Debut at Anniversary Trade Fair: 2026 Fakuma Innovation Award

To mark the 30th Fakuma, taking place this year from Monday the 12th through Friday the 16th of October, trade fair promoters P. E. Schall, in collaboration with media partner K‑ZEITUNG, invites interested parties to submit entries for the Fakuma Innovation Award. It will be presented for the first time this year to celebrate the anniversary event and will honour technological excellence, innovative strength and teamwork within the plastics processing industry. Submissions are now being accepted in six different categories covering a broad range of topics throughout the entire value chain. Entries will be evaluated by an independent expert jury. The awards ceremony will take place on the first day of the trade fair in Friedrichshafen.

Fakuma is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. Reason enough to reflect on the development of this successful trade fair, which began in 1981 with 76 first-time exhibitors and has steadily grown to become a major European platform for the plastics processing industry. However, attention is focused above all on the future, and on new solutions that will enable the industry to meet today’s and tomorrow’s challenges. And this is why trade fair promoters P. E. Schall, together with trade publication K‑ZEITUNG, are presenting the Fakuma Innovation Award this year. It will generate ground-breaking impetus for technological progress in the plastics processing industry. The award reflects the values that Fakuma stands for: performance and competence. The trade fair regularly sets new benchmarks for future-oriented initiatives – in terms of technology, the environment and the economy. The Fakuma Innovation Award will thus provide plastics processing companies with an international platform on which to present their latest innovations to an interested expert audience and showcase their innovative strength.

Six Thematic Categories – Representing the Entire World of Plastics

As of immediately, entrants can submit their projects in one of the six categories including injection moulding, extrusion, recycling, tool and die making / thermoforming, compounding and materials, as well as plastic technology enablers (peripheral equipment). In this way, the competition reflects the entire value chain for plastics technology – from materials and processing methods, right on up to ancillary technologies. The Fakuma Innovation Award covers the entire range of topics featured at the trade fair, including peripheral equipment and automation solutions.

Festive Award Ceremony for the Winners on the First Day of the Trade Fair

As an important condition of entry, it must be possible to showcase the submitted project live at Fakuma 2026 – as a production-ready product, as a working prototype or as a live demonstration of a technology. Participation is free of charge. Entries can be submitted online up through the 6th of September, 2026. All entries will be reviewed and assessed by an independent expert jury in accordance with established criteria. The most promising innovations will be honoured at a festive ceremony organised by trade fair promoters P. E. Schall in collaboration with their media partner. “We cordially invite all plastics processing companies to submit their entries for the 2026 Fakuma Innovation Award,” says Bettina Schall, managing director of trade fair promoters P. E. Schall. “The industry is looking forward to receiving exciting entries that provide benefits, pioneer new approaches and help tackle future challenges.”

International Industry Event with Strong Impetus for Plastics Processing

Fakuma is widely regarded for its substantial relevance for users, and its special ambiance as a practice-oriented trade fair. Once again this year, the industry can expect packed exhibition halls with high levels of international participation and a great atmosphere. The 30th Fakuma will take place from Monday the 12th through Friday the 16th of October, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and will once again transform the Friedrichshafen Exhibition Centre into the home of a major family celebration. Expert visitors can look forward to an engaging and exciting supplementary programme on all five trade fair days featuring technical presentations at the forum, the third edition of the Round-Table Discussion and Career Friday for young professionals.