Review of K 2025: The World’s No. 1 Trade Fair for Plastics and Rubber in Düsseldorf
Read about our visit to the K25 trade fair in Düsseldorf
The world’s biggest trade fair for plastics and rubber took place again in Düsseldorf, and what an impressive event it was. Every three years the entire plastics industry gathers here, filling 17 halls with machines, materials, and innovations. It is impossible not to be amazed by the size and energy of K 2025. Companies from all over the world showcased their latest solutions, and it truly felt like the beating heart of the plastics industry.
The Power of Plastics! Green, Smart, Responsible
This year’s main topics were circular economy, digitalisation, and responsibility. The official motto was "The Power of Plastics! Green, Smart, Responsible." The focus was not only on new products but on how the industry can contribute to sustainability and climate protection. Many exhibitors showed machines for recycling, solutions for processing bio-based materials, and systems for closed-loop production.
Digitalisation was another strong theme. More and more production lines now run with smart sensors, connected systems, and artificial intelligence. Visitors could see machines that communicate with each other, control energy use, and automatically adjust settings for better process efficiency.
It was also evident at the fair that digitalization and advanced software development play a major role in the global market. Machine and technology manufacturers are presenting a new generation of machines and systems that are setting standards in areas such as software optimization and integrated production processes to improve energy and material efficiency. At the K 2025 exhibition, about 40 manufacturers demonstrated the latest technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), augmented reality (AR) on more than 60 machines. In this way, they made visible and tangible the enormous potential of platform- and manufacturer-independent machine-to-machine communication.
Global meeting point
K 2025 once again proved why it is the leading international event for plastics and rubber. Around 175 000 visitors from 160 countries came to Düsseldorf, and more than 70 percent of them were from abroad. In total, more than 3 200 exhibitors presented their products and technologies, from large machinery builders to small material specialists.
India and China were among the biggest visitor groups, showing how strong Asia’s influence has become in the plastics world. Still, European manufacturers remain at the core of innovation, with German, Italian, Swiss, and Scandinavian companies showing impressive technical know-how.
The coolest and most gigantic trade fair I've ever seen
Serious manufacturers of blown film extrusion equipment spend months bringing machines to the show. In pavilions 16 and 17, these enormous engineering masterpieces look completely natural. K 2025 is the number one global event for the plastic industry, featuring extrusion, converting, slitting, winding, rewinding, and, let's not forget, recycling. You will find giant screws, rollers, molds, and all possible add-ons needed for plastics production. Raw materials, storage equipment, and all machinery are the cornerstones of the K Show.
Machines, materials, and people
Walking through the halls, you could feel how much effort companies put into their stands. The machine halls were packed with running extrusion lines, injection moulding systems, and recycling units. There was real plastic being melted, stretched, blown, and rewound, creating a living factory inside the fairground.
Many suppliers of blades, knives, and cutting tools were also present, because precise cutting is essential in extrusion and converting processes. For us at Sollex it is always a reminder that even the smallest component, a sharp and durable blade, plays a big part in overall production quality.
A good atmosphere
Despite uncertain global conditions, the mood at K 2025 was positive. Companies talked about challenges such as rising costs, raw material shortages, and sustainability demands, but also about opportunities in new materials, recycling, and digital manufacturing. The energy at the fair was optimistic and forward-looking.
Organisers and exhibitors reported strong visitor quality with many decision-makers, active discussions, and real business deals happening at the stands. That makes K not just a show but a serious business platform.
Practical side of visiting K 2025
Anyone who has visited K knows that it is also a marathon. Queues at the entrance in the morning, long walks between halls, and endless streams of people are part of the experience. Public transport works well, but it is still wise to plan your route early and bring comfortable shoes.
Tip for next time: book your hotel and flights long in advance because Düsseldorf fills up quickly. And if you can, take time in the evening to explore the city. The old town and Rhine promenade are full of good places to eat and relax after a long day at the fair.
Final thoughts
K 2025 was once again a great experience, inspiring, exhausting, and absolutely worth it. The industry showed not only innovation but also hope for the future. Sustainability is no longer just a buzzword, it is becoming a standard. After days surrounded by machines, materials, and people, it is good to return home full of new ideas. For us at Sollex, K 2025 confirmed that our work, developing and supplying precision blades for film production and converting, remains a small but essential part of a much larger industry moving toward smarter and greener manufacturing.
How do you prepare for K 2028
Book your hotel and airfare in advance. Don't waste time waiting for the bus. Be at the show 30 minutes before it opens so you don't spend the first hour waiting in line. Use the food plaza in Hall 16 as a good place to meet buyers.
Happy and exhausted, I return to cheer on our customers after an inspiring escapade. After long lines, flights and German diesel cabs, this will be a fresh start for me on my bike to work.
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Johan Falk
Expert in knives, knife blades and industrial razor blades
Sollex AB
T: +4635 -15 75 00 #1
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SOLLEX - Cutting edge performance
Sollex develops and markets a world-leading quality range of knives, knife blades and industrial razor blades for professional users. Sollex has been owned and operated by the Falk family for four generations since 1927.
