K 2019 Düsseldorf – all you need to know
When and where?
K 2019 takes place at the Messe Düsseldorf Fair ground in Düsseldorf, Germany from 16-23 October, daily from 10:00am to 6:30pm. As always, K 2019 exhibitors will be presenting their products and services in all of the venue’s 18 halls with a total area of almost 175 000 m2. Products and services, grouped by topic, will be located in the following halls:
- Machines and equipment: Halls 1, 3-4 as well as 9-17
- Raw materials, auxiliaries: Halls 5, 6, 7, 7a, 8a, 8b
- Semi-finished products, industrial components and reinforced plastics products: Halls 5, 6, 7, 7a, 8a, 8b
Entrances: North A (downstairs), North B (upstairs 1st floor), North D, East, South
Rubberstreet and the ‘Rubber & TPE Pocket Guide’
One of the rubber hot spots at K 2019 will once again be the Rubberstreet in hall 6. The ‘Rubber & TPE Pocket Guide’ for visitors helps to identify relevant partners at the exhibition that deal with rubber and elastomers, including TPE. It compromises the complete value chain from raw material and machinery suppliers to processors.
Addressing challenges
The questions of proper disposal and re-use pose some of the more significant challenges that come with the use of polymers, plastics and rubber. This requires that the material design itself ensures a high recycling and maximum recovery rate of the product’s high-quality constituents. Some interesting solutions shown at K 2019 will specifically address these issues. K 2019 will show an overview of the current possibilities and an insight into the industry’s cooperation with different institutions.
Central issues
Scientists and experts of the K Innovation Circle expect certain topics to dominate the global polymer industry in the next years and have defined the following issues as central for K 2019:
- Plastics for Sustainable Development & Circular Economy, featuring water management, renewable energy and the circular economy.
- Digitization of the value added chain and Industry 4.0, featuring the aspect of platform economy and the value added network.
- System integration: Functionality through material, process and design, featuring new materials and additive manufacturing, lightweight engineering, mobility (e-mobility) and biopolymers.
- Strategic promotion of young professionals for the plastics industry:
Promoting young professionals
At K2019, there is a special focus on the promotion of young professionals for the industry, both in science and in practical training. Participating universities, institutes, associations and promotion agencies will present the central topics with discussions, speeches and demonstration of selected exhibits.
The strategic promotion of young professionals is crucial for the plastics industry. The German training and qualification initiative KAI, aims at promoting the versatility and prospects of career options in the plastics industry among the younger generation. Activities ranging from exhibitions and moderated discussions through to experiments are provided to attract young professionals to the industry.
Special presentation – Plastics Shape The Future
A special presentation at K2018 is ‘Plastics Shape The Future’, which aims to show how polymer materials have shaped the appearance of modern settings, which of the emerging developments have already been put into practical application and which of the more visionary ideas have the potential of becoming successful in the future. Crucial topics will be discussed in detail, including packaging waste, marine litter and climate change on the one hand and resource conservation, energy efficiency and recycling on the other.
Special: Science Campus
The Science Campus at K2019 encourages the discourse between research and industry. A forum where businesses and universities can exchange information, it also provides K exhibitors and visitors with a comprehensive overview of scientific activities and results in plastics and rubber-related research.
Bioplastics business breakfasts
At this year’s K trade show, visitors and exhibitors interested in the potential and opportunities of bioplastics can find comprehensive information at many stands. The specialist publication bioplastics Magazine, will host three additional events that will take a closer look at this topic. The bioplastics business breakfasts focus on the future role and the market potential of biopolymers – both bio-based as well as biodegradable polymers. Future opportunities will feature as prominently as the pros and cons of biopolymers.
K 2019 – on all channels with smart online services
The K show has its own web portal www.k-online.com, also available via the app for iOS and Android OS, a convenient and readily available way of accessing interesting news from the entire industry and helpful tips to keep visitors up-to-date on all things trade fair. K 2019 is also present on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.
Featuring personalised services such as MyOrganizer, the K portal helps visitors organise their agenda. Travel information, including accommodation and things to do in Düsseldorf – including an online hotel reservation option are also available on k-online.com.
Cheaper tickets online
Visitors can buy their tickets to the K show online at k-online.com, simply download the corresponding code or print them out at home. No more queuing – and even better: eTickets cost less. Day tickets will be available online for €49, compared to €75 (box office price). Three-day-tickets cost €108 online, and €155 if purchased from the box office. The online ticket offers an additional advantage as it doubles as a public transport ticket for trips to the exhibition centre.
Matchmaking tool
Prior to the upcoming K, visitors and exhibitors can use the matchmaking tool tool (available at k-online.com) to find their required contacts and products. The tool will suggest the right contacts for you and allows you to make appointments. Access this function via https://www.konline.de/matchmaker2 or via the K Matchmaking App for iOS and Android OS. Owners of a ticket can easily access the tool by using their login information and specifying their interests and search parameters.
Düsseldorf: A destination that always appeals
After arrival in Düsseldorf, visitors to K2019 will find a perfectly organised and structured exhibition venue as well as reliable infrastructure, from communication, traffic and accommodation, right through to entertainment.
An hourly shuttle service runs from Düsseldorf airport to the exhibition centre and taxis take only a few minutes to get visitors to the venue. Düsseldorf offers attractive entertainment options after the trade fair has closed its doors for the day. There is something for all tastes: numerous restaurants and pubs in the famous Altstadt (historical district), elegant stores and shopping malls, a musical stage, the opera and more than 20 museums.
