Plastics move the world

Incredibly versatile, lightweight, safe, durable, economic and impressively energy-efficient – with their multitude of positive properties, polymers have become part of our daily lives. Plastics move our lives in more ways than one, both in the figurative and the literal sense.

About 3,100 exhibitors will make the world's biggest trade show for plastics and rubber their venue for the world premiere of their breakthrough technologies. K 2013 is scheduled to take place on 16 – 23 October in Düsseldorf, Germany. Representing 60 countries, the exhibitors will present the latest developments in machinery and equipment for the plastics and rubber industry, raw materials and auxiliaries as well as semi-finished products, industrial components and reinforced plastic products.

Suppliers range from global corporations right through to start-up companies, products include standard polymers as well as tailor-made moulds. A total of 200,000 specialists from all over the world are expected to visit this year's edition.

The economic situation in the run-up to K 2013 is not all that rosy. Particularly Europe, where many countries are confronted with the Euro crisis and the resulting developments, is struggling with declining output rates in the automotive industry, the slackening construction business, rising energy and raw material prices. Despite the slightly upbeat verdict of the German "Institut für Weltwirtschaft", which has currently detected a "slight improvement" in the global economy, the predominant market dynamic seemsto be slow and easily disrupted. Despite the uncertainties, Ulrich Reifenh?user, President of K 2013, is carefully optimistic.

“The present situation is very complex and hard to assess. Some global regions such as Japan show significant growth, others, like the US, are experiencing a slight recovery, and China is anticipating a 7% rise of its economic growth rate for 2013, despite the general downward trend. Meanwhile, Europe's economies remain weak. Nonetheless, the associations of the plastics and rubber industry are rather optimistic. We anticipate a stable year, at worst, a slight decline, but more likely some growth. We are convinced that K 2013, the most important trade show, will revitalise the industry. Thanks to the abundance of innovations that will be presented in October in Düsseldorf, we are confident that the industry will experience a new impetus!"

Among the companies from 60 countries, suppliers from Europe and particularly from Germany, Italy, Austria, Switzerland and France will again be out in strength. Particularly heartening is that the countries of southern Europe so strongly affected by the Euro crisis – such as Italy, Spain and even Greece – will have a stable or even stronger presence at K 2013 than in 2010.

Show composition

The strong German plastics and rubber industry has booked 43% of the overall net exhibition area of 170,000 sqm. After Germany, Italy has traditionally become established as the largest non-domestic exhibiting nation, and this year, Italian businesses have reserved more than 26,000 sqm of net exhibition area for displaying their products and services. Strong contenders are China (9,600 sqm), Austria (8,100 sqm), Switzerland (6,400 sqm), Taiwan (6,100 sqm), India (5.300 sqm), the Netherlands (4,700 sqm), France (4,500 sqm) and the UK (3,100 sqm).

Werner M. Dornscheidt, President and CEO of Messe Düsseldorf, is convinced: "Nowhere else in the world will you receive such a comprehensive overview of the sheer variety and the complete range of raw materials, processing and application technology than at the K trade show in Düsseldorf. As always, the impressive number and inteNike HyperRev 2017