Fakuma 2026: Promoting Technology – Shaping the Future – Connecting People

The international plastics industry has just concluded five eventful trade fair days packed with technological innovations, in-depth technical discussions, award ceremonies and special encounters. The 30^th Fakuma international trade fair for plastics processing was a vibrant, highly innovative industry gathering and a resounding success, held in Friedrichshafen from the 12^th through the 16^th of October, 2026.

The anniversary edition of Fakuma has come to a very successful close with great enthusiasm. For five days, 1547 exhibitors presented the latest innovations and developments in plastics processing to the 36,278 expert visitors who travelled to the fully booked Friedrichshafen Exhibition Centre. The trade fair week also featured an impressive supplementary programme. The final day of the trade fair, namely “Career Friday” with its campaign for the promotion of young talent, provided a fitting finale and a strong signal for the future of the plastics industry. With guided tours and exclusive insights into technologies and manufacturing processes, participating companies provided young people with in-depth knowledge of the plastics industry and the opportunities it offers for the future. “The feedback from everyone involved has been overwhelming,” emphasises Annemarie Schur, Fakuma project manager at trade fair promoters P. E. Schall. “Career Friday was a brilliant finale. Many young visitors eagerly participated in the various activities. Our thanks go out to all of the companies whose support has helped pave the way for the future.”

With the highest level of international exhibitors to date (51.2%) the 30th Fakuma has expanded its global significance and further consolidated its status as Europe’s leading trade fair. This is also confirmed by the steadily rising proportion of foreign visitors, which this year reached an all-time high of 42%. The unanimous conclusion is that Fakuma is one of the industry’s most important events. Exhibitor statements confirm the exceptionally high calibre of the visitors and the success of the trade fair. Numerous concrete contracts were concluded, and projects that had previously been placed on hold were launched. “Personal interaction is particularly valuable,” said Dr Friedrich Kastner, CEO and managing partner of the NGA Group. “Direct dialogue with customers and partners often gives rise to specific ideas that form the basis for new solutions and long-term partnerships.” Stefan Glöckner, managing director of injection moulding machine manufacturer Dr. Boy, also points out the advantage of discussing topics openly with expert visitors and addressing new market challenges. “This allows us to work together on the development of concrete solutions.” Michael Wittmann, managing director of Wittmann Technology, emphasised that this year’s focus was, above all, on investment and long-term security. “Quick return on investment and competitive unit costs are what really make the difference.”

Bettina Schall, managing director of Schall trade fair promoters, presented a personalised award to 12 companies that exhibited at the very first Fakuma in 1981 and are still among the exhibitors today. This honour was bestowed upon Arburg, Engel Austria, Getecha, Technotrans Solutions, Hasco Hasenclever, Ihne & Tesch, Kistler Instrumente, Werner Koch Maschinentechnik, Mold Masters Europa, Schuma Maschinenbau, Single Group and Wittmann Battenfeld. Juliane Hehl, managing partner of Arburg, was delighted to receive a special distinction – the first Paul Eberhard Schall Medal. Paul-Eberhard Schall and her father, Eugen Hehl – then managing director of the world’s leading manufacturer of plastic injection moulding machines – launched Fakuma together in 1981. Thanks to their collaboration, at both the business and personal levels, these two exceptional individuals championed technologies, shaped the future and brought people together. They set new standards and shaped an industry, and created a unique success story. The first Paul Eberhard Schall Medal was awarded in a festive atmosphere as part of the trade fair’s opening ceremony. Prof. Dr. Martin Bastian, CEO of the SKZ German Plastics Center in Würzburg, emphasised the following in his laudatory speech: “Fakuma’s success story was not conceived in a strategy paper. It arose from entrepreneurial spirit, from trust, from a handshake being enough and from people who were prepared to take on responsibility. And thus it’s only fitting that the first Paul Eberhard Schall Medal should go to the company that has been one of this trade fair’s closest partners right from the start.”

The first Fakuma Innovation Award, launched by trade fair promoters P. E. Schall in collaboration with media partner K ZEITUNG in order to mark the anniversary edition of Fakuma, attracted tremendous interest. The goal was to recognise technological excellence, innovative strength and teamwork within the plastics processing industry, and to showcase them on a platform that celebrates these qualities. An expert jury reviewed an overwhelming number of entries and were finally able to select the winners. The award ceremony for the innovation competition, held on the afternoon of the first day of the trade fair, featured an impressive array of innovations: a total of 18 companies were recognised with 3rd, 2nd and 1st place honours in the six respective thematic categories including injection moulding, extrusion, recycling, tool and mould making / thermoforming, compounding and materials, as well as peripheral equipment.

On all five trade fair days, 18 young companies – more than ever before! – presented new solutions and ideas for the plastics industry in the startup area. Biomaterials were well represented, e.g. for use in packaging, household goods and medical devices. Bioplastics made from natural, renewable resources such as algae, maize or potato starch, are biodegradable and recyclable, and help to minimise plastic waste in the environment. As material performance and quality continue to improve – and thus versatility as well – the solutions offered by these startups promise to become increasingly significant in the future.

This year’s “Fakuma Round Table” has also provided a strong impetus for future business viability. On the second day of the trade fair, “Building on Strengths” was the theme of the expert discussion at which Eva Söhnlein, managing director of the Geiger Group; Dr. Johannes Kilian, vice president of Process and Application Technology at Engel Austria; Günther Klammer, CTO at Next Generation Holding; and Michael Weigelt, managing director of TecPart – the Association for Technical Plastics Products, deliberated further areas for action. Last but not least, all trade fair visitors were able to benefit from the transfer of knowledge, an exchange of expertise and networking opportunities during the daily expert presentations held at the forum.

“We’re grateful and pleased that we’ve been able to celebrate this anniversary trade fair with everyone involved,” says Bettina Schall, summing up Fakuma 2026. “It was a fantastic industry event filled with valuable professional exchanges and numerous meaningful encounters. The new schedule, with the event running from Monday to Friday, was well received. And the familiar and highly valued spirit of Fakuma was also evident across the board again this year: thematic relevance, pragmatic focus, solutions-oriented approach and discussion conducted on an equal footing. We’ll continue down this path by promoting technology, shaping the future and bringing people together. We look forward to seeing everyone again at the 31^st Fakuma from the 11^th through the 15^th of October, 2027.”

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Schall has developed successful business platforms with internationally recognised trade fairs for quality assurance (Control), optical technologies, components and systems (Optatec), stamping technology (Stanztec), automation in production and assembly (Motek), bonding technology (Bondexpo), plastics processing (Fakuma), sheet metal working (Blechexpo) and joining technology (Schweisstec). This has given rise to completely new markets in various sectors, whose protagonists are characterised by a high level of innovative strength, comprehensive system competence and practical application solutions.