Friedrichshafen, Germany — The 27th annual Fakuma International trade show slated for October 2021 will be a multi-faceted event with plastics-related projects and products developed to contain COVID-19 under a spotlight along with the industry's continued focus on recycling.
The event organizers at P. E. Schall GmbH & Co. KG and Messe Sinsheim GmbH gave an update Nov. 5 on plans for the Oct. 12-16, 2021, event in Friedrichshafen.
The organizers have said the virtual marketplace is a valuable tool but it can't replace personal professional exchanges between suppliers and users in the injection molding, extrusion technology, thermoforming and 3D printing markets.
"The Fakuma 2021 on-site event is and will remain indispensable, for which planning and preparation are currently running at full bore," the update says.
The plastics industry has a lot to show off, the organizers added.
"As an industry and technology barometer in the field of plastics processing, Fakuma will attract special attention, in particular in the wake of this pandemic year," the update added, pointing to protective clothing, shielding systems, glasses and masks that were developed and produced.
Many other companies have honed production concepts related to automation, digitalization, networking and efficiency during the pandemic, according to the show organizers.
In addition, environmental initiatives for sustainability, efficient use of resources, circular economy and bioplastics will be highlighted with special emphasis placed on the recycling sector, which was under pressure in 2020 when cheap new materials caused a drop in raw material prices.
"As a result, recyclates have been driven out of applications which had been built up over numerous years, and the demand for PET flakes has collapsed. Not least of all within this context, the issue of PET bottle concepts and reusable packaging systems will be discussed at Fakuma 2021," the update said.