Only a few days left until K 2019, the leading international trade fair for the plastics and rubber industry, opens its doors at the
Dusseldorf Exhibition Centre. With over 3000 exhibitors from more than 60 countries, it will once again be fully booked this year,
occupying a net exhibition space of around 175,000 m² from 16 to 23 October. More than 200,000 trade visitors from all over the world are expected to travel to the Rhine metropolis.
The 21st K remains the performance barometer for the industry as a whole and a global marketplace for innovation. For eight days, the who’s who of the entire plastics and rubber world will meet there to discuss current trends, introduce new products and solutions, and set the course for the future. K 2019 not only emphasises its special status due to the great popularity of the global industry but also addresses current challenges. In particular, the event will focus on “Plastics for Sustainable Development & Circular Economy”.
If you are already preparing your visit to K 2019 in October, you will find a comprehensive trade fair special starting on page 24 of this issue. The special begins with an interesting article about the Contraplex wide-chamber mill from Hosokawa Alpine, which has been adapted to the specific requirements of 3D printing.
As early as April this year, Siemens presented the Simatic PCS neo process control system based entirely on web technologies at the Hannover Messe, which on the one hand builds on existing know-how and protects investments already made but on the other treads completely new paths. You can discover what these are in our cover story on page 16.
Günter Eckhardt, Editor-in-Chief
