After debuting at the 2013 show, the K 2016 trade fair will once again feature a Science Campus, offering visitors a chance to learn about scientific activities and findings in the plastics sector, while promoting a knowledge exchange between companies and universities.
K 2016, the world's largest plastics trade show, will take place 19-26 October in Düsseldorf, Germany.
According to show organiser Messe Düsseldorf, the Science Campus will focus on four key themes defined by the K 2016 Innovation Circle — a panel consisting of experts from science and representatives of the K 2016 exhibitors' council. The themes this year are:
• Innovation drivers of global change focusing on resource efficiency.
• Plastics Industry 4.0.
• New materials.
• Lightweight engineering.
"Expected to have a lasting impact on the sectors' market development in the coming years, these themes will not only be the focus of the Science Campus but will also be reflected in the presentations of the exhibitors, the special show 'Plastics Shape the Future' and the Innovation Compass," the show organiser said in a 29 February news release.
The following participants will be represented at the Science Campus in Hall 7:
• Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences, Institute of Plastics Engineering (ikd).
• Johannes Kepler University, Institute of Polymeric Materials and Testing, Linz, Austria.
• Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden (IPF).
• Chemnitz University of Technology, Cluster of Excellence MERGE, Institute of Lightweight Structures.
• Dresden University of Technology, Institute of Lightweight Engineering and Polymer Technology (ILK).
• University of Stuttgart, Institute of Polymer Technology (IKT).
• A total of 10 institutes or chairs of macromolecular and technical chemistry.
• Fraunhofer Society for the advancement of applied research with a total of eight institutes.
• Kunststoff-Institut (plastics institute for SMEs in North Rhine-Westphalia) (KIMW).
• Beteiligungs- und Kunststoffverwertungsgesellschaft mbH (BKV) – investment and plastics-recycling company.
• Climate-KIC GmbH – Climate Innovation Initiative of the European Institute of Innovation & Technology.
• Fachagentur Nachwachsende Rohstoffe e.V. (FNR) – coordinating institute for renewable materials activities.
• German Chemical Society (GDCh).
• VDI – The Association of German Engineers.
• Scientific Alliance of Plastics Technology (WAK).
K 2016 will host more than 3,000 exhibitors and about 200,000 trade visitors.