Innovation, circularity and responsibility took centre stage at K 2025. The fully booked trade fair in Düsseldorf once again set the tone for the global plastics and rubber industry’s path toward a more sustainable and digital future.

CAD/CAM company Open Mind is expanding its team in Sweden. Lennie Gustafsson, an experienced application engineer, is joining the team at the Open Mind Technologies Scandinavia subsidiary in Hässleholm.

Fotec Research and Technology Transfer at the University of Applied Sciences Wiener Neustadt has succeeded in making the reworking of additively manufactured components more economical with the help of a process known as ‘Hirtising’.

The winners of the 2025 Formnext Awards have been announced! On 20 November, this year’s Formnext honored the most outstanding contributions to Additive Manufacturing in six categories.

Timtos 2025 brought together industry leaders, cutting-edge technology, and groundbreaking innovations in AI, robotics, and smart manufacturing. From advanced automation to digital twin integration, the event highlighted Taiwan’s growing influence in precision engineering and global supply chains.

Despite growing awareness, only 9.5 percent of global plastics in 2022 came from recycled materials, a new study reveals — highlighting stark regional differences and a surge in plastic incineration as pollution continues to escalate.

Fresh perspectives and forward thinking: At the fifth VDWF Practical Forum on Plastics Technology, experts came together online to explore the future of injection moulding — from sustainable solutions and digitalisation to the power of collaboration and automation.

HCL Software introduces CAM Works for 3D Experience Solidworks, enhancing cloud-based collaboration and CNC programming flexibility. With Machine Aware Programming and expanded simulation capabilities, the latest release helps identify issues earlier in the process, improving productivity and part quality.

For greater process reliability and a wider process window in injection moulding, as well as significantly longer maintenance intervals, Dressel + Höfner Automotive now relies on DLC-coated ejector pins for venting from standard parts manufacturer Knarr as a matter of course in its injection moulding tools.

Germany’s machine tool industry is still waiting for recovery. While export orders show modest growth, domestic demand continues to shrink, weighed down by US tariffs and investor caution. A turnaround is not expected before 2026.