Digitalisation, sustainability and youth engagement Plastics industry gathers at Fakuma 2024

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P. E. Schall GmbH & Co. KG

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DIPROFIL Diamantprodukter AB

Fakuma 2024 is set to bring the plastics processing industry to the forefront with its 29th edition in Friedrichshafen, Germany. This year, the fair promises a blend of tradition and innovation, featuring discussions on digitalisation, a spotlight on sustainability, and a new initiative to engage young talent.

The plastics processing industry is looking forward to the highlight of the autumn — Fakuma 2024 in Friedrichshafen, Germany. It will be the 29th iteration of this international trade event, which is one of the most important trade fairs of the year for many companies. The industry highlight in the form of a hands-on trade fair maintains a familiar atmosphere with a high degree of internationality. “Last year, we welcomed 1,636 visitors from 40 countries in twelve halls, with foreign participants making up 38 per cent, and similar numbers are expected this year,” says Annemarie Schur, Fakuma project manager for exhibition organiser P. E. Schall. “Twelve halls plus the two East and West foyers will be in use for the event. As always, Friedrichshafen will be packed and we’re looking forward to it!”

For the first time this year, the exhibition organiser, the exhibitor advisory board and the exhibitors are organising a Career Friday for pupils, students and young professionals under the motto “Mould your dreams, mould your future”. The campaign aims to inform young people about career opportunities in the plastics industry and teach them about plastics at the same time.

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Experts discuss digitalisation

Another highlight of this year’s trade fair is the second edition of the “Round Table at Fakuma” on 15 October 2024. This time, the panel will be discussing digitalisation in plastics processing. Under the heading “Digitalisation — Top or Flop?”, a select group of experts will discuss which digital tools can really help the plastics industry meet the challenges ahead.

The five panellists, Prof. Dr Michael Braungart, founder and scientific director of Braungart Epea, Philipp Lehner, CEO of the Alpla Group, Guido Frohnhaus, Managing Director for Technology at Arburg, Prof. Dr-Ing. Hans-Josef Endres from the Institute of Plastics and Circular Economy at Leibniz University Hanover and Prof. Dr-Ing. Thomas Seul from the Schmalkalden University of Applied Sciences, will assess the state of digitalisation in the industry. The panel will examine the extent to which digitalisation offers solutions in the areas of sustainability and the shortage of skilled workers. The Fakuma roundtable will be moderated by Dipl.-Ing. Markus Lüling, editor-in-chief of K-Profi.

Start-ups with novel approaches

Fakuma will also give new impetus to the goal of sustainability. This means designing products holistically and promoting recycling and degradability. “Design for recycling”, for example, is becoming more tangible in the way products get made. The increasing use of circular rather than fossil raw materials is also a key aspect. Sustainable solutions for packaging, recycling compounds and metal substitutes will be on show, as will grinding and crushing machinery, cooling systems and energy-efficient tool temperature control technology, process monitoring and data acquisition systems, and innovations in industrial 3D printing. Trade visitors can expect to see ground-breaking ideas on how to tackle the specific challenges facing the industry in the start-up area and exhibitor forum.

Greater efficiency and sustainability

Efficiency is clearly a key focus at Fakuma 2024 on several levels: even greater energy efficiency, absolute resource efficiency, consistent process efficiency and even greater plant operating efficiency. The challenge faced by the industry is performing many tasks simultaneously. But at a time when there is a shortage of skilled labour and costs are rising, plastics processors need to pull out all the stops to realise their potential. This is the only way that they will be able to survive in a competitive environment.

This is why we can also expect to see exciting innovations in injection moulding technology. In addition to increasing efficiency, the goals of process stability, reproducibility and minimising set-up times are also driving development. After all, the ultimate goal is to achieve the lowest possible unit cost. Plastics processors achieve this through technical and organisational measures, as well as investment. The exhibitors at Fakuma have the right solutions to address these needs.

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