The next edition of the K trade show will kick off under the theme “Shaping the Future of the Plastics and Rubber Industry.” From October 18 to 25, K 2028 will serve as the industry gathering for the plastics and rubber industries. K 2028 will showcase its themes to visitors from the fields of plastics manufacturing, the chemical industry, rubber production and processing, mechanical engineering, packaging and distribution, automotive manufacturing, aerospace, electronics and electrical engineering, construction and housing, medical technology, precision engineering, optics, ICT, energy technology and photovoltaics, agriculture, sports and leisure, trade and services, as well as to universities and technical colleges and the manufacturing trades.
Key topics for K 2028 discussed by the Exhibitor Advisory Board
The inaugural meeting in early June 2026 focused on initial considerations regarding the thematic direction of the upcoming event. Members discussed the results of exhibitor and visitor surveys and derived initial ideas for the further development of K 2028 from these findings. In addition, key industry topics that are expected to gain importance in the coming years were examined. These include, among others, sustainability, the circular economy, digitalization, and new technologies in plastics and rubber processing.
A retrospective look at K 2025
K 2025 once again proved itself to be the leading international trade fair for the plastics and rubber industry. Despite a challenging economic environment, companies and industry representatives showcased a high level of innovation, strategic clarity, and future-oriented technologies. The central themes of the trade show, which took place in Düsseldorf from October 15 to 22, 2025, were digitalization, the circular economy, and social responsibility.
K 2025: High international participation and decision-making authority
On site, 3,275 exhibitors from 66 countries engaged with more than 175,000 trade visitors from around 160 nations. This meant that nearly as many interested parties came to the trade show in Düsseldorf as in 2022. More than 73 percent of trade show attendees traveled from abroad, with more than a third coming from overseas. Visitor groups from China, India, the U.S., and Brazil were particularly well represented. The proportion of decision-makers was equally noteworthy: two-thirds of visitors had purchasing or investment responsibilities.
