Industry event Fakuma marks 30th anniversary with expanded supporting programme

Marking its 30th edition, Fakuma 2026 in Friedrichshafen (12–16 October) is rolling out its biggest supporting programme yet — from a new Innovation Award and the debut Paul Eberhard Schall Medal to a Round Table on European industry resilience, a startup showcase and Career Friday for young talent. Beyond the exhibits spanning injection moulding to recycling, the anniversary event promises a packed calendar of discussion, discovery and recognition for the plastics processing world.

The programme features retrospectives, previews, insights and much more: with a comprehensive supplementary programme, the 30th Fakuma is gearing up for an impressive industry celebration. Exhibitors and expert visitors from the plastics processing industry will gather in Friedrichshafen for a multifaceted, dynamic autumn event In addition to new products and solutions, there will be lots more to experience as well: the next Round Table Discussion, the presentation of the Fakuma Innovation Award — now in its inaugural year — new ideas from startups, the next Career Friday and, of course, technical presentations at the forum. Not least of all, this year’s event will feature the first-ever presentation of the Paul Eberhard Schall Medal as a trade fair highlight.

The 30th Fakuma international trade fair for plastics processing will take place in Friedrichshafen from Monday the 12th through Friday the 16th of October, 2026. The exhibition is regarded as a world-class industry meet for plastics processors, who will once again turn the trade fair highlight into a dynamic celebration. Exhibitors and expert visitors will honour the extraordinary success story of the international trade fair for plastics processing with a colourful array of exceptional programme highlights, which will complement the trade fair experience. Fakuma is regarded as a showcase for the entire world of plastics — from injection moulding, forming and extrusion technology, as well as 3D printing, masterbatches and raw materials, right on up to tooling, process technology and recycling. Its leading position in the European market makes it an indispensable industry event for all plastics processing and distribution companies.

Expert discussion at “Fakuma Round Table”

Once again in 2026, Fakuma will provide a unique platform for communication, discussion, knowledge-sharing, awards and career planning. For the third time, the “The Fakuma Round Table” will be a key programme feature. This year’s discussion will focus on the topic of “Building on Strengths — How Can the European Plastics Industry Enhance Its Resilience?”. A panel of distinguished experts will discuss strategies for an economically successful future. These might involve, for example, more stable cost structures, less dependence on volatile crude oil markets and a consistent shift towards a circular economy. Economic conditions, environmental imperatives and social challenges must be reconciled. The moderated panel discussion will focus on specific measures in the areas of development, production and administration. All interested parties are cordially invited to follow this exciting discussion.

Premiere of the “Fakuma Innovation Award”

Fakuma will celebrate its 30th anniversary this year and has every reason to look back on the evolution of this successful trade fair, which began in 1981 with 76 initial exhibitors and has steadily grown into a major European platform for plastics processing. Above all for this reason, primary attention is focused on the future, as well as new solutions that will enable the industry to meet existing challenges. The first Fakuma Innovation Award, launched by the trade fair promoters in collaboration with trade publication K‑Zeitung, will provide ground-breaking impetus in technological, environmental and economic terms. The award provides companies with an international platform on which to present their latest innovations to an interested specialist audience, and to showcase their innovative strength. Entrants can submit their projects in one of the six categories including injection moulding, extrusion, recycling, tool and die making / thermoforming, compounding and materials, as well as plastic technology enablers (peripheral equipment). In this way, the competition reflects the entire value chain for plastics technology — from materials and processing methods, right on up to ancillary technologies. As an important condition of entry, it must be possible to showcase the submitted project live at Fakuma 2026 — as a production-ready product, as a working prototype or as a live demonstration of a technology. Participation is free of charge. Entries can be submitted online up through the 6th of September, 2026. All entries will be reviewed and assessed by an independent expert jury. The winners will be honoured at an award ceremony on the first day of the trade fair.

Anniversary edition

30th Fakuma to showcase plastics innovation from materials to recycling

New ideas and forward-looking solutions in the startup area

Showcasing startup companies is another long-standing tradition at Fakuma. The trade fair promoters make it possible for startups to present themselves and their solutions for plastics processing thanks to an attractive “all-round carefree package”. People with new ideas and products relating to industrial plastics processing are warmly invited to introduce themselves to the expert visitors at the trade fair. Participation is highly beneficial for as yet unknown startups, who can take advantage of Fakuma’s highly international character and extensive reach.

Career Friday as a commitment to recruiting young talent

Once again this year, the “Mould Your Dreams, Mould Your Future” campaign will inspire young people to pursue a career in plastics processing. Together with the trade fair advisory board and Plastics Europe Germany, the trade fair promoters will once again host Career Friday on 16 October 2026, and are inviting all interested pupils, students and young professionals to attend. The campaign will offer them a broad range of opportunities to experience the plastics industry. Young people will be able to establish contacts and gain practical insights into one of Europe’s most innovative industries. International exhibitors will hold exclusive events at their trade fair booths, providing information on modern manufacturing technologies and outlining effective strategies for entering the industry.

“Fakuma’s anniversary event will inspire all exhibitors and visitors with an exceptional supplementary programme,” announces Bettina Schall, managing director trade fair promoters P. E. Schall. “The Innovation Award encourages performance and innovation, the career campaign opens up new prospects and the startup area will surprise us with ground-breaking ideas,” says Bettina Schall. “We can expect to gain many valuable insights from this year’s Round Table Discussion as well. And last but not least, in honour of Fakuma’s 30th anniversary, we, the trade fair promoters, will for the first time award the Paul Eberhard Schall Medal to a company that has played a pioneering and influential role in the industry.”

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