The plastics processing industry is looking forward to the autumn highlight Fakuma from 15 to 19 October 2024 in Friedrichshafen. The 29th edition of the international trade event is one of the most important trade fairs of the year for many companies. ‘Last year, we welcomed 1,636 visitors from 40 countries in twelve halls, a foreign share of 38 per cent, which will be similar again this year,’ says Annemarie Schur, Fakuma Project Manager at trade fair organiser P. E. Schall. ‘Twelve halls plus the East and West Foyers are occupied. As always, it will be packed in Friedrichshafen, and we’re looking forward to it!’
‘Career Friday’ for school pupils, students and career starters
For the first time, a so-called ‘Career Friday’ will be organised for pupils, students and career starters under the motto ‘Mold your dreams, mold your future’. ‘Plastics are hugely important, they are indispensable and they also offer career opportunities – we want to focus on all of this on Careers Friday,’ explains Bettina Schall, Managing Director of the trade fair organiser. ‘The exhibitors will give young trade fair visitors an insight into the world of plastics processing, product development, new technologies and work processes. This will spark great enthusiasm for the topic of plastics and make them want to get involved in this forward-looking industry,’ the trade fair organiser is certain. A Plastics Europe Guided Tour is in preparation, which will take visitors along the entire value chain from granulate to product and back again under the motto ‘Circular economy’.
Round table discusses digitalisation
Another highlight is the second edition of the ‘Fakuma Round Table’. Under the heading ‘Digitalisation – top or flop?’, a panel of experts with five selected participants will discuss which digital tools will help the plastics industry to overcome upcoming challenges. The panel will shed light on the extent to which digitalisation offers solutions in the areas of sustainability and skills shortages.
Start-ups with new approaches
Fakuma also aims to provide impetus for sustainability, how products can be designed holistically and how recycling and degradability can be promoted. For example, ‘design for recycling’ is becoming increasingly concrete in product manufacturing. The increasing use of circular raw materials instead of fossil raw materials is also a key topic. Future-proof solution ideas for packaging, recycling compounds and metal replacement solutions will be just as much a topic at the trade fair as machines for grinding and shredding, cooling systems and energy-efficient mould temperature control technology, systems for process monitoring and data acquisition as well as innovations from the field of industrial 3D printing.
Efficiency and sustainability
Greater energy, resource, process and system operating efficiency are many tasks that also represent a challenge. However, in times of a shortage of skilled labour and rising costs, all feasible levers must be used in order to remain competitive. Exciting innovations in injection moulding technology are therefore also expected. In addition to the requirement to increase efficiency, the goals of process stability, reproducibility and minimising set-up times are also driving development here.
Products in the material cycle
The specialist lecture by Prof. Dr Michael Braungart on the ‘Cradle to Cradle’ design concept, in which material consumption should be harmless to people and nature and also useful for other material cycles, is eagerly awaited. ‘Together with all exhibitors and trade visitors, we are particularly looking forward to Fakuma 2024,’ says Bettina Schall. ‘Because it promises many interesting approaches and new approaches in the field of plastics that are important for industry and society. The trade fair will help bring the topics of production efficiency and sustainability to life and take them to a new level.’
P.E. Schall
Schall has developed successful business platforms with the internationally recognised trade fairs for quality assurance (Control), optical technologies, components and systems (Optatec), stamping technology (Stanztec), production and assembly automation (Motek), bonding technology (Bondexpo), plastics processing (Fakuma), sheet metal processing (Blechexpo) and joining technology (Schweisstec). This has given rise to completely new markets in various sectors, whose protagonists are characterised by a high level of innovation, comprehensive system expertise and practical application solutions.
