The Circular Economy Forum to be held at K 2022

Düsseldorf, Germany – The Circular Economy Forum will again be held at K 2022, The World’s No. 1 Trade Fair for Plastics & Rubber, from October 19 – 26, 2022 at the fairgrounds in Düsseldorf, Germany. In the open-air area between Halls 10 and 16, the VDMA (German Engineering Federation) as organizer and 13 of its member companies will demonstrate the importance of technology in the implementation of the circular economy in the plastics industry. The participating companies are all represented at the Circular Economy Forum in addition to their stands in the exhibition halls. Arburg, Coperion, Engel, Erema, Kurtz-Ersa, Lindner, R-Cycle, Vecoplan are taking part with own pavilions while Battenfeld Cincinnati, Leonhard Kurz, Plasmatreat, Sumitomo (SHI) Demag and Wittmann Battenfeld will exhibit at the joint stand of the Forum. With machines running visitors can see how plastic waste is converted into high-quality regranulates or how recyclates are processed into attractive, highly functional and recyclable products through various processing methods.

The Circular Economy Forum addresses all three key themes of K 2022 – Circular Economy – Climate Protection – Digitalization. After all, high tech is also required to optimize manufacturing processes and make them ever more efficient – in addition to the recycling of plastic products, it also helps reduce CO2. Both approaches are not conceivable without digitalization. Digital product passports and globally applicable traceability standards, for example, are only made possible by digitalization. The networking of all components in the production line is considered the prerequisite for process optimization. For data exchange between machines, the VDMA has initiated a showcase that makes the live data of integrated machines visible on the basis of OPC UA, at the VDMA Dome and also accessible via smartphone.

The VDMA Dome at the center of the Forum will once again serve as an information point and meeting place. It will also provide an overview of important technology-relevant process steps in the plastic circular economy. With “The Machine” installation, nearly 40 companies with over 50 contributions will present their technology highlights for circular economy. Technologies range from sorting, shredding, washing and regranulating, and material handling to the most important converting processes (injection molding, extrusion, blow molding, foaming and additive manufacturing) as well as downstream process steps such as ultrasonic welding, surface treatment and thermoforming.