It is still about three months away before the plastics industry's biggest global get-together takes place 16-23 October in Düsseldorf, Germany, but details of what will make the 2013 edition unique are gradually being announced from the exhibition organisers. According to Messe Düsseldorf (www.messe-duesseldorf.de), plastics affect the lives of every individual in more ways than one, both figuratively and literally. To make its point, the organisation has planned a special show in hall 6 at "K 2013" (www.k-online.de) with more than 3,100 exhibitors demonstrating the potential of plastics.

"Plastics move the world" has been conceived with five areas of focus in mind, each representing the enormous amount of applications and properties of polmer materials. "Plastics move – people" will highlight personal mobility with the aid of automobiles, trains and public transport as well as the mobility of the disabled to show how individuals benefit from advancements made utilising plastics. Another area, "Plastics move – future" will offer visitors an opportunity to learn about innovations and visionary developments showcasing medical applications, water treatment and food supply applications not yet available to the market.

Presentations and VIP lectures will round out the special show agenda and the organisers have announced that they have secured Bertrand Piccard, a pioneer of solar-powered aircraft, to speak. The show is hosted by the German plastics industry under the auspices of PlasticsEurope Deutschland (Frankfurt; www.plasticseurope.de).