The global financial and economic crisis hit companies in the international plastics and rubber industry hard, resulting in an unprecedented slump in output and sales. But optimism reigns in the K year 2010, as order intake levels and turnover have taken a gratifying upturn in recent months. Ulrich Reifenhäuser, chairman of the Exhibitors Council of K 2010 (www.k-online.de), said that, “Although it will take quite some time before we reach 2008 levels again, current trends are very encouraging for raw materials producers, machine manufacturers and processors. Our customers are again working on new projects and are showing big interest in innovations and optimised processes and products. We are now benefiting from having built on our strengths in bad times, improved our competitiveness and developed new products.”

Current data indicate that some 3,000 exhibitors will be presenting their latest developments for all sectors of the industry from 27 October to 3 November. All 19 of the available exhibition halls are occupied. “After the hard times in which many companies of the plastics and rubber industry worldwide have had to fight for survival, we share our customer's delight in the satisfying course that the year 2010 has taken to date”, said Werner Matthias Dornscheidt, president and CEO of fair organiser Messe Düsseldorf (www.messe-duesseldorf.de), adding that, “I am sure that K 2010 will play its part in demonstrating the undiminished innovative power of the sector and help to expand international business relationships further.”

The definitive number of companies that will be attending K 2010 is not yet known, as not all of the exhibitors at the joint stands have been named. Already, 2,973 exhibitors from 55 countries have registered. Some 60% of exhibitions space will be occupied by companies based outside Germany. Italy is traditionally the most strongly represented nation among the non-German exhibitors, and Italian companies alone have booked a net space of 27,000 m² to showcase their products. Also strongly represented among the European countries are Austria (8,400 m²), Switzerland (6,100 m²), France (4,900 m²) and The Netherlands (4,000 m²). More than 100 companies from the USA will be taking part, occupying 4,000 m² of exhibition space – a slight drop in relation to K 2007.

By contrast, the contingents from China (6,800 m²), India (4,600 m²) and Turkey (2,700 m²) have grown appreciably. With 5,300 m², Taiwan is as strongly represented as in 2007.

The exhibitor's ranges will be supplemented by future-oriented elements, which will be dealt with in the special review “Visions in Polymers”. In daily panel discussions, top academics and experienced users will address questions such as what our daily lives will look like 20 years from now, and how plastics can contribute to solving major problems. Special emphasis will be placed on the themes of energy efficiency and resource conservation.

n Further details at www.pieweb.com/216401