World premiere of cutting-edge technologies

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.

K 2013, the world’s biggest trade show for the plastics and rubber industry, is expected to serve as the most appropriate venue for the world premiere of breakthrough technologies, cutting-edge materials and sophisticated services. Held from 16-23 October in Düsseldorf, Germany, the exhibition gathers exhibitors from 60 countries to present the latest developments in machinery and equipment, raw materials, components and parts, auxiliaries as well as semi-finished products and reinforced plastic products. 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 seems to 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, we are confident that the industry will experience a new impetus!”

Strong presence of industry leaders
Among the companies from 60 countries, suppliers from Europe and particularly from Germany, Italy, Austria, Switzerland and France will again be out in strength. 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 international provenance of our exhibitors guarantee that all segments of the industry are represented at world market level. They stand for a wide range of products and maximum innovation density. I am sure that many good deals will be made in Düsseldorf this year and that thAir Max 95 20th Anniversary