Preparations for K 2019 have begun. In its first meeting, the Exhibitors’ Council set the course for the world’s most significant trade fair for the plastics and rubber industries, which will take place from 16 to 23 October 2019 in Düsseldorf. The Exhibitors’ Council is made up of representatives from the exhibiting industries as well as the leading industrial associations and represents the entire spectrum of offers at the trade fair – machine and system construction, raw and auxiliary material production and manufacturing of semi-finished products and technical parts in plastic and rubber. It supports Messe Düsseldorf in its preparations for K 2019 and advises it on basic issues involving concepts and organisation.

Ulrich Reifenhäuser keeps his seat as the Chairman of the Exhibitors’ Council. He is the Managing Partner of the eponymous machinery manufacturing company and is Chairman of the Association for Plastics and Rubber Machinery in the VDMA. Again, his representative is Dr. Rainer Büschl, Innovation Management/IP & designfabrik Performance Materials, BASF SE, who is also the Chairman of the Concepts Committee. The Organisation Committee is once again led by Thorsten Kühmann, Managing Director Plastics and Rubber Machinery, Forum Composite Technology, within VDMA.

3,293 exhibitors and 232,000 specialists took part in K 2016, from 19 to 26 October last year. The remarkable boom in the plastics and rubber industry, combined with the positive outlook for the future, permeated the trade fair and provided a marvellous atmosphere. The exhibiting companies reported that they made many new customer contacts, many of which resulted in contracts being signed before the eight days of the trade fair were over. In 2019, the organizers expect to see the world’s biggest providers of products and services in the plastics and rubber industry exhibiting again. The exhibitor invitations will be sent out at the beginning of 2018.