Is it possible for a plastics exhibition to keep setting new records? Yes, it is, and Messe Düsseldorf (www.messe-duesseldorf.de), organiser of the world-famous “K”, proves it again and again. The latest triennual event, K 2007 (www.k-online.de), held from 24-31 October, was no exception. For the third consecutive time, a new exhibition hall was opened to accommodate rising exhibitor and visitor numbers, and every centimetre of it was occupied. Thanks to the organisational skills of the fair company, everything was as it should have been – from space planning to logistics, marketing and service.

At K 2007, the near perfect organisation happily coincided with an exuberant business climate. A year and a half into the worldwide upswing – not just in plastics – industry representatives from all continents had reason to smile. This time for sure, the smiles were not just plastered on, they were real. One top manager at a leading plastics converter remarked succinctly as the show wound down: “Our business deals were concluded quickly and successfully. Now I have time for networking.” Even the sometimes volatile discussions over polymer pricing did not provide cause for irritation, although the rising cost of crude did cast a shadow over the future. Would this be the straw that burst the cyclical bubble?

Some 242,000 visitors attended the fair this year – around 11,000 more than three years ago. Another 30,000 people worked for the 3,130 (2,904) exhibitors or were members of the press. “We set out to have a successful run, and we did,” Ulrich Reifenhäuser, head of the extrusion machinery specialist of the same name as well as the K 2007 exhibitor committee, commented at the closing press conference. This year’s “K” was more than just a show, said Reifenhäuser – it was also a place to do business. “A remarkable number” of deals were concluded, he added – many of them worth “millions of euros.”

Werner Dornscheidt, president and CEO of Messe Düsseldorf, also pointed to the surprising number of spontaneous transactions, especially as companies often delay the conclusion of business deals so that they can officially seal them at the fair. This time, many customers reacted especially to technological innovations and placed orders immediately. Another positive aspect of K 2007 for Dornscheidt – and this, he said, is an important indication of an event’s status – was the “highly international profile of the visitors and their willingness to invest.” Intensive talks conducted by those who came to Düsseldorf with specific project queries means that “exhibitors can look forward to good post-fair business.”

Roughly 45% of the international visitors came from outside Europe this time, including 30,000 from Asia. This was 7,000 more than at K 2004. India, accounting for 10,000 of these, sent the largest individual contingent. Despite the more subdued outlook for the US economy, 8,300 visitors from North America were counted, compared with 6,900 in 2004. The number of Latin American visitors increased by 3,000 to 11,000.

According to the fair organisation, nearly two-thirds of the trade visitors represented senior and middle management and thus came to Düsseldorf with decision-making power. Altogether, two-thirds were primarily interested in new developments in machinery, another 42% in raw materials and auxiliaries, while 27% had their focus on semi-finished products of plastics and rubber, along with technical components.

The plastics world will meet again on the river Rhine from 27 October-3 November 2010. PIE, of course, will be there, too. See you in Düsseldorf!