Page 29 - Plastics News November 2019

FeAtures

The - K 2019 concludes successfully

The 3,330 exhibitors from 63 nations proved impressively that plastics continue to be an innovative,
indispensable material

2019, the leading global trade fair for the plastics has the industry addressed an issue so unanimously and
K and rubber industry during the week 16-23 October worked on solutions so consistently as is the case now in
2019 concluded successfully. The week-long trade the fields of environmental compatibility, saving resources
fair in Düsseldorf witnessing over 3,330 exhibitors and avoiding waste. There is a spirit of new departures
from 63 nations proved impressively: plastics continue prevailing in the industry and current dynamics are
to be an innovative, indispensable material. But they overwhelming.”
also unanimously underscored the necessity of having And the positive mood prevailing at K 2019 was also echoed
operational circular economies along the complete by concrete demand at exhibition stands: “It became
material chain and to this end already presented numerous clear that global demand for innovative machinery and
concrete solutions. Companies struck a nerve with people raw materials is particularly high right now, despite the
with this focus because the approximately 224,116 visitors current tensions in world trade or the business climate in
from 168 countries took great interest especially in some consumer sectors. This year’s K has by far exceeded
recycling systems, sustainable raw materials, resource- our expectations and was able to generate key impetus
saving processes. Furthermore, K 2019 was characterised for sustainable governance and new business models,”
by a high propensity to invest as before. The intention said Reifenhäuser.
among the international trade audience to get perfectly
geared up for the future with the latest technologies was The nations especially well represented on the part of
clearly perceivable. visitors after Germany were Italy, the Netherlands, India,
Turkey and China, followed by the USA. Furthermore, a
“K 2019 came at precisely the right point in time. Its marked increase in the number of trade visitors from the
enormous importance for the sector is underpinned by its Russian Federation, Japan and Brazil could be registered.
high acceptance levels all over the world. There is no other The number of executives among K visitors rose slightly
place the industry is represented so internationally and yet again: to the tune of 68% came from top or middle
completely as here in Düsseldorf every three years,” says management. While for German trade visitors increased
Werner Matthias Dornscheidt, President & CEO of Messe efficiency ranked first as today’s most important issue,
Düsseldorf, and explains: “Especially in turbulent times for European and non-European trade fair guests the
platforms such as K are indispensable. It provides guidance expansion of product and service portfolios was in the
and perspectives, is an economic driver, shows forward- foreground.
looking trends and concrete approaches. The industry
and its professional associations enjoyed the unique Results from the visitor survey confirmed a view held by
opportunity here to present sector-specific solutions and exhibitors – namely that the international origin of visitors
debate questions of socio-political relevance on a global had increased yet again: It stood at 73.1% as compared with
scale. And they have capitalised on this
opportunity outstandingly well.”
Ulrich Reifenhäuser, Chairman of the
Exhibitor Advisory Board at K 2019, was
absolutely delighted at K 2019 results: “The
plastics and rubber industry succeeded in
proving once again that plastics are not only
very valuable materials with outstanding
properties but also that this industry assumes
responsibility along the entire value chain.
The buzzwords at K 2019 “Reflect. Re-Think.
Think Laterally. Think Afresh.” were mirrored
1:1 by exhibitors’ stands. Never before

29 November 2019 Plastics News