Extrusion International USA 6-2021

16 Extrusion International 6/2021 INDUSTRY NEWS „ Fakuma international trade fair for plastics processing cel- ebrated an inspiring restart in Friedrichshafen from the 12th through the 16th of October, 2021. 1470 exhibitors from 39 countries came to Lake Constance for the fi rst major inter- national on-site event for the plastics industry this fall, and presented injection moulding, extrusion technology, thermo- forming and 3D printing on a world-class level Overall empha- sis was placed on the issues of sustainability, circular economy and recycling. “We’re back! Finally an on-site trade fair againwith innovations you can actually handle!” This is what everyone was saying at this year’s Fakuma in theexhibitionhalls inFriedrichshafen.After the compulsory one-year hiatus, the event was held live again. The exhibitors showcased their innovations on 85,000 square metres of overall exhibition fl oor space. The fact that 40% of the exhibitors came from outside of Germany substantiates Fa- kuma’s great signi fi cance all over the world, especially in these exceptional times: “For the companies in our industry sector, Fa- kuma is one of the most important industrial trade fairs of all,” notes Annemarie Schur, Fakuma project manager at trade fair promoters P. E. Schall. “Fakuma was even more important this year. On the one hand because on-site trade fairs only became possible again in the fall of 2021, andon the other handbecause the issues of environmental protection, circular economy and sustainability are an enormous task that we all have to tackle.” This is why Fakuma 2021 also set itself the goal of making a sig- ni fi cant contribution to pioneering, forward-looking solutions. “Now we want to look forward to the future together,” said Bettina Schall, trade fair organiser and managing director of P. E. Schall GmbH & Co. KG. “Fakuma is the ideal platform for tackling the current challenges faced by the industry. Record fi gures and superlatives don’t matter this fall. The only thing that counts is that we all cooperate to get this restart going and carry on with our work.” “I’m delighted that something like this is possible again,” said Prof. Dr.-Ing. Martin Bastian, Institute director of the SKZ in 27th Fakuma 2021 – Inspiring Plastics Live! www.fakuma-messe.de/en/ Würzburg, at the trade fair’s opening ceremony. In his techni- cal presentation to an auditorium full of trade press and guest listeners, he pointed out impressively what needs to be done in the industry: “We have to take more responsibility for what happens with plastic.” Martin Bastian made a passionate plea for the cause of plastics: “We have to ensure that plastic isn’t just accepted, but rather used with enthusiasm as well. And we have to do a lot more to educate people about its ben- e fi ts,” says Bastian. “We have to be present in the schools and kindergartens and make it clear that the energy transition will never be possible without plastics.” The plea voiced by Dr Thomas Probst, keynote speaker of the German Federal Asso- ciation for Secondary RawMaterials and Waste Management (Bundesverband Sekundärrohstoffe und Entsorgung), who offered an exclusive look behind the scenes of the recycling industry and spoke about hurdles and dif fi culties in recycling, was no less emphatic. “As perceived in general, plastics are not understood,” is the insight he arrives at. The exhibition halls in Friedrichshafen were very well fre- quented right fromthe fi rst day of the event. Interested expert visitors were able to gain an impression of the latest develop- ments and perspectives for concrete solutions in the fi eld of plastics processing. “Many tradition-rich global market lead- ers have made use of the crisis to advance their innovations. The trend towards digitalisation is accelerating. Cross-compa- ny concepts have been developed for the establishment of a circular economy for plastic products. Every crisis presents op- portunities too, and many a clever mind is taking advantage of them,” con fi rms Sandra Füllsack as well, managing director of Motan Holding GmbH and spokesperson for the Fakuma exhibitor advisory committee. “As a business platform for in- novations throughout the value-added chain, Fakuma 2021 was once again the ideal venue for presenting new products and technological solutions, as well as for discussing trendset- ting issues.” Extremely practical andwith high levels of profes- sional competence, and at the same time in a friendly atmo- sphere – this is how exhibitors and expert visitors regard this industry event. The next international trade fair for plastics processing, namely the 28th Fakuma, will take place from the 17th through the 21st of October, 2023.