Good economic conditions in the past few months have led to justifiable expectations for a successful trade fair and at the recent staging of K 2007, 17th International Trade Fair for Plastics + Rubber, these optimistic expectations were even exceeded: 3,130 exhibitors from 58 countries and about 242,000 visitors from 100 nations took part in the event (compared to 2,904 exhibitors and 231,000 visitors at K 2004). Ulrich Reifenhäuser, Chairman of the K 2007 Exhibitor Council, commented: “We’re heading home in the best of moods! Already during the trade fair itself, a remarkable number of deals were closed – some of them in the millions. We forged so many promising new contacts and recorded so many serious enquiries regarding new projects that we feel completely confident about the continued growth predicted for the industry. Our user industries are investing vigorously – money that is going into new high-performance plant and equipment – to ensure strong positions in what is a thriving global competition.”

This opinion was shared by all segments of the exhibiting industry – from raw materials producers to processors and machine builders. The keen interest shown by the trade visitors from around the world and their willingness to invest underscored the highly promising future awaiting the plastics and rubber industry.

Werner Matthias Dornscheidt, President and CEO of Messe Düsseldorf, and his team were delighted with the excellent results of K 2007: “Just the number of experts visiting K 2007 during the last eight days – 11,000 more than at the previous event in 2004 – is in itself proof enough of the trade fair’s status. What’s even more important is the highly international profile of visitors and their willingness to invest, which was highly praised by the exhibiting industry. Intensive talks were conducted at the stands with visitors who came to Düsseldorf well prepared with specific project queries. This means that, on top of the successes achieved in the halls, exhibitors can look forward to good post-show business. Once again, it is obvious that K is and remains the premier event for the plastics and rubber industry!”

The results of the visitor survey confirmed increased internationality: 57% (or about 138,000 trade visitors) came from outside of Germany – 22,000 more than in 2004. About 55% of the international experts arrived from Europe while 45% were from overseas.

As anticipated, the number of visitors from Asia rose again: some 30,000 specialists from the Asian continent traveled to Düsseldorf (compared to about 23,000 at K 2004). Among the Asian nations, the largest contingent (about 10,000 attendees) came from India. A rise in the number of visitors from Thailand and Japan was also recorded. The percentage of Taiwanese and Chinese attendees remained constant at 1% and 0.7% of the international visitors.

A distinct growth in the number of professionals from North, South and Central America was also noted. A total of 8,300 trade visitors from the U.S. and Canada took part in K 2007 (an increase of 1,400 compared to K 2004). Around 11,000 experts (compared to 8,000 at K 2004) arrived from Latin America (especially from Brazil and Mexico).

The largest contingent of visitors from among Germany’s neighboring countries was made up by almost 10,000 Dutch experts, followed by Belgian attendees. More professionals gathered at K 2007 from Italy, the UK, Switzerland and Turkey than three years ago. Increased interest and willingness to place orders was noted among Central and Eastern Europeans (Poland, the Czech Republic, Russia and Hungary).

The majority of the K 2007 visitors were interested in plant and machinery building, while for 42% of the experts, raw materials and auxiliaries was the focus of their visit and 27% came to see and order plastic and rubber semi-finished products and technical parts. 71% of the professionals are active in industry. The number of visitors with top-level decision-making authority was higher than average and almost two thirds of the K visitors held top or middle management positions. The visitors gave the scope of products presented at K 2007 excellent ratings – 96% were satisfied or highly satisfied. The K 2007 special presentation organized by the German plastics industry and spearheaded by PlasticsEurope in cooperation with Messe Düsseldorf also received favorable responses from the visitors.

On the exhibitor side, 63% were from countries other than Germany. The leading foreign exhibitor nations at K 2007 were Italy (464 companies), China (154 exhibitors), the U.S. (145 exhibitors), Taiwan (132 companies) and the U.K. (114 exhibitors). The number of U.S. exhibitors includes 60 companies displaying their products within the two successful U.S. Pavilions, organized by Messe Düsseldorf North America and co-sponsored by The Society of the Plastics Industry (SPI).

The next K in Düsseldorf, Germany will be held from October 27 – November 3, 2010. For further information on visiting or exhibiting at K 2010, contact Messe Düsseldorf North America, 150 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 2920, Chicago, IL 60601. Telephone: (312) 781-5180; Fax: (312) 781-5188; E-mail: info@mdna.com. Or visit the website http://www.mdna.com.

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