Plastics and Rubber Industry Focus on K 2022

K 2022, the world’s most relevant trade fair for the plastics and rubber industries is to be held from 19-26 October, 2022, in Düsseldorf, Germany. K 2022 is a leading business platform for pioneering innovations and developments as well as far-sighted impulses.

Organised by Messe Düsseldorf GmbH, the week-long trade fair will feature game changers such as circular economy and digitalization to sustainably master global challenges and shape the future successfully.

The trade show will attract a global audience from not only the plastics and rubber industries but all related businesses including aerospace and vehicle construction, electronics, construction and building, medical technology, precision engineering, optics, information and communication technology (ICT), energy technology, photovoltaics, agriculture, craft, sports and leisure, and educational institutions.

A range of products will be on display including raw materials and auxiliaries; semi-finished products, technical parts, and reinforced plastics; machinery and equipment for the plastics and rubber industries; besides services, research, and science.

Circular economy, which is the biggest field of action for the plastics and rubber industries, will field 34 exhibitors. No other task has occupied the industry in recent years as much as the development of a functioning circular economy for polymer materials. The Circular Economy Forum with exciting presentations and discussions, and ‘Plastics shape the Future’, a special show highlighting innovative formats for shaping the future with plastics will be the major attractions at K 2022.

A total of 51 exhibitors will be part of another hot topic of the event – Digitalization. For some time now, digital networking has become common practice in the manufacturing sector with its large production systems. There are discussions about digitally networked monitoring of raw materials and product flows in the production area. Manufacturers of machines used for processing plastics and rubber have also opted for digital control of their products. Latest technologies including artificial intelligence (AI) and augmented reality (AR) will also be major attractions.

As climate protection has changed into the absolute and most important topic worldwide, the organizers have included this highly sensitive topic within its ambit on realising that it can no longer be put on the back burner. Scientists have predicted unusual and negative weather phenomena for the future and these are already beginning to manifest globally. A total of 20 exhibitors will feature products that help reduce CO2 emissions and visitors can have an exchange with experts on topics such as electromobility, lightweight construction, water management, and many more.

Messe Düsseldorf’s Executive Director Petra Cullman says,” Climate is on the agenda everywhere, and it needs to be addressed on a global scale. There is no climate protection without plastics, when it comes to lightweight construction and renewable energy. They can’t be done without plastics. Digitization is an enabler for all these issues. It delivers transparency and resource efficiency for all these issues.”

With separate themes each day, the special show ‘Plastics shape the Future’, organized by the German plastics industry under the auspices of Frankfurt-based plastic fabrication company PlasticsEurope Deutschland e.V. and Messe Düsseldorf will include presentations and discussions on the future of plastics.

One of the hot spots at K 2022 will once again be Rubberstreet, organized with the aim of increasing the visibility of rubber and thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) and highlighting their innovative performance.

One more attraction at K 2022 is the Science Campus, an academic forum which helps exhibitors and trade visitors discover new perspectives and think beyond the status quo, and where universities, colleges, and institutes present their latest results of research work.

Venue: Fairground Düsseldorf (Halls 1 to 17).

Opening hours: (Daily) 10am to 6.30pm.