Plastics for the Future
Remaining booth locations are filling up in the exhibition halls in Friedrichshafen for the 28th Fakuma international trade fair for plastics processing. All involved parties are eagerly awaiting new impetus from the world’s leading trade fair for the injection moulding industry. With great innovative strength and dynamics, combined with a practice-oriented trade fair format, the premium event for the fields of extrusion technology, thermoforming and 3D printing will focus above all on circular economy. The entire industry has saved the trade fair dates from the 17th through the 21st of October, 2023!
Fakuma is regarded around the world as the leading trade fair highlight in the field of injection moulding. It’s the industry and technology barometer in the fields of extrusion technology, thermoforming and 3D printing, and this year’s event will once again focus on the issues of digitalisation, process automation and energy efficiency. “Above all for our industry sectors, circular economy and sustainability are not just buzzwords,” notes Annemarie Schur, Fakuma project manager at trade fair promoters P. E. Schall. “It has become plainly apparent that manufacturers and users are focusing on making plastics production and processing as sustainable as possible. Companies are concentrating on top-quality, durable high-tech solutions which are used in a broad range of industries where they’re indispensable, for example in solar modules, e-mobility, construction and technical components, as well as in the consumer and furnishing sectors. None of it can be done without plastics,” points out the project manager. “Fakuma will once again demonstrate that the highly complex subject of plastics can be incorporated into climate protection and circular economy, and that it’s forward-looking in a very special way.”
Success Factors: Practical Relevance, Focus and Continuity
Energy efficiency, sustainability, recyclable design and AI-based solutions will be addressed extensively at the trade fair. Another important objective of Fakuma involves the presentation of plastics processing in the intelligently networked factory of tomorrow. “The event is distinguished by its high levels of practical relevance,” stresses Nicolai Küls, managing director of technotrans solutions GmbH. “Technological trends and their implementation in series production are frequently exhibited at Fakuma. This is an important argument for an innovative, applications-oriented company like technotrans.
In our opinion, practical relevance, focus and continuity are also key ingredients in the recipe for future success.”
“As important megatrends, climate protection and society’s growing environmental awareness, constantly changing legal requirements such as specifying the use of less environmentally harmful refrigerants for process cooling in the future and e-mobility will ensure that energy efficiency will continue to be a driving factor in product development in the future,” affirms Nicolai Küls. “Moreover, intelligent interaction between machines, tools and peripheral technology – especially in the field of thermal process management – still offers lots of potential for savings.”
Future Issues: Processes, Products and Business Models
Countless sustainable solutions and products are simply not possible without plastics. The significance of plastics, their importance for everyday life and future demands will be on the agenda at Fakuma. As a result, the trade fair is the ideal platform for the presentation of new products and technological solutions, and for expert discussions regarding current and future challenges. Advanced machines, optimised processes, new products and forward-looking business models will also be in focus.
“Fakuma 2023, with its practice-oriented format and informal atmosphere, will once again be an exciting and essential milestone for discussing solutions to the demanding tasks currently faced by the industry sector,” emphasises Annemarie Schur. “Fakuma has long since established itself as a meeting place for an international expert audience. We expect that more than 40% of the exhibitors will come from outside of Germany again in 2023. The high levels of internationalism, the intrinsic quality of the expert discussions and, of course, the exciting subject of plastics with its relevance for the future make Fakuma a unique business meet – not least of all for maintaining customer relations, acquiring new customers and for an exchange of ideas with business partners, students and institutes. The exhibitor forum with world-class expert presentations will also deliver inspiring impetus for all relevant topics.”
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61 Years of Trade Fairs for Markets – Schall Trade Fairs’ Recipe for Success
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 entirely new markets in various sectors, whose protagonists are distinguished by tremendous innovative strength, comprehensive systems competence and practical application solutions.
Practical Relevance and Continuity are Fakuma’s Success Factors
Nicolai Kühls, Managing Director technotrans solutions GmbH
Ever since its premiere in 1981, Fakuma has had a firm foothold in the trade fair calendar of technotrans solutions GmbH (formerly gwk). As one of thirty original exhibitors with a long history of active participation, not only have we been able to monitor the development of the world’s leading trade fair for the injection moulding industry, we’ve helped to shape it too. And thus, as of immediately, I’m very pleased to be able to play a more active role as a new member of the advisory board.
The event is distinguished by its high levels of practical relevance. Technological trends and their implementation in series production are frequently exhibited at Fakuma. This is an important argument for an innovative, applications-oriented company like technotrans. In our opinion, practical relevance, focus and continuity are also key ingredients in the recipe for future success.
Fakuma has long since established itself as a meeting place for an international expert audience. Already this year, more than 40% of the exhibitors will come from outside of Germany according to the trade fair organisers, and this figure will presumably continue to rise in the future. For years now, our globally active company has also been contributing to this trend through the presence of our representatives – not only from the European Economic Area, but also from China and Mexico, for example. For us, it’s especially interesting that Fakuma continuously offers strong potential for future developments within the competitive environment of other processing technologies in the plastics processing industry, which can be disseminated throughout the world while maintaining the strategy that Fakuma has consistently pursued to date.
The future of Fakuma should also incorporate the megatrends of climate protection, circular economy, mobility and digitalisation into plastics processing. We regard the issues of energy efficiency, sustainability and AI-based solutions as current focal points. The practical presentation of plastics processing in the intelligently networked factory of tomorrow should be the express objective of the trade fair organisers and exhibitors.
Circular economy, digitalisation and climate protection are also current priorities at technotrans. As thermal management specialists, we’ll present forward-looking solutions for the plastics processing industry in the following areas at this year’s Fakuma: sustainable cooling and temperature control technology with propane as a natural refrigerant and speed-controlled pumps, as well as high-temperature heat pump technology. Amongst other solutions this will include the debut of a highly efficient range of chillers with frequency-controlled screw compressors and further enhancement of the eco.line – the most efficient range of temperature control units on the market. Live demonstrations with various machines are of course standard procedure for a modern, international trade fair like Fakuma.
As important megatrends, climate protection and society’s growing environmental awareness, constantly changing legal requirements (for example specifying the use of less environmentally harmful refrigerants for process cooling in the future) and e-mobility will ensure that energy efficiency will continue to be a driving factor in product development in the future. Moreover, intelligent interaction between machines, tools and peripheral technology – especially in the field of thermal process management – still offers lots of potential for savings.
All of this spurs us on to continuous further development and will make a visit to the trade fair well worthwhile for international visitors – not only this year but in the future as well – and will continue to draw the injection moulding industry to Friedrichshafen for many years to come. We at technotrans are pleased to make our contribution in this regard.
Fakuma 2023 – Highly Dynamic and Packed with Innovative Power
The 28th Fakuma international trade fair for plastics processing is being eagerly awaited with great anticipation. The world’s leading trade fair for injection moulding, which also serves as a technology and industry barometer for extrusion technology, thermoforming and 3D printing, will offer information on new solutions and provide fresh impetus for circular economy in Friedrichshafen from the 17th through the 21st of October, 2023.
Expert visitors will gain an up-to-date, comprehensive overview of all processes, technologies and tools covering all aspects of plastics processing, in particular injection moulding, extrusion technology, thermoforming and 3D printing, at Fakuma from the 17th to 21st October, 2023. Halls A1 to A7 and B1 to B5, as well as the east and west foyer areas and the east concourse, will be occupied at the Friedrichshafen Exhibition Centre. “Roughly 6 months before the trade fair opens, we’ve already achieved very good booking levels,” explains Annemarie Schur, Fakuma project manager from trade fair promoters P. E. Schall. “We’re receiving additional bookings continuously – from abroad as well. In any case, we’ll make optimum use of available floor space once again this year. The exhibition halls in Friedrichshafen will be packed, and everyone involved is looking forward to a lively and inspiring Fakuma 2023,” says the project manager.
Lively participation and high levels of internationalism underscore Fakuma’s significance as an outstanding technology and business event. Major issues addressed at this year’s trade fair include, of course, circular economy, efficient use of resources and sustainability. The tasks currently faced by the industry are well known: reduced energy consumption, the digitalisation of production processes and the processing of recyclates into high-quality products. “You can clearly sense the needs which are currently driving the plastics industry,” says Annemarie Schur. “Plastic products are designed for recycling right from the start. The issues of recycling, environmental protection and sustainability are omnipresent, amongst the exhibitors as well. They’re focusing on sustainable and efficient plastics manufacturing and processing.”
Visiting the Trade Fair Pays Off
“The technologies presented at Fakuma are ready for series production. The trade fair visitors know this,” notes Markus Hanetseder, vice president of product management, marketing and communications at Engel. “The trip to Friedrichshafen pays off for them very quickly,” says Hanetseder. He stresses the fact that Fakuma’s high levels of innovative power and great dynamics are the basis for a world-class trade fair audience. As a result, trade visitors will experience trailblazing, future-oriented solutions at this year’s industry event on Lake Constance.
As the world’s leading trade fair highlight for injection moulding and as an industry and technology barometer in the fields of extrusion technology, thermoforming and 3D printing, Fakuma 2023 is being eagerly awaited. The issues of digitalisation, process automation and energy efficiency are just as high up on the agenda as circular economy and sustainability. Enhanced machines and optimised processes will also be exhibited. New products and forward-looking business models are expected as well. The exhibitor forum with world-class expert presentations will deliver inspiring impetus for all relevant topics.
“Fakuma is internationally recognised as a business platform for innovations throughout the value creation chain,” observes Bettina Schall, trade fair promoter and managing director of P. E. Schall GmbH & Co. KG. “We cordially invite all industry players to visit Fakuma 2023 in Friedrichshafen. It’s the ideal platform for discovering new products and technological solutions, as well as for personal and professional dialogue concerning present and future challenges,” says the managing director of the trade fair promoters. Fakuma 2023, with its practice-oriented format and informal atmosphere, will be an essential milestone for finding solutions to the demanding tasks currently faced by the industry.
Keep yourself well informed!
Follow us on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/fakuma-messe/
Subscribe to the newsletter: www.schall-messen.de/en/services/news-service/
To the website: www.fakuma-messe.de
To the digital marketplace: www.fakuma-messe.de/en/fakuma-virtual/
61 Years of Trade Fairs for Markets – Schall Trade Fairs’ Recipe for Success
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 entirely new markets in various sectors, whose protagonists are distinguished by tremendous innovative strength, comprehensive systems competence and practical application solutions.
“Fakuma is the Most Important Trade Fair for Our Company”
Bernd Schäfer, Managing Director of Deifel GmbH & Co. KG Buntfarbenfabrik, Schweinfurt, Germany
“Only those products which are optimally designed, engineered and produced – in terms of recyclability – will be good products in the future.” The Fakuma trade fair team spoke with Bernd Schäfer, managing director of Deifel Buntfarbenfabrik in Schweinfurt, about issues concerning the plastics industry and the importance of Fakuma.
Due to the fact that our main sales markets for masterbatch are in Europe, Fakuma is the most important trade fair for our company at which we participate as an exhibitor. For us, it’s an important instrument for maintaining customer relations, acquiring new customers and exchanging information with business partners, students and institutes. Fakuma is distinguished in particular by its familiar flair, as well as minimal leg work at the event. It’s the first port of call for the plastics processing industry after the K trade fair. Visitors have plenty of time to gather information about the latest R&D trends from the exhibitors, and to establish contacts. As opposed to the K trade fair, everything feels a lot less hectic.
All Important Players Represented at Fakuma
The most important players in the field of plastics processing are all represented at Fakuma, from machine suppliers to peripherals manufacturers and raw materials vendors, right on up to institutes and networks. One of the event’s big advantages is its size: Fakuma remains within a scope which allows visitors to attend the trade fair on one or two days and gather information without being entirely overwhelmed. The brightly lit exhibition halls are very pleasant.
Environment, the sustainability of plastics, bio-polymers, PCR materials, networking amongst production systems and optimisation of production processes in terms of energy are clearly among today’s most important technology trends in the plastics industry. Plastics are highly beneficial in innumerable applications which would be inconceivable without them today. The perception of plastics by the general public has become quite negative. Plastic, which was highly praised as an emerging wonder material at the beginning of the 1950s, is no longer appreciated to the same extent today due to environmental problems.
The great challenge of the future will be to focus on opportunities for reusing and recycling the plastics and composites which are brought into circulation already during the product development phase. Only those products which are optimally designed, engineered and produced – in terms of recyclability – will be good products in the future.
New Colour Masterbatches for Electromobility
At Deifel, we’re currently developing a large number of colour masterbatches for PBT, PA66 and PA12 polymers, which are used in the field of electromobility. The special technical and mechanical demands placed on the finished components must also be met by the colour masterbatch. This is a considerable challenge for us but, thanks to our many years of experience, we can offer our customers good solutions. Beyond this, our R&D work is also focussed on the issue of colouration for bioplastics and PCR materials.
We were one of the first masterbatch manufacturers in Germany to achieve climate neutrality in 2021, which means we’ve reduced our carbon footprint considerably in recent years and can now compensate for our remaining CO2 emissions by supporting certified climate protection projects. This is an important initial step, which we of course also expect our raw material suppliers to take in the coming years so that we can offer CO2-neutral products.
Fakuma with high international attention
For us, Fakuma is one of the foremost trade fairs anywhere in the world and we always look forward to it with great anticipation. We engage in very intensive discussions with our customers, with partners and with other interested parties at the event. Many successful projects have been launched in Friedrichshafen.
The need to save energy, the digitalisation of production processes and the transformation of recyclates into ever higher quality products are presenting our industry sector with new challenges. We’ll present tangible solutions based on concrete applications from the fields of packaging, automotive and injection moulding at Fakuma 2023. The technologies presented at Fakuma are ready for series production. Trade fair visitors know this. The trip to Friedrichshafen pays off for them very quickly.
For many years, Fakuma has been attracting extensive international attention and continues to benefit greatly from its regional setting. The tri-border region where Germany, Austria and Switzerland meet is driven to a great extent by technology. Its innovative strength and dynamism are plainly perceptible at Fakuma and ensure a world-class trade fair audience.
Markus Hanetseder
Vice President Product Management, Marketing & Communications
ENGEL Gruppe
Full Exhibition Halls and Great Enthusiasm for Fakuma 2023
It’s filling up at the Friedrichshafen Exhibition Centre: The 28th Fakuma international trade fair for plastics processing will take place from the 17th through the 21st of October, 2023. Innovations from the fields of injection moulding, extrusion technology, thermoforming and 3D printing will be at the centre of attention. The internationally esteemed trade fair brings the entire plastics industry together. This top event is a technology signpost for plastics production and processing and will highlight further solutions dealing with the issues of sustainability, circular economy and recycling.
At the end of January 2023, trade fair promoters P. E. Schall had already registered 1169 exhibitors from 38 countries. “Halls A1 to A7 and B1 to B5, as well as the east and west foyer areas, including the east concourse, are nearly full,” reports Fakuma project manager Annemarie Schur. “We’re very pleased to announce that nine months before the trade fair begins, it’s becoming apparent that the halls will be full again at Fakuma 2023,” says Schur. 42% of the exhibitors registered thus far come from outside of Germany – more than at the last Fakuma in 2021. “One senses the significance of issues like environmental protection and the digital transformation, as well as sustainable and efficient plastics processing,” explains the project manager. “Expert visitors can expect to find essential innovations for pioneering, future-oriented solutions.”
In Focus: Circular Economy and Energy Efficiency
Fakuma 2021 once again made it plainly evident that the trend towards digitalisation has accelerated and that future-oriented concepts are being developed in order to establish a circular economy for plastic products. And thus as a recognised business platform for innovations throughout the value creation chain, Fakuma is the ideal setting for presenting new products and technological solutions, as well as for discussing forward-looking issues and addressing relevant topics in a concise manner. For example at his technical presentation to an auditorium full of trade press and guest listeners, Professor Dr.-Ing. Martin Bastian, director of the SKZ Institute in Würzburg, pointed out impressively what needs to be done in the industry: “We have to take on more responsibility for what’s happening with plastics. We have to ensure that plastic isn’t just accepted, but rather used with enthusiasm as well. And we have to do a lot more to educate people about its benefits,” says Bastian.
User-Oriented, Highly Practical and Technically Competent
As a result, circular economy is one of the major themes of this year’s trade fair. “Once again, Fakuma 2023 will provide a suitable platform for discussing current challenges faced by the industry and addressing them in a targeted manner,” notes Bettina Schall, managing director of trade fair promoters P. E. Schall GmbH & Co. KG. Expert visitors and exhibitors will meet again this year and conduct discussions on an equal footing at high levels of expertise in an informal atmosphere. Fakuma will demonstrate the indispensability of plastic products against the background of sustainability and the efficient use of resources. Trade fair visitors can look forward to experiencing the extent to which a pioneering spirit and a targeted strategy can be leveraged to produce plastic parts in a competitive, sustainable and digitally networked manner.
“Plastic is a Resource, not a Waste Material”
Preparations for this year’s edition of the Fakuma international trade fair for plastics processing are running at full bore. As representatives of the entire exhibitor community, the exhibitor advisory board is also looking forward to the event. “Fakuma is a technical event that you shouldn’t miss under any circumstances,” explains Rüdiger Dzuban, marketing and sales manager at Oni in Lindlar, Germany. “We’ll experience the immense value of plastics here, because plastic is a resource and not a waste material,” observes Dzuban.
The world’s leading trade fair for injection moulding, which also serves as a technology and industry barometer for extrusion technology, thermoforming and 3D printing, is being eagerly awaited and will provide new impetus for circular economy. An exhibitor forum with world-class technical presentations is once again in preparation as well. “Fakuma 2021 was highly acclaimed and we’ll build upon this in 2023,” says Bettina Schall. “Technological developments give rise to new solutions for current challenges. For this reason, we cordially invite all industry players to the 28th Fakuma to discuss important current and future issues from the 17th through the 21st of October, 2023.”
Keep yourself well informed!
Follow us on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/fakuma-messe/
Subscribe to the newsletter: www.schall-messen.de/en/services/news-service/
To the website: www.fakuma-messe.de
To the digital marketplace: www.fakuma-messe.de/en/fakuma-virtual/
Schall Trade Fairs’ Success Concept
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 entirely new markets in various sectors, whose protagonists are distinguished by tremendous innovative strength, comprehensive systems competence and practical application solutions.
60 years of Schall – 28th Fakuma - with exhibitor ARBURG
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In Schall’s anniversary year, we visit partners of excellence at our international trade fairs. Today our path leads us through the picturesque Black Forest to an internationally renowned company in the plastics industry, ARBURG, based in Lossburg in Baden-Württemberg. We will be welcomed by Dr Christoph Schumacher, Director Global Marketing.
WIR SIND DA – ARBURG’s brand promise to customers, partners and employees also characterises the beginning of the cooperation between the innovative injection moulding machine manufacturer from the Black Forest and the Schall trade fair company. Trade fair promoter Paul Eberhard Schall had the following to say about the premiere of Fakuma in 1981: “Without the commitments and innovative ideas of the first exhibitors, led by Eugen and Karl Hehl as managing partners of ARBURG at the time, the success story of Fakuma would not have come about as it did.” At the first Fakuma, ARBURG was already flying the flag at a 120 square metre exhibition stand in Friedrichshafen. In more than four decades, the productive partnership between the two companies has steadily deepened. ARBURG values Fakuma as one of the most important trade fairs in its worldwide strategic trade fair planning and as a practical platform in the tri-border region of Germany, Austria and Switzerland. ARBURG also supports Fakuma with heart and soul through its participation in the trade fair advisory board. A pioneering spirit, enthusiasm for technical innovations and the willingness to make courageous decisions not only united the Hehl brothers with Paul Eberhard Schall, but also characterise the spirit of both companies to this day. ARBURG is currently presenting itself at Fakuma with a 1700 square metre, two-storey exhibition stand, which makes the company motto impressively tangible: WIR SIND DA.
The family-owned company ARBURG can look back on a history of around 100 years and is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of machines for plastics processing. Around 2,800 employees work at the company’s headquarters in Lossburg – around 3,400 worldwide. The company has its own organisations in 25 countries and at 34 locations. With ARBURG ALLROUNDER injection moulding machines – 100 per cent “made in Lossburg” – customers from all over the world produce high-quality plastic parts, e.g. for the automotive and packaging industries, communications and consumer electronics, medical technology and the toy and white goods sectors. The products created on Arburg machines range from so-called micro parts weighing just a few hundredths of a gram to plastic parts weighing four kilograms – including numerous everyday objects from toothbrushes to car switches. The ARBURG portfolio is supplemented by the freeformer for additive manufacturing for batch size 1 and small series. In addition, there are robotic systems, customer- and industry-specific turnkey systems and other peripherals. ARBURG thus covers the entire spectrum: from individual one-off parts to large-scale production in quantities of millions. The promise WIR SIND DA therefore also applies when it comes to efficient and innovative solutions for plastics processing. It also applies to dealing with future issues. For example, ARBURG is committed to being a pioneer in the areas of energy and production efficiency as well as digitalisation and sustainability. The digital products and services are combined in the “arburgXworld” programme. These enable customers to achieve measurably greater efficiency and more transparency in production.
The arburgGREENworld programme encompasses all aspects and activities relating to sustainability, resource conservation, CO2 reduction and the circular economy. With this programme, in addition to producing cutting-edge technology in plastics processing, ARBURG is also assuming responsibility for the future of our planet. And where could this message be conveyed more impressively than in a high-tech company surrounded by the unique natural landscape of the Black Forest?
And so customers and business partners, as well as the trade fair company Schall as the organiser, can already be excited about the sustainable and efficient solutions for plastics processing with which ARBURG will once again confirm its brand promise to the industry at Fakuma 2023: WIR SIND DA.
“Because it’s in our genes, we can’t help but dedicate ourselves to the further development and perfection of injection moulding with uncompromising consistency and devotion,” says ARBURG. The same attitude motivates the Schall trade fair company to continuously develop and optimise its trade fairs – for ARBURG, as for Schall, the highest goal clearly remains the best possible success for the customer.
And that’s exactly why we keep the speedometer flying and do what we’ve always been passionate about: Trade fairs for markets!
We’ll meet again at FAKUMA 2023!
The Start-up Area - for Cutting-Edge Networking
In recent years, numerous young start-up companies have established themselves that are really turning the plastics processing of tomorrow on it’s head with their innovative solutions. As a long-standing event, Fakuma would like to support these young companies in particular and offer them a platform at the plastics industry’s top event. The prerequisite for participation is simple: The exhibited products must be related to industrial plastics processing.
Young start-up companies receive an all-round carefree package for participation in the START UP AREA of Fakuma, which includes both a chic stand construction package and an attractive marketing package.
The innovative young entrepreneurs at the fair will thus benefit from these three Top-Benefits:
- Increased public awareness and enhanced brand image thanks to the enormous scope of Fakuma at the international level.
- Highly beneficial and long-lasting business contacts can be established here in four days.
- Decision-makers integrate innovative solutions from Fakuma directly into their investment projects.
The Schall team will be pleased to provide further information and individual consultation:
Phone: +40 (0)7025 9206-650
E-Mail: fakuma@schall-messen.de
28th Fakuma in October 2023 – Booking Levels Already High
The next Fakuma international trade fair for plastics processing will take place in Friedrichshafen on Lake Constance from the 17th through the 21st of October, 2023. Key issues include injection moulding, extrusion technology, thermoforming and 3D printing, as well as sustainability, circular economy and recycling. The international, world-class live event for the plastics industry will continue its tradition and follow up on the inspiring success achieved in fall 2021.
The exhibition halls in Friedrichshafen are filling up. “One and a half years before the trade fair opens its doors, industry players are already booking floor space at Fakuma, which underscores the great importance of the event throughout the world,” explains Fakuma project manager Annemarie Schur from Schall trade fair promoters. “Fakuma is traditionally one of the top events in the plastics industry, as demonstrated once again by the live trade fair held in the fall of 2021. Fakuma was greatly celebrated and we’ll pick up where we left off again in 2023.”
Fakuma: One of the Most Important Industrial Trade Fairs
1470 exhibitors from 39 countries came to Lake Constance in October 2021 and showcased their innovations covering all aspects of injection moulding, extrusion technology, thermoforming and 3D printing on 85,000 square metres of overall exhibition floor space. Special attention was focused on the issues of environmental protection, circular economy and sustainability. “Recycling and environmental compatibility will be dealt with again extensively in 2023. There can be no doubt that the exhibitors will present ground-breaking innovations and continue to work intensively on pioneering solutions,” affirms the project manager with certainty. Professor Dr.-Ing. Martin Bastian, director of the SKZ Institute in Würzburg, appealed for more responsibility in determining what happens to plastics at Fakuma 2021. In his passionate plea for the importance of plastics, he made it clear that they should not only be accepted, but used with enthusiasm. “And we have to do a lot more to educate people about its benefits,” said Bastian last fall. All companies and households are working hard on implementing the energy transition, which won’t be possible without plastics.
Exciting Issues Explored in a Trendsetting Manner
The 28th Fakuma in Friedrichshafen from 17 to 21 October 2023 will once again be an exciting and important information and business platform. Exhibitors and expert visitors meet here to exchange ideas on automation and digitalisation, as well as circular economy and the conservation of resources. Numerous traditional world market leaders have already saved the dates for the 29th Fakuma in Friedrichshafen from the 15th through the 19th of October, 2024. “Our proven trade fair concept for Fakuma is unique and enjoys widespread acclaim – and we’ll stick with it,” says Bettina Schall, trade fair promoter and managing director of P. E. Schall GmbH & Co. KG. “Fakuma unites practical relevance with high levels of professional competence, as usual in a familiar atmosphere. More than any other event, Fakuma is the perfect place for discussing new products and forward-looking solutions in the plastics industry on an equal footing.” Save the dates for the upcoming Fakuma events in Friedrichshafen: 17 to 21 October 2023 and 15 to 19 October 2024.
Fakuma 2021: Inspiring Plastics Live!
The 27th Fakuma international trade fair for plastics processing celebrated an inspiring restart in Friedrichshafen from the 12th through the 16th of October, 2021. 1470 exhibitors from 39 countries came to Lake Constance for the first major international on-site event for the plastics industry this fall, and presented injection moulding, extrusion technology, thermoforming and 3D printing on a world-class level Overall emphasis was placed on the issues of sustainability, circular economy and recycling.
“We’re back! Finally an on-site trade fair again with innovations you can actually handle!” This is what everyone was saying at this year’s Fakuma 2021 in the exhibition halls in Friedrichshafen. After the compulsory one-year hiatus, the event was held live again from 12 to 16 October. 1470 exhibitors from 39 countries showcased their innovations covering all aspects of injection moulding, extrusion technology, thermoforming and 3D printing on 85,000 square metres of overall exhibition floor space. The fact that 40% of the exhibitors came from outside of Germany substantiates Fakuma’s great significance all over the world, especially in these exceptional times: “For the companies in our industry sector, Fakuma is one of the most important industrial trade fairs of all,” notes Annemarie Schur, Fakuma project manager at trade fair promoters P. E. Schall. “Fakuma was even more important this year. On the one hand because on-site trade fairs only became possible again in the fall of 2021, and on the other hand because the issues of environmental protection, circular economy and sustainability are an enormous task that we all have to tackle.” This is why Fakuma 2021 also set itself the goal of making a significant contribution to pioneering, forward-looking solutions.
“Now we want to look forward to the future together,” said Bettina Schall, trade fair organiser and managing director of P. E. Schall GmbH & Co. KG. “Fakuma is the ideal platform for tackling the current challenges faced by the industry. Record figures and superlatives don’t matter this fall. The only thing that counts is that we all cooperate to get this restart going and carry on with our work.”
“I’m delighted that something like this is possible again,” said Prof. Dr.-Ing. Martin Bastian, Institute director of the SKZ in Würzburg, at the trade fair’s opening ceremony. In his technical presentation to an auditorium full of trade press and guest listeners, he pointed out impressively what needs to be done in the industry: “We have to take more responsibility for what happens with plastic.” Martin Bastian made a passionate plea for the cause of plastics: “We have to ensure that plastic isn’t just accepted, but rather used with enthusiasm as well. And we have to do a lot more to educate people about its benefits,” says Bastian. “We have to be present in the schools and kindergartens and make it clear that the energy transition will never be possible without plastics.” The plea voiced by Dr Thomas Probst, keynote speaker of the German Federal Association for Secondary Raw Materials and Waste Management (Bundesverband Sekundärrohstoffe und Entsorgung), who offered an exclusive look behind the scenes of the recycling industry and spoke about hurdles and difficulties in recycling, was no less emphatic. “As perceived in general, plastics are not understood,” is the insight he arrives at.
The exhibition halls in Friedrichshafen were very well frequented right from the first day of the event. Interested expert visitors were able to gain an impression of the latest developments and perspectives for concrete solutions in the field of plastics processing. “Many tradition-rich global market leaders have made use of the crisis to advance their innovations.
The trend towards digitalisation is accelerating. Cross-company concepts have been developed for the establishment of a circular economy for plastic products. Every crisis presents opportunities too, and many a clever mind is taking advantage of them,” confirms Sandra Füllsack as well, managing director of Motan Holding GmbH and spokesperson for the Fakuma exhibitor advisory committee. “As a business platform for innovations throughout the value-added chain, Fakuma 2021 was once again the ideal venue for presenting new products and technological solutions, as well as for discussing trendsetting issues.” Extremely practical and with high levels of professional competence, and at the same time in a friendly atmosphere – this is how exhibitors and expert visitors regard the unique and highly esteemed industry event. The next international trade fair for plastics processing, namely the 28th Fakuma, will take place from the 17th through the 21st of October, 2023.