Page 18 - Plastics News November 2017

FEATURES

Fakuma 2017 – Innovation Driver with Practical Touch

Over 1889 exhibitors from 38 countries made it to 25th anniversary of the Trade Show

he 25th Fakuma international trade fair for plastics
Tprocessing that was organised at 17-21 October 2017
ended successfully setting new record on the occasion of
the anniversary event. More exhibitors, more exhibition
floor space, more expert visitors – all involved parties
were highly satisfied: the autumn industry meet held
in Friedrichshafen on Lake Constance where Germany,
Austria and Switzerland met vibrantly continuing to ride
its wave of success. The Trade show witnessed 1889
exhibitors and well over 915,000 square feet of overall
exhibition floor space, as well as 48,375 expert visitors this of the internationalisation of plastics business is just as
year substantiating the steady upward trend of plastics impressive as well: in 1981, seven of the sixty exhibitors
technology and Fakuma as an information and business came from outside of German, and this year 783 of 1889
platform at the heart of the market. came from outside of German. Current worldwide offerings

Fakuma’s anniversary edition offered an interesting for injection moulding machines, extrusion systems,
supplementary programme including, amongst other thermoforming technology, additive manufacturing,
things, the well-known exhibitor forum, as well as a tooling systems, materials and plastic parts attracted
Recruiting, Basic and Further Training Day (Wednesday the interest of 48,375 expert visitors from 128 countries
the 18th of October, 2017). Throughout the four days of this year, which in turn allows one to draw the conclusion
the trade fair there will be 38 individual presentations that the technologies, processes, materials and solutions
(including six on the issues of recruiting, basic and presented at Fakuma function as a sort of innovation
further training), which will deal with aspects such as motor for the global plastics processing industry. An active
requirements for high-performance polyamides, close- focus on users and customers based on concentrated
to-contour mould temperature control and increased competence and empirical know-how combined with a
productivity with tool coatings, as well as the benefits wealth of information covered by the 38 presentations
and opportunities of digitalisation. In keeping with held by renowned speakers at the exhibitor forum during
the anniversary motto, “Plastics Meets Business”, the the four days of the trade fair – this year as well, Fakuma
supplementary programme will round out the exhibition lived up to its reputation as a sales-promoting transfer
offerings by presenting Fakuma 2017 as an integrated pool which mediates between supply and demand. Beyond
information, communication, procurement and business this, Fakuma plays an important driver role with its special
platform, and as the industry event of the year. offerings covering all aspects of recruiting, training and
continuing education which are actively supported by
Once again Fakuma was celebrated as a “plastics industry institutions as well as market leading companies.
marketplace with family atmosphere”, as the spokesperson
of the Fakuma exhibitor advisory committee, Sandra And the same applies to the Fakuma international trade
Füllsack, expressed it during her statement on the fair for plastics processing where the initial unveiling of
occasion of the opening press conference on the first day technology, process, tooling and product innovations is
of the event. Like hardly any other trade fair, the 25th concerned. Numerous renowned and above all market
Fakuma in 36 years also represented the development leading companies select the respective Fakuma sessions
of German, European and, in the end, global plastics in order to premiere their latest worldwide and European
technology. Launched in 1981 with 60 exhibitors on innovations, in order to obtain unfiltered feedback in
43,000 square feet of exhibition floor space, Fakuma direct contact with a global expert audience. Amongst
now ranks second place throughout the world in the field other firsts, system and standalone solutions in the
of industrial plastics processing and the presentation of fields of lightweight design, additive manufacturing and
the necessary process sequences. And the advancement digitalisation, as well as Industry 4.0, were included in
this category at Fakuma’s anniversary edition in 2017.

Plastics News N ovember 2017 18