Positive mood and a palpable desire for change
At K 2025, the plastics industry demonstrated its innovative strength, responsibility and spirit of optimism. After eight successful days in Düsseldorf, the trade fair ended on a thoroughly positive note. There was a particularly noticeable desire to actively shape the transition towards greater sustainability, digitalisation and social responsibility.
Over 175,000 trade visitors from 160 countries visited 3,275 exhibitors from 66 nations to find out about the latest developments in the fields of recycling, resource conservation, the circular economy, digitalization, automation, artificial intelligence and increasing efficiency.
At its stand in Hall 14, IKV showed how research is implemented in a practical way. Highlights were two live projects:
- Foam2Cycle: IKV presented lightweight soft-touch components comprising a PP carrier and a TPE layer. After shredding, the two thermoplastic components can be mechanically recycled together. Digital and AI-based methods were used to set up and monitor the manufacturing process. The project was developed with industrial partners.
- Detect before Defect: An optical inspection system detects and assesses deposits forming on the rollers during flat-film extrusion while the process is running. This makes it possible to identify changes before they impair film quality.
IKV’s technology networks also met with great interest:
- H2 Business and Technology Forum
- KI4KI – Artificial intelligence for the plastics industry
These networks offer the industry market and technology studies, research projects and exchange forums to efficiently put innovations into practice.
The stand was also a place to exchange ideas with industry partners and alumni. There was also cause for celebration: the 75th anniversary of the IKV was honored with a glass of sparkling wine and a three-tier cake. The traditional alumni evening on the evening before the last day of the trade fair brought together employees and alumni.
Further IKV activities at the K 2025:
- Presentation of additive manufacturing on the Science Campus
- IKV spin-off OSPHIM at the NRW joint stand
- PlasticBOND project at the VDMA forum “The Power of Plastics”
On Innovation Monday, Institute Director Prof. Christian Hopmann moderated the “Innovation in Plastics” panel with guests from industry and research, including representatives from Bayer Crop Science, IonKraft, 3M and CTC GmbH.
IKV offered 75 students an insight into the plastics industry on the Monday of the trade fair – with guided tours to companies such as ARBURG, Covestro, KraussMaffei, Netstal, Windmöller & Hölscher and many more. On the following day, IKV employees were also given the opportunity to visit member companies of the association.
The K 2025 was rounded off by the traditional IKV Open Day in Aachen on October 10, where international guests from Brazil, Korea, Thailand and China were welcomed.