All things considered, Ulrich Reifenhäuser figures, this latest version of the K show is probably the most important one ever. And that’s saying something, as the world’s largest plastic trade show now dates back 70 years to 1952.
COVID-19 turned everyone’s life upside-down and inside-out, impacting business all along the way.
While there are lingering effects still today, the economy has resumed for the most part despite issues such as supply chain difficulties that continue to vex.
“It’s probably one of the most important shows ever. My expectations are very high,” said Reifenhäuser, chairman of the Exhibitors’ Council for the K show, at an opening news conference on Oct. 18 in Düsseldorf, Germany.
That’s because most normal years feature at least one major plastics trade show. But that has not been the case since COVID-19 hit.
“Normally, we have a lot of international fairs in a row every year — at least two or three,” he said. But for the past three years there’s been “more or less nothing” at a time when there is a great deal of interest and innovation and surround plastics industry.
“A lot of information and good news have been held back,” said Reifenhäuser, chief sales officer for Reifenhäuser GmbH & Co. KG Maschinenfabrik, a maker of extrusion and blown film lines.
“Now we open up this K show and people are really ready to present the best and the market is more than interested after this three years to find specialists, to have really good discussions, to get information. That’s the reasons why the K is really, really, very, very special and maybe the most important,” he said.
The lingering impacts of COVID-19 are expected to tamp down attendance figures at the show this year, organizers said.