Iranpolymer/ Baspar The K trade fair, held in Düsseldorf, is the most prestigious global event in the plastics and rubber industry—a place for innovation, communication and determining future trends. As of May 2024, all 18 exhibition halls and the outdoor area covering 177,000 square meters had been fully booked, indicating the high level of trust and unparalleled importance of this event in the global polymer industry. With more than 3,000 exhibitors from 61 countries, K is widely recognized as a representative of the plastics and rubber value chain.
As in previous years, the “K Preview 2025” event offered an overview of key topics, innovations and participating companies, outlining the strategic directions and technologies that will be highlighted in October.
The slogan of K 2025, “The Power of Plastics! Green – Smart – Responsibly” is not just an advertising phrase but reflects the new values and goals of the plastics industry:
• Circular Economy: Focus on recycling, reuse, and waste reduction.
• Digitalization: Utilizing digital technologies to improve performance and innovation.
• Social Responsibility: Attention to environmental, attracting young talent, and the issue of women’s impact in the industry.
The first two days of this preview were dedicated to presenting the latest achievements of major companies (mainly German), and on the final day, Asian companies and a Dutch startup introduced their products.
Statistics from the exhibition
According to the exhibition news package distributed at the event, the largest group of participants belonged to machinery and equipment, while the services category had the fewest participants. Specifically:
- Raw Materials: 909 participants, occupying 45,061 square meters.
- Semi-finished Products and Technical Parts: 261 participants, occupying 8,603 square meters.
- Machinery and Equipment: 1,876 participants, occupying 119,345 square meters.
- Services: 141 participants, occupying 4,457 square meters.
The statistics also showed significant changes in participation by country compared to the 2022 edition, most notably an 83% increase in Chinese companies. For example:
- Egypt increased from 3 to 10 companies.
- China increased from 307 to 562 companies.
- Taiwan increased from 87 to 116 companies.
- Singapore increased from 5 to 11 companies.
In contrast:
- Iran decreased from 13 to 7 companies.
- The USA decreased from 103 to 92 companies.
- Germany decreased from 868 to 744 companies.
As in past years, the majority of exhibitors, 70%, are from Europe, with 29% of the total participants from Germany alone. Among them, the largest groups of exhibitors—with over 100 companies each—are, in order: Germany (868), China (562), Italy (385), Turkey (210), India (182), and Taiwan (116).
A look at the participant statistics shows that the five countries with the highest number of visitors are, respectively, the Netherlands, Italy, Turkey, France, and the United States. Among visitors, the main reason for attending the exhibition was to search for suppliers (55%), and 46% of participants stated that they had found their desired supplier during previous editions of the exhibition.
In terms of visitor interests:
- 67% were focused on machinery and equipment,
- 56% were interested in raw materials,
- 30% in services and R&D in plastics and rubber,
- 29% in semi-finished products and technical parts.
K Preview Panel Discussions
Two panel discussions were held during the K Preview event. The first focused on a general introduction to the exhibition, what visitors should expect, and the overall trends of the industry. Part of the discussion revolved around the current volatile and unpredictable conditions and their impact on the plastics and rubber industry. European companies are still grappling with the rise in energy prices following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and are seeking solutions for using alternative energy sources or increasing the efficiency of their processes—all while facing new U.S. tariffs. Bureaucracy and newly implemented regulations have also been major obstacles to industry progress in recent years. Therefore, the exhibition could serve as an opportunity to solidify Europe’s position as a strategic partner with a unique geographical location for both the U.S. and Asia.
The second panel discussion centered on “People,” covering topics ranging from the need for sustainable development and production to preserve the planet, to discussions on how to welcome the new generation/young talents into the plastics and rubber industry. Special attention was also paid to gender equality and increasing the presence of women in the industry. One innovative product introduced by a Borealis representative during this session was a reusable plastic cup capable of withstanding 900 washes. However, it appeared that none of the journalists who received the brown-colored cup was interested in using it! A similar situation was observed in the other two discussion topics of this panel. The invited guests failed to provide a convincing answer to the only new-generation journalist who asked, “My generation no longer cares about sustainability. What is your alternative solution for attracting this generation?”
Day One: Machinery and Automation
The first day focused on machinery. Major equipment manufacturers presented their latest achievements. Reifenhäuser, under the slogan “Boost Your Performance,” introduced its new products in the field of extrusion automation aimed at eliminating the need for skilled operators, utilizing smart data, and applying technology for training purposes. battenfeld-cincinnati also presented a new solution for end-of-line automation that reduces labor requirements while increasing accuracy and speed. However, it seems that Krauss Maffei has a different focus, concentrating more on the circular economy and closing the loop for polyurethane. They believe that recycling will become extremely important in the future, and demand for recycled plastics will depend on regulations that do not yet exist.
For Sikora, the main issue was identifying a field where artificial intelligence could be applied. Nonetheless, in their new pre-recycling separation method, they use X-rays combined with camera-based detection technology. SEPRO, meanwhile, introduced its new robots and presented the emerging trend of “service on demand” in the market. Based on this concept, they have established new service centers near their customers to provide reuse or repair services for their robots.
Day Two: Materials, Sustainability, and the Challenge of Attracting Young Workers
On the second day, the focus of discussions shifted toward materials and sustainable approaches. With rising energy costs and environmental pressures, companies emphasized the need for greener production. This path was described not only as essential but also as a prerequisite for remaining competitive in global markets.
As in previous years, BASF introduced a wide range of its products under the theme “Our plastic path” which focused on closing the plastics loop (production, use, and recycling). The most controversial news regarding Covestro was not about the products they introduced, but rather a question from one of the journalists about the company’s acquisition by ADNOC (Abu Dhabi National Oil Company). Covestro’s strategy was broadly presented as being centered on the circular economy, producing materials using green energy, and specifically without the use of oil and gas— whereas the company set to acquire Covestro within a few months is fundamentally an oil company. The response to this contradiction was vague yet firm: the parent company is pursuing a long-term sustainability strategy, and this acquisition is part of the investment in that direction and will have no effect on how we produce.
The companies Röhm, Wacker, DOMO, and Wanhua were among the other presenters on the second day.
Day Three: Asian Companies and a Dutch Start-Up
The third day began with Advanced Petrochemical Company from Saudi Arabia. This company specifically offers petroleum-based products, but as it still aims to remain attractive to the European market, it placed special emphasis on its ESG performance and compliance with REACH standards. A similar situation applied to the Taiwanese company CHIMEI, whose representatives also highlighted their efforts toward sustainability and social responsibility—offering a different perspective compared to European companies, which implemented sustainability more from the standpoint of production processes and recycling. Paques Biomaterial represented the start-ups at the exhibition by introducing its alternative solution—a biodegradable plastic—that is gradually approaching large-scale production.
Overall, the K 2025 Preview not only provided a comprehensive view of the future of the plastics and rubber industry but also demonstrated that the industry is now standing at the intersection of three key pathways: environmental sustainability, digital transformation, and social responsibility. What stood out most in this event was the coordinated effort of global players to find real solutions to increasingly complex challenges—from climate change and the energy crisis to attracting the new generation and redefining the role of women in the industry.
By bringing together leading companies and innovations from around the world, the K Show once again affirmed its position as a pivotal point for shaping the future of this industry. Now, it remains to be seen how far these promises and new directions will be fulfilled in practice.
Bita Kazeminejad / Representative of the Bespar Media Group at K Preview 2025
