Fakuma 2026: Innovation Awards and Future Plastics Debates

Industry gathering Fakuma 2026 marks 30 editions with expanded events programme

2026-09-21 Source: P.E. Schall 4 min Reading Time

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Innovation awards, debates on the future of plastics processing and opportunities for young talent will accompany Fakuma’s 30th edition. Around 1,600 exhibitors are expected in Friedrichshafen, where the anniversary programme will connect the industry’s history with its next steps.

Fakuma 2026 will mark its 30th edition in Friedrichshafen from 12 to 16 October, with around 1,600 exhibitors from 40 countries, innovation awards, expert discussions and career initiatives.(Source: Fakuma) — Fakuma 2026 will mark its 30th edition in Friedrichshafen from 12 to 16 October, with around 1,600 exhibitors from 40 countries, innovation awards, expert discussions and career initiatives.
(Source: Fakuma)

The 30th Fakuma international trade fair for plastics processing, covering the entire world of plastics, will take place in Friedrichshafen from Monday the 12th through Friday the 16th of October, 2026. The anniversary trade fair is gearing up for an industry get-together which, alongside the exhibition in twelve halls, will feature a jam-packed programme of events including awards, honours, innovations, discussions and career initiatives. Exhibitors and expert visitors will honour the extraordinary success story of the trade fair with a colourful array of highlights, which complement the trade fair experience. Roughly 1600 exhibitors from 40 countries will showcase their companies on site.

The 30th Fakuma will get off to a spectacular start at the opening press conference, at which trade fair promoters P. E. Schall will present the Paul Eberhard Schall Medal for the very first time. The award will be presented to a company that maintains a special affiliation with the trade fair itself, and has distinguished itself with innovations in plastics processing. Special tribute will also be paid to companies that were among the 76 first-time exhibitors back in 1981, and have participated at Fakuma continuously ever since.

Honours and award ceremony on the first day of the trade fair

In the afternoon, the trade fair programme will move on to its next highlight: the presentation of the 2026 Fakuma Innovation Award. The trade fair promoters have launched this competition with the specific aim of actively promoting innovation and providing a suitable platform for forward-thinking ideas. With six thematic categories, the competition covers the entire world of plastics. Submissions have been assessed by independent industry experts from academia and industry on the basis of defined criteria such as the scope of innovation, technical benefits, economic relevance and sustainability.

Third edition of the moderated, expert round-table talks

At 4 p.m. on the second day of the trade fair, Tuesday 13 October 2026, a team of experts will gather in the East Foyer to discuss possible paths to a prosperous future for plastics processing companies. Economic conditions, environmental imperatives and social challenges must be reconciled. “Building on Strengths” is the theme of the third edition of the Fakuma Round-Table. The panellists include Dr. Johannes Kilian, Vice President of Process and Application Technology at Engel Austria; Josef Hochreiter, Managing Director of Next Generation Holding; Eva Söhnlein, Managing Director of the Geiger Group; and Michael Weigelt, Managing Director of Tecpart – Association for Technical Plastics Products.

Career campaign: “Mould your Dreams, Mould your Future”

“Career Friday” will focus on the next generation of plastics industry talent: Following its successful debut, Fakuma is once again sending a strong signal in support of young talent and, in collaboration with the trade fair advisory board and PlasticsEurope Germany, will host Career Friday once again on the 16th of October, 2026. The campaign slogan, “Mould Your Dreams, Mould Your Future”, is aimed at pupils, students and young professionals who will be able to experience the plastics industry first-hand on guided tours and establish contacts with companies.

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. (Source: Schall)

German patent and trademark office to provide information on site

The German Patent and Trademark Office (DPMA) is Germany’s centre of expertise for all types of intellectual property rights – patents, utility models, trademarks and designs. As Europe’s largest national patent office and the fifth-largest in the world, it represents the future of Germany as a nation of inventors in a globalised economy. In order to protect innovations in the plastics industry as well, two experts from the DPMA will be on hand at Fakuma on Wednesday the 14th and Thursday the 15th October, providing information to all interested parties directly at the trade fair booth. Appointments can be scheduled on short notice during the trade fair by calling +49 151 6755 2912, in advance by calling +49 89 2195-1000, or by email at info@dpma.de. Enquiries and appointment requests are more than welcome!

Expert visitors experience

Young companies will showcase new solutions and ideas for the plastics industry in the Startup Area on all five trade fair days from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Trade fair visitors are cordially invited to attend any of the daily expert presentations held at the forum. Experience the 30th Fakuma 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. By tradition, Fakuma is conceived as a pragmatic and highly practical trade fair for the presentation of market-ready innovations. Once again this year, the trade fair will provide a rewarding all-round experience for everyone involved. The attractive venue in Friedrichshafen on Lake Constance, where Germany, Austria and Switzerland meet, underscores the experiential aspect of this high-profile industry event. Access to the exhibition venue is facilitated by AIR UNIQON (airuniqon.com), which now offers flights to and from the compact Friedrichshafen Airport (FDH).

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“We extend a very warm welcome to all exhibitors, expert visitors and interested guests on all five days of the trade fair,” says Bettina Schall, managing director of trade fair promoters P. E. Schall. “Fakuma’s anniversary edition will be experienced as an inspiring industry celebration with an outstanding supplementary programme. We look forward to seeing you again in Friedrichshafen!”

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