Where ideas turn into business

From 19–26 October at the Messe Düsseldorf in Germany, more than 200,000 visitors will meet 3,000 exhibitors from the plastics and rubber industry at the K Show 2016 to discuss trend-setting products, processes and practical solutions.

Demographic growth, urbanisation, rising energy consumption, dwindling resources and climate change – there are a host of challenges to contend with. The global situation calls for creative minds, innovative technology and high-performance materials. The K Show 2016 welcomes the international plastics and rubber industry to its exhibition centre in Düsseldorf, Germany during 19–26 October. The event pools central trends and future developments in one venue and has become established as an essential innovation and business platform for raw material producers, manufacturers of plastics and rubber machinery and processors, but also for stakeholders from the most important user industries.

More than 3,000 exhibitors from over 50 nations will participate and, as usual, the largest group of exhibitors comes from Europe, particularly from Germany, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, France and Turkey. However, there are also an impressive number of participants from the US. At the same time, K 2016  is a clear indicator of changes in the global market: over the past few years, the number of Asian companies exhibiting has been rising steadily, and this year, particularly those from China, Taiwan, India, Japan and South Korea, will be impressing visitors with their strong presence. As K 2016 features a wide abundance of companies from all over the world, the spotlight is not only on the major issues that concern the industry – such as energy, resource and material efficiency – but also on niche segments.

Due to the popularity and importance of the industry, K 2016 will spread across 19 halls. The layout of the halls will follow markets of the suppliers, including

• machines and equipment
• raw materials, auxiliaries
• semi-finished products, industrial components and reinforced plastics products
• services.

World premieres

This year, international machine and equipment manufacturers, the K’s largest group of exhibitors, will present an abundance of world premieres. Occupying about two thirds of the exhibition grounds, exhibitors from this particular group will show their products in halls 1–4 and halls 9–17. Engineers and machine manufacturers from all over the world are working hard to be able to meet the deadline in October, so that they will be able to present live demonstrations of complex production units, as K 2016 is a unique opportunity to showcase their products to an international audience. There is no event in the world that attracts such a variety of international specialists.

Materials of the future

At K 2016, raw material and auxiliary specialists will present products at the leading edge of polymer science: materials with superior resource efficiency that balance economic and ecological performance. In addition to the optimisation of standard polymers, this year’s major issues will centre around additives and fillers, biopolymers and functional polymers, as well as on self-reinforcing polymers.

A growth market

The industry is distinguished by a high innovative force and a wide variety of products. Energy and resource-efficient products have become more important than ever before, as they are able to meet the most challenging requirements. Suppliers of raw materials, semi-finished products and industrial components will be exhibiting in halls 5–8b.

Benchmark for the industry

K 2016 represents the industry’s complete value-added chain in unparalleled depth and width. This also includes rubber, which plays an important role, despite the fact that this segment is rather small compared with other segments of the plastics industry. Important user industries, however, attach major importance to it and its highly innovative developments. Rubber Road in hall 6 is an indispensible constituent of the K exhibition and is much appreciated and cherished by visitors.

The K is the benchmark for the industry and its global market place for innovations. This is where experts from the world of plastics and rubber meet, to demonstrate the industry’s leading products, concepts and services, and inform visiting experts from industries as diverse as automotive, packaging, E+E and communication, construction, medical engineering and aerospace about new and visionary areas of application for plastics and rubber materials.

Polymers shape developments

Polymers are used for food packaging, which protects the contents, ensures safety and hygiene, provides consumers with information about the product’s ingredients and shelf life, facilitates storage and transport and shows whether the product was delivered in its original condition. About a third of the international production of plastics is attributed to packaging applications, despite the fact that the average weight of product packaging has steadily been reduced, which means that less packaging is used for more products.

Polymer materials also dominate aspects of mobility: the proportion of polymers in cars and airplanes has been rising steadily. The physical and mechanical properties of plastics and composites are on a par with or superior to conventional materials, but they have significantly less weight. Hence, polymer materials save costs, resources and emissions.

Plastics also play a major role in the construction and lifestyle segment. In the construction industry, polymer materials have become indispensible because of their versatility and their unique properties. Polymers are used for applications such as window profiles, cable ducts, roofing, sealing sheeting, flooring and insulation material. Plastics provide protection from cold, heat and noise. Modern water and sewerage pipes are mostly made from plastics because of the material’s cost-efficiency and durability. Polymer materials are also widely used for applications that generate power from renewable sources such as wind and solar energy.

The K has always had its finger on the pulse of technological development. This is borne out by the presentations at exhibitor stands, but also by accompanying events that provide a real bonus for visitors. Special presentations, the Science Campus, Bioplastics Business Breakfasts, the Design Chain Conference, 3D fab + print and the plastics training initiative focus on the specific aspects and central industry-related issues: the perfect opportunity to gather strategic information.

Plastics shape the future

A presentation titled ‘Plastics shape the future’ will aim to show how polymer materials have shaped the appearance of modern settings – not just functionally but aesthetically and sustainably. This event deals with economic and ecological aspects, but also addresses problems such as marine litter.

Presentations and an innovative stand design are the main issues of the special event in hall 6, featuring VIP keynotes, introductory presentations, events and discussions. Throughout the entire trade fair, school and university students will also present their ideas on shaping the future.

Discourse between science and economy

The Science Campus, a forum where businesses and universities exchange information, also provides K exhibitors and visitors with a comprehensive overview of scientific activities, and results in plastics and rubber-related research. Four central issues are at the heart of the Science Campus:

• resource efficiency
• digitisation of the value added chain / Industry 4.0
• new materials
• lightweight engineering.

Scientists from the innovation circle of K 2016 or teams from their institutes will process and prepare information on the central topics. In addition to featuring on the Science Campus agenda, these central issues will also be addressed by the exhibits, the ‘Plastics shape the future’ event and the Innovation Compass.

3D fab+print

No other technology is currently more widely discussed than 3D print. All over the world, additive production methods are keeping users on their toes as they affect the design and packaging industry, machine and line engineering, aerospace engineering, automotive engineering, and dental and medical engineering. Naturally, K 2016 will pay special tribute to this special technology.

Potential and opportunities

Over the past few years, biopolymers have garnered immense attention as they offer an alternative to conventional polymer materials. The critical debate about pros and cons, the future role and the market potential of biopolymers – bio-based and biodegradable – stimulates all pioneering businesses of this industry. At many stands, exhibitors will provide information on the potential and opportunities of biopolymers. Moreover, the specialist publication bioplastics MAGAZINE, in cooperation with Messe Düsseldorf, will host three additional events that will take a closer look at this particular topic. The Bioplastics Business Breakfasts will take place on the mornings from 20–22 October. At these meetings, visitors can present and exchange topical information.

Design chain conference

The Design Chain@K conference hosted by Crain Communications will provide insight into practical and technical aspects of innovations in the design chain. The event allows designers and material producers to discuss and exchange information on the use of polymers in different product applications. The programme includes examples from the automotive and medical industry, consumer electronics and packaging.

Smart online services

To facilitate an active dialogue between attendees and exhibitors, the K 2016 will be discussed on Twitter, Facebook and the trade fair’s web portal k-online.com. All of them will keep visitors up to date on events before, during and after the trade fair.

The K 2016 exhibitors have presented their business portfolio in the exhibitor database, which is a valuable tool for tracking down companies, products and information.

Featuring personalised services such as MyOrganizer, MyCalendar for scheduling meeting on-line and MyCatalogue for compiling an individual trade fair catalogue, the K portal helps visitors organise their agendas. Travel information, including accommodation, things to do in Düsseldorf and an online hotel reservation option provide the final touch.

With the K App, visitors have mobile access to important information. Complete sets of exhibitor data, as well as many facts and figures, are available for download to any mobile device, which makes this App the perfect companion for your visit to Düsseldorf.

Always at your side

An international network of foreign representatives provides a comprehensive service. With a total of 71 offices, Messe Düsseldorf is present all over the world – much to the benefit of international visitors, exhibitors and journalists. At the local office, our team offers professional support and practical tips in the corresponding language. This includes help with travel arrangements or hotel reservations and some attractive deals.

Looking at the future

With the highest information density in the world, the K is a business and information platform that looks to the future. Thanks to its pioneering products and solutions, and the high number of research institutes, this event has become a hotspot for visionary impulses and developments. Business and research are working hand in hand to provide visiting experts with an insight into future perspectives and scenarios that will shape the future of the plastics and rubber industry. Everybody who attends this event knows that this is not just an empty slogan. K 2016 is the place where good ideas turn into good business deals. On 19 October, exhibitors and visitors will again live up to this promise.