News Plastech
The tenth edition of Formnext in Frankfurt am Main attracted 38,282 visitors and 804 exhibitors, underlining the growing industrial establishment of additive manufacturing and its expanding range of applications across sectors.
Barmag, part of the Oerlikon Group, is commissioning three new HMLS yarn systems in China as local producers ramp up capacity to meet rising global demand for high-performance polyester tire cord.
Formnext 2025 has opened in Frankfurt am Main, bringing together 803 exhibitors on 50,000 m² of space and presenting a broad spectrum of industrial additive manufacturing technologies, applications and trends along the entire process chain.
The 30th Fakuma international trade fair for plastics processing will take place in Friedrichshafen from 12 to 16 October 2026, with organisers reporting strong early bookings and broad international participation from the plastics industry.
Fanuc Poland has launched a new headquarters in Wrocław with an expanded technology competence center combining an application showroom, service areas, a spare parts warehouse and an extended Fanuc Academy. The facility integrates office, service, logistics and training functions to support industrial automation users, including plastics injection moulding processors.
Wittmann Battenfeld Benelux will undergo a generational change in its top management at the end of 2025, with long-serving managing director Michel van der Motten retiring and being succeeded by Mark Verveer.
Sikora has once again been included in the “Global Market Leader – Champions” ranking for 2026, which identifies around 500 companies from the German‑speaking economic area that are global leaders in their markets.
Haitian has begun ramping up its new facility in Ruma, Serbia with an internal open house, adding local manufacturing, logistics and R&D capacity for the European market. Initial production covers Mars and Jupiter injection molding machine series, with over 50 units built to date.
Coperion has named Stefan Lachenmayer as Managing Director Recycling. A long-time employee with experience in plastics and recycling, he outlines a technology-focused approach developed with Herbold Meckesheim and reflects on outcomes from the K 2025 trade show.
Krones reported higher profitability in the third quarter of 2025, with order intake and revenue on track. The company maintained a sizeable backlog and confirmed full-year targets despite global uncertainties.
Formnext 2025 will mark the trade fair’s 10th anniversary with an expanded program, adding guided post-processing tours, live shows and interactive features to its three-stage format, special showcases, awards and partner country Spain.
In October 2025, Arburg received a gold rating from Ecovadis for the third time, improving its score from 78 to 83 points. The machine manufacturer from Lossburg is now in the top two per cent of more than 100,000 companies assessed globally.
Meusburger has introduced a portfolio of mechanical, hydraulic and electrical components that support demolding in injection molds, including tool monitoring components.
The Wittmann Group has established Wittmann Maroc Sarl in Casablanca to serve growing demand for injection molding technology in North Africa. Operations began on September 1, 2025, with Redouane Soukrat appointed as general manager.
Evosys has installed a photovoltaic system of around 100 kWp on the roof of its production hall. The project expands on-site power supply, supports CO2 reduction and enables growth of the company’s charging infrastructure.
Nordson has strengthened the global sales team of its Polymer Processing Systems division. The company appointed Paweł Botke as regional EDI sales manager for Europe and Jacky Hu as extrusion die systems sales manager in China.
KraussMaffei will showcase powerPrint Flex, a robot-based, modular large-format 3D printing solution, at Formnext 2025. The system combines the company's extrusion know-how with scalable cell architecture, enabling high-output printing of thin-walled, fiber-reinforced thermoplastics.
At K 2025, Evosys presented the EvoWeld Mini with a wood housing, the EvoWeld Generation 2 and the Evo 0800-TD, drawing strong technical interest in laser plastic welding.
Stadler inaugurated a 27,000-square-foot office and warehouse complex in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, to expand service capacity, logistics and customer support across North America.
At K 2025, Lindner introduced the fourth-generation Micromat stationary single-shaft shredder, featuring a 97% efficient synchronous reluctance drive and a configurable multicut rotor for fast knife changes and broad material flexibility.
Sumitomo (SHI) Demag reports strong results from K 2025 and will pivot its European trade fair activity toward targeted customer events and regional exhibitions, aligning participation more closely with R&D cycles.
MAAG has developed the Duration cutting blade for its strand granulators, targeting abrasive FRP compounds. The VS23 material increases surface hardness by up to 70 percent, extending service life by a factor of 5 to 9 compared to conventional carbide blades.
BOY will showcase the fully electric 50 Electric injection moulding machine at Plast Eurasia 2025 in Istanbul, producing espresso cups live. Together with Polmak Plastik, the company will highlight electromechanical drive technology and energy-efficient machine concepts.
Mammoet has introduced Industrial Solutions, a business offering that consolidates engineering, installation, lifting and transport for large industrial projects across Europe, managed by its German organization. The unit targets sectors including semiconductors, data centers, green chemistry, pharmaceuticals, food and beverage, paper and packaging.
KraussMaffei has expanded its portfolio with the fully electric BrightStar press for automated lamination and edge folding in automotive interiors. The platform combines a new electric drive with precise thermal control, modular configuration and 5 to 20 ton variants, alongside a cost-optimized BrightStar Lite.
MaGeno-Solar eG, the KHS employees’ cooperative, received the GenoAward in the Best Newcomer category for its rooftop photovoltaic projects at KHS sites. Two systems are in operation and a third is planned for 2025, supporting KHS’s climate-neutral target for 2050.
The 34th Plast Eurasia Istanbul will run on 3–6 December 2025 at the Tüyap Fair Convention and Congress Center, organized by Tüyap Tüm Fuarcılık Yapım A.Ş. in cooperation with the Turkish Plastics Industry Foundation (Pagev). The program spans processing machinery, materials and automation, with Turkish Airlines as official partner.
At K 2025 in Düsseldorf, Wittmann introduced the Drymax basic 120 mobile dry air dryer, emphasizing energy-efficient dual-cartridge technology, the SmartCare option for stable low dew points, and maintenance-friendly access in a compact design.
Kistler has introduced the NCFQ 2166A high-speed joining system, combining a LinMot linear module with piezoelectric force and acceleration sensing. The turnkey setup targets precise, high-throughput assembly in medical, electronics, semiconductor and automotive applications.
Vecoplan has introduced the Vecoplan Intelligent Detect module, a self-learning vibration system integrated with the Vecoplan Smart Center. The company reports up to 60 percent lower damage risk and reduced delays in shredding operations.
At K 2025 in Düsseldorf, Sikora reported higher visitor numbers than in 2022 and strong international interest in its measurement, control and sorting systems. The company highlighted technologies for extrusion and materials inspection, aligning with the fair’s "The Power of Plastics! Green – Smart – Responsible" theme.
"Level Up! Your Advantage" - the Haitian Group presented at K 2025 in Düsseldorf a new generation of machines and solutions combining productivity, flexibility and digital intelligence.
ENGEL Group will acquire Trexel from early October 2025, expanding its position in physical foaming for injection moulding. Trexel will remain operationally independent with unchanged global sites and management continuity.
At K 2025 in Düsseldorf, Wittmann Battenfeld introduced a new MacroPower injection molding machine with a one-piece frame in the 400 to 600 t range, aiming to shorten installation, shrink the footprint and improve serviceability, while adding energy-saving features and expanded hydraulics.
Engel introduced the tie-bar-less victory electric injection moulding machine at K 2025, combining electric drives with a redesigned clamping unit. The model targets higher precision, energy efficiency and flexible mould-space utilisation in the clamping force range above 1,300 kN.
Sidel has opened an office in Lagos that will serve as a regional hub for project management, engineering and service for customers in West Africa. The aim is to support the development of sustainable packaging and strengthen the company’s presence in the region.