K 2022 - Trade fair progress meets highest expectations

K2022© Messe-Düsseldorf

K2022© Messe-Düsseldorf

The joy of the plastics and rubber industry about finally being able to meet in person again on a global level after three years shaped the course of K 2022 Düsseldorf and created an excellent atmosphere among the 3,037 exhibitors. The companies reported exceptionally good contacts and a clear willingness to invest among trade visitors, the development of promising new customer relationships, and numerous, sometimes spontaneous business deals.

"K in Düsseldorf once again met the highest expectations. It remains the most international, comprehensive, and innovative trade fair of the global plastics and rubber industry," says Erhard Wienkamp, Managing Director of Messe Düsseldorf, about the good result, adding: "The fair has impressively demonstrated how valuable personal networking, chance encounters, and physical brand and product experiences are. We are very pleased that K 2022 was able to send strong signals as an innovation driver for the industry and that our exhibitors engaged with numerous international customers with high decision-making authority."

176,000 trade visitors from all continents traveled to their most important industry event in Düsseldorf. The share of international guests at K 2022 remained consistently high at over 70 percent.

The balance sheet by Ulrich Reifenhäuser, Chairman of the K 2022 Exhibitor Advisory Board, is also very positive: "After the past three years, during which hardly any trade fairs could take place worldwide on a national level, K 2022 was eagerly awaited as the world’s leading trade fair by the plastics and rubber industry and was able to provide new impetus in all areas of our industry. The many, sometimes unexpected, concrete negotiations conducted at the fair speak for themselves!"

The current unpredictability and volatility of events create a tense overall situation in the industry, but this did not dampen the commitment of exhibitors or the interest of visitors—in fact, quite the opposite: "K 2022 was the perfect place—especially now, in turbulent times and as the plastics industry is in the midst of a transformation process towards a circular economy—to actively set the course for the future," says Ulrich Reifenhäuser.

Above all, the abundance of technological innovations presented by raw material producers, machinery manufacturers, and processors of plastics for the realization of the circular economy, resource conservation, and climate protection excited the trade visitors. Ulrich Reifenhäuser added: "It is clearly evident that the necessity of taking social responsibility and thinking sustainably about plastics from the beginning of the process chain has reached all companies. The variety of solutions, machines, and products shown at K 2022 for the transformation towards a circular economy was incredible."

The trade visitors to this year's K came from 157 nations to the Rhine. Besides Germany, the most strongly represented countries on the visitor side from Europe were the Netherlands, Italy, Turkey, France, Belgium, Poland, and Spain. The reach of K, with a 42 percent share from overseas among international trade visitors, remains strong. While especially guests from East Asia were less represented than three years ago due to the current challenging conditions caused by quarantine regulations, numerous visitors from the USA, Brazil, and India were welcomed at K 2022.

At the top of the interest in offerings was machinery and plant engineering, with around two-thirds of all surveyed visitors. 57 percent, five percent more than at K 2019, expressed interest in raw materials and auxiliaries, with recyclates and bioplastics being particularly popular. For 28 percent, semi-finished products and technical parts made of plastics and rubber were the main reason for their visit (multiple answers possible). Over 70 percent of all visitors belong to top and middle management.

Excellent ratings were given by visitors to K 2022 for the completeness of the offering and the depiction of the entire supply chain. 98 percent of all professionals stated that they fully achieved the goals associated with their visit.

During the eight days of the fair, it became clear that this year's K, with its focus on hot topics such as circular economy, climate protection, and digitization, was exactly right. In terms of investment intentions, machinery and equipment for processing and recycling stood out with 43 percent. Sustainability, but also circular economy and energy/resource efficiency in production, were particularly in focus. About 40 percent of decision-makers indicated they are engaged with the topic of decarbonization.

The special features of K, which also focused on the three hot topics, were also very well received. The official special exhibition "Plastics shape the future," highlighted through high-caliber discussions and lectures, the economic, social, and ecological challenges and solutions around the main themes of K, and consistently recorded well-filled rows. The Circular Economy Forum, where VDMA and 13 of its member companies vividly demonstrated the importance of technology in implementing the circular economy in the plastics industry, scored points with an international audience through live demonstrations, a wealth of expert knowledge, and detailed information on the topic.

Much discussion at this year's K in Düsseldorf also centered around OPC UA, the universal language of production, which allows the processing parameters of the involved machines and devices to be coordinated more precisely and targeted. This is considered an important prerequisite for optimized circular operation. 40 companies from eight countries participated in an OPC UA demonstration project at the fair.
At the Science Campus, both exhibitors and visitors of K 2022 received a concentrated overview of scientific activities and results in the plastics and rubber sector. Numerous universities, institutes, and funding organizations offered the opportunity for direct dialogue.
The Plastics Training Initiative (KAI) was utilized by many students, apprentices, and trainees to learn about careers and opportunities in the plastics industry.

The next K in Düsseldorf will take place from October 8 to 15, 2025.