Extrusion International 1-2026

9 Extrusion International 1/2026 Entire World of Plastics to Meet at the Fakuma in Fall 2026 Preparations for the 30th Fakuma international trade fair for plastics pro- cessing have been launched: together with event promoters P. E. Schall, the trade fair advisory board is gearing up exhibitors and expert visitors for the in- dustry highlight. The anniversary trade fair promises a five-day celebration of the plastics industry in Friedrichshafen on Lake Constance from 12th through 16th of October, 2026. Schall is already reporting impressive floor space occu - pancy and a high levels of international participation. The trade fair is regarded around the world as an exceptional meeting place for the plastics processing industry. It’s a trailblazing event in the fields of injection moulding technology, extru- sion and thermoforming. “The anni- versary edition of Fakuma is currently the number one topic within the indus- try,” says Annemarie Schur, Fakuma project manager at trade fair promot- ers P. E. Schall. “We’re delighted with the strong interest and the impressive levels of floor space occupancy we’re currently enjoying. Current registra- tion figures provide an excellent basis for everyone involved to once again stage a world-class, vibrant trade fair with an outstanding supplementary programme.” New exhibitors are com- ing on board all the time, says the proj- ect manager, and thus Fakuma 2026 will build on the successes achieved in 2023 and 2024, with nearly 1700 ex- hibitors on hand in Friedrichshafen in each of those years. “We want to celebrate the 30th Fakuma,” assures Bettina Schall, man- aging director of trade fair promot- ers P. E. Schall. “Fakuma can look back with pride and look forward to the future with confidence, because it demonstrates practical relevance and innovative strength like no other event.” With comprehensive solutions, complete systems and integrated tech- nologies, Fakuma offers major ben- efits to anyone looking for answers to their everyday operating challenges in plastics processing. “Fakuma started out very small,” remembers Professor Werner Koch, managing shareholder of Werner Koch Maschinentechnik GmbH and member of the trade fair advisory board. “I got started at the very first Fakuma in 1981. 39 exhibitors gathered in a single room back then, all of them pioneers. Our company re- ally took off from then on. I received advantageous orders which resulted in long-term business relationships.” “The international trade fair for plastics processing can look back on 30 outstanding industry events with the top players from the plastics indus- try,” says Bettina Schall, summarising the success story. “Our maxim as trade fair promoters, namely ‘Trade Fairs Make Markets’, applies in particular to Fakuma,” emphasises the event organiser. “As a communications and technology platform, it’s highly sig- nificant for the industry because sup - pliers and users can talk about specific projects and discuss solutions. Its high levels of practicality and operational relevance are a clear advantage and a distinctive hallmark of Fakuma.” Together with the promoters, the trade fair advisory board kicked off preparations for an exciting, themati- cally diverse and technically advanced Fakuma 2026 at a workmeeting inmid- November. “Fakuma brings the world of plastics to life,” notes Dr. Friedrich Kastner, owner of Dr. Kastner GmbH and CEO and managing partner of NGA, COLLIN and BritAS. “Fakuma is a hands-on trade fair in the truest sense of the word. Its holistic approach and integrative solutions for complete sys- tems inspire expert visitors, who receive the special attention they need from the exhibitors. Direct contact with cus- tomers and face-to-face problem-solv- ing discussions lead to constructive and lasting business relationships.” Further- more, Fakuma is an event with strong experiential and emotional factors, emphasises Dr. Christoph Schumacher, director of global marketing at Arburg: “Key players in the plastics industry gather at Lake Constance to celebrate their industry festival as a family.” A working trade fair and a hands-on exhibition where practical expertise is transferred from suppliers to users and solutions are discovered, answers are provided and projects are imple- mented through a mutual exchange of expertise – this is how the anniver- sary edition of Fakuma will showcase its unique advantages. “Things get done here,” sums up Rüdiger Dzuban, head of communications and marketing at ONI-Wärmetrafo GmbH. “A trade fair is really the onlyway to showwhat a com- pany can do. This is where expertise is presented. Companies can take the lead here and provide new impetus.” P. E. Schall www.fakuma-messe.de From left: Annemarie Schur (Fakuma project manager at trade fair organiser P. E. Schall); Dr Friedrich Kastner (Owner of Dr Kastner GmbH and CEO and Managing Partner of NGA, COLLIN and BritAS); Nico Küls (Managing Director of technotrans SE); Andreas Wittur (Member of the management board at trade fair organiser P. E. Schall); Prof. Werner Koch (Managing Partner of Werner Koch Maschinentechnik GmbH); Dr Christoph Schumacher (Director of Global Marketing at Arburg); Bettina Schall (Managing Director of trade fair organiser P. E. Schall); Thomas Rätzsch (Management Board of Aurora Kunststoffe GmbH); Bernd Schäfer (Managing Director of Deifel GmbH & Co. KG Buntfarbenfabrik); Rüdiger Dzuban (Head of Communications and Marketing at ONI-Wärmetrafo GmbH); Susanne Zinckgraf (Head of Strategic Marketing at the Wittmann Group)