20th FAKUMA Drives the Plastics Technology Economy

Once again in 2009, the FAKUMA international trade fair for plastics processing has lived up to its reputation as Europe’s, if not the world’s most important plastics trade fair. This applies above all to the field of injection moulding technology, and FAKUMA is plainly the world’s number one event in this area! But not only in this sector – because FAKUMA is also the international leader where extrusion and thermoforming technologies are concerned. This also became plainly apparent in a highly convincing fashion at FAKUMA’s 20th anniversary event which was held again at the Friedrichshafen Exhibition Centre on Lake Constance from the 13th through the 17th of October.

Worldwide Number 1 in the Injection Moulding Business

FAKUMA was able to assert itself on its 20th birthday despite turbulent times within the market. More than 1500 exhibitors came from over 30 countries and occupied more than 910,000 square feet of overall exhibition floor space at the Friedrichshafen Exhibition Centre, which has once again been expanded. Furthermore, the 20th FAKUMA drew 37,281 expert visitors from more than 90 countries around the globe, and thus in light of the internationalism displayed by manufacturers and suppliers, as well as by expert visitors, the event rightly lays claim to its title as an “international trade fair for plastics processing”. Beyond this, the five hundred thousandth expert visitor to attend FAKUMA over the years, Mr. Kornel Barna, was welcomed already on the third day of the event, a fact which allows one to draw conclusions regarding the unremitting success story of the 28 year old FAKUMA.

More than 37,000 Expert Visitor and a Total of More Than 500,000 Visitors

Extremely strong media presence demonstrated by just under 500 representatives of the trade press, the business press and the daily papers is further indication of the enormous international importance placed upon FAKUMA, and even radio and television were on hand providing extensive coverage of the event. In the end, the plastics technology economy proved itself highly robust at FAKUMA, and revealed that it’s regaining its strength: Numerous exhibitors who came to Friedrichshafen with relatively low expectations were able to transact surprisingly good business, and are now reporting well filled order books, which hasn’t been the case for quite some time in this innovative industry.

FAKUMA as a “Genuine” Sales Platform

Full of joy, some of the exhibitors reported spontaneous trade fair sales and great interest in concrete solutions, which is also a positive sign that the industry is not fixated solely on better times after the crisis, but rather is consistently paving the way for more productivity and efficiency right now. In summing up what is now being called the most successful ever FAKUMA trade fair for plastics technology by all involved parties, it can be said that it took place at precisely the right time and provided the market with powerful impetus for lasting business. Once again, FAKUMA has demonstrated its qualities as a “plastics ambassador” and a “trailblazer for solutions with plastics”, which opens up tremendous future opportunities for the entire industry with regard to efficient use of resources, lightweight construction and energy efficiency. The next FAKUMA will take place from the 18th through the 22nd of October, 2011.