Extrusion International 4-2025

9 Extrusion International 4/2025 “The Power of Plastics Forum” at K 2025 Only a few months to go until K2025will open its doors again from 8 to 15 October and welcome exhib- itors and visitors from throughout the world. Machinery and equip- ment manufacturers traditionally account for the biggest group of ex- hibitors occupying two thirds of the exhibition area. Exhibitors showcase their innovative technologies in the halls as well as in six pavilions on the outdoor premises of K 2025. Thor- sten Kühmann, Managing Director Plastics and Rubber Machinery at VDMA, one of the sponsoring as - sociations of K, stresses: “Boasting an impressive 70% of international attendance among exhibitors and visitors K 2025 will be the most in- ternational plastics trade fair in the world. It is the guiding star of the plastics industry providing orienta- tion for technology development, also in view of the highly dynamic sales markets worldwide.” The Power of Plastics Forum: Green – Smart – Responsible The Forum on the outdoor prem- ises of K 2025 provides a good op- portunity to hone in on the trade fair’s motto and guiding topics and to illustrate the key role technology providers play in implementing the circular economy and digitalisation by means of practical examples. Im- portant aspects here include: • Green: Saving resources and reducing the carbon footprint through circularity. • Smart: Digitalisation, automa - tion and AI increase efficiency and feasibility. • Responsible: Man is centre- stage – especially the young talents in the industry. Kühmann: “The transfor- mation towards a circular economy is in full swing, and machinery and equipment manufacturers play a pivotal role in it as enablers. They en- able the production of recycla- ble products and the reuse of plastic waste to produce new, high-quality products. VDMA and its members zero in on the motto of K 2025 “The Power of Plastics! Green – Smart – Respon- sible” with absolute conviction and demonstrate the great potential of plastics that is unleashed by continu- ous technology and material devel- opments. We need plastic products in nearly all application areas of our daily lives for people’s well-being. They make a significant contribution to maintaining supplies and pros- perity in our world while becoming more and more sustainable at the same time.” At the Forum amongst others plastic recycling and recyclate pro- cessing machines in operation will breathe life into “The Power of Plastics!”. The VDMA members will present their technology highlights in the pavilions. Visitors can watch live how high-quality re-granulate is made from plastic waste or how recyclates are processed into attrac- tive, highly functional and circular- ready products by means of various processing methods. At the same time, they will see how digital so - lutions in manufacturing also pave the way for the circular economy. In addition, the VDMA pavilion will provide ample opportunities for networking and feature a daily, themed programme on circularity, digitalisation as well as young tal- ents and careers. Young Talents in machinery & equipment manufacturing Trainees, students and career starters at plastics and rubber ma- chinery manufacturers have joined forces and will jointly moderate the daily “Young Talents Time” in the VDMA Pavilion at K 2025. They will discuss with experts and project their image of the plastics industry of the future. The VDMA initiative EnSHEneer explicitly pro- vides female mechanical engineer- ing students with a platform for networking and making contact with technology producers. On Career Sunday over 50 women will get together at the VDMA Pavil- ion to exchange experiences, hold discussions and go on a tour of the trade fair. Companies participating in the outdoor Forum: • ARBURG GmbH + Co KG • Coperion GmbH • EREMA Group GmbH • Lindner-Recyclingtech GmbH • Vecoplan AG • Wittmann Battenfeld GmbH • VDMA e.V. Kunststoff- und Gummimaschinen www.k-online.de (Photos: Messe Düsseldorf GmbH)