Round Table at Fakuma 2026: Strong Impetus for Sustainability

”Building on Strengths” was the theme of the panel discussion chaired by Markus Lüling, managing director of Kunststoff-Profi Verlag and editor-in-chief of trade magazines K-PROFI and K-AKTUELL. The goal was to discuss economic circumstances, environmental necessities and social challenges, and to show plastics-processing companies the way to a successful economic future.

Making Good Use of Platforms and Tools!

The expert panel concluded that the strengths of the European plastics industry are plainly apparent and quite impressive: The aspects of diversity, technology, recycling and end-to-end process chains are all, in fact, already very well established. The expert panel including Eva Söhnlein, managing director of the Geiger Group; Dr. Johannes Kilian, vice president of Process and Application Technology at Engel Austria; Günther Klammer, CTO at Next Generation Holding; and Michael Weigelt, managing director of TecPart – the Association for Technical Plastics Products – highlighted further areas for action: Eva Söhnlein emphasised that it’s essential for companies to showcase and clearly communicate their own strengths, for example through effective platforms such as trade fairs. Dr. Johannes Kilian also emphasised the importance of using modern AI tools as a useful resource for supporting process improvements and managing complexities.

Expanding Rather than Restricting Room for Manoeuvre!

In order to achieve greater resilience and efficiency, it’s also worth reconsidering excessively tight tolerances and oversizing. Michael Weigelt emphasised that the support, expert knowledge and contacts offered by the associations should be taken advantage of to a much greater extent – by becoming actively involved in this regard, companies would be more likely to succeed in reducing bureaucratic and regulatory hurdles. Weigelt pointed out that additional regulations and directives should be avoided, because obstacles of this sort restrict room for manoeuvre. However, this presupposes that companies make active use of all available opportunities for co-determination.

Prioritise Recycling!

Although overall plastics recycling rates are still falling short of the desired levels, the panel concluded that expertise in handling the recycling process and recycled materials has been improving steadily. On the one hand, however, the volume of recycled material is still relatively low, and manufacturing products from recycled material is more expensive than producing them from virgin raw materials. On the other hand, there are still widespread reservations concerning the quality and design of recycled products. But this situation is gradually improving, for example through the targeted development of components designed specifically for recycled materials.

More Enthusiasm for Plastics, Please!

Last but not least, the experts at the round table pleaded for the encouragement of greater enthusiasm for plastics and the plastics industry at every opportunity. The shortage of young talent, with regard to both skilled workers and university students, is obstructing innovation and thus requires urgent attention. Günther Klammer clearly outlined how companies can build on their own strengths: “Common sense, insight and creativity – each in its rightful place!”

Moderation:

Dipl.-Ing. Markus Lüling, Managing Director of Kunststoff-Profi Verlag and editor-in-chief of the trade magazines K-PROFI and K-AKTUELL  

The high-calibre guests on the panel are:

• Dr. Johannes Kilian, Vice President Process and Application Technology, ENGEL AUSTRIA
• Dipl.-Ing. Günther Klammer, CTO, Next Generation Holding
• Eva Söhnlein, Managing Director, Geiger Gruppe
• Michael Weigelt, Managing Director, TecPart – Verband Technische Kunststoff-Produkte e.V.