Industry Highlight with Strong User Benefits and Unique Spirit

The plastics industry will celebrate a five-day festival in Friedrichshafen on Lake Constance from Monday the 12th through Friday the 16th of October, 2026. Exhibitors and expert visitors will commemorate the extraordinary success story of the Fakuma international trade fair for plastics processing, which will be observing its 30th anniversary. The industry event will be characterised by packed exhibition halls with high levels of international participation and a great atmosphere. Once again this year, the trade fair highlight will generate unique inspiration for the plastics processing industry with its unique spirit.

What began in 1981 with 76 first-time exhibitors has “evolved into a significant European platform for plastics processing”, emphasises Dr. Christoph Schumacher, vice president of global marketing at ARBURG. The machine engineering company from Loßburg, Germany, is an integral part of Fakuma’s history. Schumacher describes the trade fair as a “heartfelt passion” and emphasises its “ideal location with a focus on practical relevance”.

The focus on practical application is also stressed by exhibition advisory board member Dr. Friedrich Kastner. The CEO of the Next Generation Analytics Group (NGA) sums up the extraordinary success story of Fakuma, describing the trade fair as an event which has served as a reliable meeting place for decades, for an industry that’s undergoing constant change like few others. “Today, the trade fair is one of the most important plastics events in Europe, not only as a technology marketplace, but also as a source of inspiration for a sustainable, energy-efficient and digitally networked plastics industry.” Kastner points out that the issues shaping the plastics industry have changed over the years: “from the clearly linear value creation of the early years to a consistent circular economy. Energy efficiency, digitalisation, modern recycling technologies, the image associated with plastics and the shortage of qualified personnel are currently dominating our agenda.” Fakuma mirrors these developments and showcases practical solutions, holistic approaches and systemic methods for greater sustainability.

Fakuma is no longer just an injection moulding trade fair, but rather a leading extrusion and recycling platform as well, that covers the entire spectrum of plastics processing. Industry players praise the special user benefits as well as the unique spirit of this practical trade fair with its lively atmosphere. “Fakuma is a special place for us: people meet here on equal terms, partnerships are forged and decisions are formulated that shape production strategies for years to come. Its informal atmosphere brings out the unique spirit of Fakuma,” adds Christopher Vitz, regional president for Central Europe at ENGEL. Fakuma has always been an important European platform for the company: a place where plastics processing is not only showcased, but rather advanced collectively as well.

Especially in economically challenging times, the industry meet is becoming increasingly important. Due to the fact that investment decisions are being considered more carefully than ever before, companies are seeking precisely tailored applications and value the opportunity of making comparisons at trade fairs like Fakuma, which focus on a direct exchange of information and personal networking. “Fakuma is about practical applications. Discussion takes place here on an equal footing. Numerous projects and developments are initiated in Friedrichshafen,” states Michael Wittmann, managing director of the WITTMANN Group. “Fakuma has built up strong global momentum with this spirit, while retaining its local character and relaxed atmosphere. We have customers in Brazil who travel to Lake Constance to attend every Fakuma trade fair, because they value the combination of technological innovations and the relaxed atmosphere that provides space for in-depth discussions.”

The 30^th Fakuma will take place from Monday the 12^th through Friday the 16^th of October, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. each day, once again transforming the Friedrichshafen Exhibition Centre into the home of a major family celebration. The trade fair highlight is regarded as a showroom presenting the entire world of plastics – from injection moulding, forming and extrusion technology, as well as 3D printing, masterbatches and raw materials, right on up to tools, process technology and recycling. Whether raw materials, processing machines, peripherals or automation solutions are involved, the portfolio of topics supports the plastic processing industry in meeting today’s and tomorrow’s challenges and remaining economically successful on the market. The autumn event will be accompanied by an attractive and exciting supplementary programme on all five trade fair days – with world-class expert presentations as part of the forum and the third edition of the round-table discussion, as well as Career Friday for young professionals.

“We’re very pleased with the great interest expressed in the anniversary edition of Fakuma,” says Bettina Schall, managing director of trade fair promoters P. E. Schall. “We will, of course, reflect on how it all began 45 years ago. But above all, we want to look to the future and focus on new solutions that will empower the industry to master current and future challenges. Fakuma is traditionally a trade fair where performance and expertise are showcased. Consequently, we can expect to see stimulating, pioneering initiatives – from technological, ecological and economic perspectives.

Exhibitors are cordially invited to use both the Fakuma and the anniversary logos for their product presentations and public relations work, which are available for download here: https://www.fakuma-messe.de/fuer-aussteller/ausstellerinformationen/. Use of the logos is also encouraged for press coverage: https://www.fakuma-messe.de/presse/.

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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 entirely new markets in various sectors, whose protagonists are distinguished by tremendous innovative strength, comprehensive systems competence and practical application solutions.