content in food packaging / Launch of digital platform Coppa

DOW

Collaboration with HP, Reifenhäuser for pouch-to-pouch recycling / Partners work on digital product passport

MULTIVAC

German packaging machine supplier opens logistics centre in US / Company joins R-Cycle recycling initiative

CHINAPLAS

First in-person trade fair in 2021 since Covid-19 / Number of international visitors remains thin / Joy over personal contact prevails nevertheless

POLIFILM

Film manufacturer takes over Saxa Packaging / Capacity of 12,000 t/y to be doubled

NPE 2021

Trade fair cancelled due to coronavirus concerns / Plastics association names Hall of Fame inductees

K 2022

First meeting of exhibitors' advisory board marks start of next “K” / Reifenhäuser remains chairman / Change of responsibilities in Messe Düsseldorf team

RECYCLING

Kick-off for “R-Cycle” project in Germany / Linking data of recyclable waste for new packaging / Arburg, Brückner, Kautex and Reifenhäuser

CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC

Start-up mentality in plastics processing sector / Creative solutions to supply bottlenecks for masks and medical supplies / More nonwovens production required

REIFENHÄUSER

Machinery maker diverts test lines to producing medical protection material / Shore up of capacities during coronavirus pandemic

CHINA

Country's economic recovery from coronavirus epidemic not expected until mid-year / Automotive industry projects significant slump / European machinery companies are contemplating a two-year cycle for "Chinaplas"

EXXONMOBIL

Design of new products with recycled polyethylene content / Collaborations with several industry partners

K 2019

The curtains go up / Düsseldorf at the centre of the plastics world for a week / Circular economy features strongly at this year's K / Partnerships along the entire value chain gain importance

SIBUR

Russia's first polymers R&D centre opened / Cooperation agreements signed to develop new grades and recycling processes

CHINAPLAS 2019

Record number of visitors at Guangzhou venue / Strong focus on innovations in digitisation and e-cars / Trade dispute with US casts a shadow