Shaping change together

The 33ʳᵈ International Colloquium Plastics Technology in Aachen

The 33rʳᵈ International Colloquium Plastics Technology, hosted by the Institute of Plastics Processing (IKV) in Industry and Craft at RWTH Aachen University, once again made clear that research and industry can actively counter economic uncertainty and global change through innovation, fresh ideas and technological solutions. Over the two days from 4 to 5 March 2026, around 460 participants came to Eurogress Aachen to discuss the latest developments in plastic materials and their processing. A major focus was on the recycling of engineering plastics and packaging. The programme was geared towards hands-on knowledge transfer, with experts from academia and industry spanning the arc from fundamental research through to real-world industrial applications.

The 33ʳᵈ Colloquium marked a particularly important milestone in the history of the IKV, as the very first Colloquium in 1950 signified the formal founding of the Institute – a joint commitment by a then still young industry and a university to long-term collaboration, innovation and technological progress that is still being actively pursued 75 years on. At the official opening of the 33rd Colloquium, the Chairman of the IKV Association of Sponsors, Dr‑Ing Herbert Müller, described the founding of the Institute 75 years ago as a shared strategic decision for the future by industry and the research community.

Plenary talks on current developments

Recycled materials and circular value chains in the automotive industry, new approaches to linking plastics processing with mechanical recycling, artificial intelligence for the plastics sector, and an economic outlook on long-term trends: five plenary talks formed the thematic framework of the 33rd International Colloquium Plastics Technology. To this end, the IKV had secured a high-calibre line-up of speakers: Dr‑Ing Werner Tietz (Member of the Extended Group Board of Management and Head of Group Research and Development at Volkswagen AG), Dr rer nat Patrick Gloeckner (Head Next Markets Programme and Head Global Circular Economy Programme at Evonik Operations GmbH), Prof Dr‑Ing Achim Grefenstein (Scientific Director at IKV and Senior Vice President Group R&D at Constantia Flexibles Germany GmbH), Dipl‑Ing Mauritius Schmitz (Scientific Director at IKV and Co‑Founder of OSPHIM GmbH) and Dr Arne Holzhausen (Insurance, Wealth and ESG in the Allianz Research unit at Allianz SE). They offered the audience fascinating insights and opened up new perspectives.

Practice driven: the scope of IKV research

With forty‑eight specialist talks across sixteen sessions, the Colloquium offered a wide‑ranging snapshot of IKV’s current research activities. Each session began with a presentation from industrial practice and was chaired by representatives from industry, ensuring that the topics were clearly framed and firmly rooted in real‑world applications. To do justice to the full scope of IKV’s work, the lecture programme was, for the first time, spread across four parallel tracks. A strong emphasis

was placed on sustainability: topics ranged from circular value chains, recycling and the processing of recyclates through robust process design to AI‑supported development and production strategies. From a materials perspective, the spectrum extended from conventional thermoplastics and fibre‑reinforced plastics to rubber and polyurethanes, as well as processing routes for the relatively new class of vitrimers.

One of IKV’s key research approaches is to advance established technologies and adapt them to the production of sustainable components. This was reflected in several sessions that focused, among other things, on foam injection moulding, additive manufacturing, the production of hybrid structures and the use of plastics in hydrogen energy systems. The programme also featured research aimed at building a sound understanding of materials and processes – an important prerequisite for robust processing, especially when dealing with demanding materials. In addition, work is being carried out on simulations and modelling to provide a solid data basis for digitalisation and AI tools.

Open technology centres: IKV 360°

Beyond the lecture halls, IKV researchers also opened up their laboratories and technical centres to show how current research is being translated into industrial practice. On the afternoon of the first conference day, visitors were invited to the IKV facilities on the Melaten campus, where more than sixty stations offered opportunities to discuss new developments and ask questions. Live demonstrations of machines and processes on topics such as additive manufacturing, analysis and testing, digitalisation, extrusion, fibre‑reinforced plastics, rubber technology, circular economy, plasma technology, polyurethane technology, injection moulding, structural analysis, hydrogen technologies and materials engineering vividly illustrated both the scope and the practical relevance of IKV’s research.

Awards

As is tradition, the IKV Colloquium saw the presentation of the Georg Menges Prize for outstanding commitment to transferring scientific knowledge into industrial practice, as well as the Reifenhäuser Sponsorship Award for exceptional research achievements by early‑career scientists. The IKV also honoured four members of its Association of Sponsors – Carl Hanser Verlag GmbH & Co. KG, HELLA GmbH & Co. KGaA, Kautex Textron GmbH & Co. KG and Robert Bosch GmbH – for more than fifty years of membership.

The 2026 Georg Menges Prize was awarded to Markus Lüling, editor‑in‑chief of the specialist magazine K‑PROFI. The jury chose to honour a journalist whose work bridges both sector and company boundaries. Through his transparent reporting, Lüling provides orientation in an environment characterised by increasing specialisation and high dynamism. Especially in this setting, clear and trustworthy specialist journalism is of particular value.

Jan Kleinsorge received the 2026 Reifenhäuser Sponsorship Award for his master’s thesis in the field of injection moulding at IKV, entitled: “Inverse thermal injection mould design: Develepoment and validation of a thermomechnical optimisation of the heat balance for complex three-dimensional moulded parts”. The award was presented by Dr‑Ing Christoph Lettowsky on behalf of the sponsoring company Reifenhäuser Blown Film GmbH & Co. KG.

Appealing to young talent: recruiting speed‑dating

By hosting the Colloquium, IKV not only provides companies from the plastics industry with a forum to discuss scientific topics, but also creates a space for direct interaction with the next generation of specialists. The recruiting speed‑dating format, where students and graduates meet potential employers and explore their career prospects, has become a firmly established feature of the programme.

Six companies took the opportunity to present themselves as employers, meet (future) applicants and identify suitable candidates for internships, thesis projects and entry‑level positions in the plastics industry. Both the twenty‑five candidates – all students of plastics engineering at RWTH – and the participating companies were highly satisfied with the quality of the conversations.

Living room of the Colloquium: industry trade show

A central hub for networking and for exchanging ideas with experts, decision‑makers and business partners throughout the event was the 400‑square‑metre industry exhibition in the foyer of Eurogress Aachen. Many attendees had already gathered there on the eve of the Colloquium for the opening, using the relaxed setting with sandwiches, currywurst and cold drinks to make new contacts and reconnect with familiar faces. Over the next two days, the breaks between the presentations offered plenty of opportunity to gather information and exchange ideas.

Over the following two days, the breaks between the lectures offered plenty of opportunity to gather information and engage in in‑depth discussions. More than twenty exhibitors represented the entire value chain of the plastics industry, ranging from machinery and equipment manufacturers to processors and raw material suppliers, as well as providers of analysis and testing technology and consulting firms. Many of them have been attending the Colloquium for years and, like the institute’s young researchers, were keen to make the most of the opportunity to engage in conversation.