Hidden inside – Performance outside! www.hpfminerals.com Your contact in Poland: Daniel Burniak, Phone +48 75 734 0071 d.burniak@osiecznica.com.pl www.quarzwerke.pl SILATHERM® – FILLERS FOR TOMORROW Increased thermal conductivity of polymers while retaining their electrically insulating properties. Versatile application possibilities in innovative products: • GAP filler • TIM material • Epoxy resin compounds • LED sockets and sensors • Microprocessors, EMC, CCL • Thermoplastic compounds Visit us: Hall 8A, Booth H10Some might call trade fairs “anachro- nisms of the analogue era”. Why gath- er tens of thousands of professionals in one place when technologies allow us to connect daily through video calls, webinars and online marketplaces? The answer is simple: fairs remain the condensed heartbeat of an indus- try. They compress time and space, bringing together people, machines and ideas in a way no digital platform can match. The K show in Düssel- dorf is more than a meeting point. It is a stage on which the plastics sector presents not only its products, but also its ambitions, dilemmas, and visions of the future. This year, perhaps more than ever, the fair takes place at a time of uncer- tainty. The war in Ukraine and grow- ing tensions on the EU’s eastern flank have created a lasting sense of politi- cal fragility, something we in Poland understand all too well given our loca- tion and history. At the same time, Eu- ropean production volumes have not returned to pre-pandemic levels. High energy costs, low-cost competition from Asia, and the US tariff disputes weigh heavily on confidence. On top of this comes the constant flow of new EU regulations. Investment decisions are being postponed or cancelled, as companies hesitate to invest in such an uncertain environment. Nowhere are today’s challenges more evident than in the chemical industry. Europe, once a global leader in plas- tics, has lost ground to mega-complex- es in Asia and the Middle East, while sanctions on Russia cut off access to cheap oil and gas, driving up costs and making ageing steam crackers uneco- nomical to modernise. Shutdowns are multiplying, global giants are selling off assets and the continent’s indus- trial base is shrinking. Even mechani- cal recycling, once the flagship of the European Green Deal, is faltering un- der cheap imports, bureaucracy and the widening gap between ambitious targets and economic reality. In 2025 alone several major plants shut down and the dream of a circular economy looks far more fragile than policy- makers expected. Among processors the machinery sector, traditionally a barometer of industry sentiment, is now seeing falling orders, a clear sign of hesitation across the value chain. For many companies these mounting pressures mean a shift from growth to survival. Yet an industry caught in stagnation cannot stay still: the status quo is un- sustainable, and continuing along the same path will only deepen Europe’s loss of competitiveness. Signs of re- newal are beginning to appear: the digitalisation of production, the rise of circular business models, advances in chemical recycling, collaborations across the value chain, and a new wave of engineers, scientists and entrepre- neurs working to transform plastics. Chemical recycling in particular stands out, attracting unprecedented invest- ment through projects that aim to turn hard-to-recycle waste into near-virgin feedstock. If the technology proves scalable and environmentally sound, it could become the missing link that allows Europe to align circularity with industrial competitiveness. This edition of Plast Echo Internation- al aims to capture both sides of the present moment: the harsh reality of stagnation and the fragile but pow- erful signals of change. We cover the companies that continue to invest despite uncertainty, the technologies that could redefine recycling, and the debates that will decide whether Eu- rope leads or falls behind in the global plastics economy. The road ahead is far from easy. But history shows that times of crisis of- ten serve as catalysts for renewal. The pressures now weighing on the plastics industry may provide exactly the conditions needed to crystallise new solutions. At K 2025, among the machines and the buzz of countless meetings, the outlines of recovery may already be visible. The real test will be whether visitors are ready not only to observe but also to buy. Paweł Wiśniewski Editor-in-Chief International Edition – K 2025 03Plast EchoInternational Edition – K 2025 Table of contents K Trade Fair sets the direction for the plastics industry22 Interview with Thomas Franken, Director of K Show The innovative DNA of plastics industry26 Plastics Europe Poland The iceberg effect: what lies beneath the crisis in Europe’s plastics recycling sector?28 Plastics Recyclers Europe The state of the plastics processing industry: challenges and risks to competitiveness30 Polish Union of Plastics Converters How did a milking cow become a dead dog?34 Plastpol Expo: Central and Eastern Europe’s solid pillar for the plastics industry40 Enhancing Packaging Innovation44 Processing plastics with Blow Moulding Factory46 25 years of innovation: Bagsik celebrates a quarter-century of development48 The impact of optical sorting accuracy on polymer regranulate quality50 Plasmaq at K 2025 – getting plastics value back on the right track52 Top suppliers54 Where the plastics industry meets Poland56 What about Poland?58 ISSN 2719-4671 www.plastecho.com Publisher Editorial address Plastech Paweł Wiśniewski S.K.A. Relaksowa 4 87-100 Toruń, Poland +48 56 622 90 37 info@plastech.pl Editor-in-chief Paweł Wiśniewskipw@plastech.pl +48 504 688 799 Editorial team Agata Mojcneram@plastech.pl +48 503 830 490 Oliwia Kołodziejskaok@plastech.pl Advertisement Krzysztof Tarasiewiczkt@plastech.pl +48 530 704 050 Grzegorz Robionekgr@plastech.pl +48 530 206 666 Cooperation Plastics Europe Poland Polish Union of Plastics Converters Bydgoszcz Industrial Cluster Tool Valley Plastics Recyclers Europe Printed by Drukarnia Standruk ul. Rapackiego 25 20-150 Lublin, Poland Circulation 2000 copies Cover The red pellet of European plastics AI-generated image The editors reserve the right to edit submitted material. The editorial office is not responsible for the content of adver- tisements and announcements. page 22 page 26 page 28 page 30 page 34 Plast Echo04International Fair of Plastics and Rubber Processing 19-22.05.2026 plastpol.com Come & see us at our stand in Hall EN1 EN1-05B The No. 1 plastics trade fair in Central and Eastern EuropeI K 2025 highlights young talent with tours and forums K 2025 will place a strong focus on the next generation of professionals through its “Young Talents” initiative. The program is designed for school pupils, students and young profession- als who are considering training or ac- ademic studies in plastics and rubber technology. Across multiple formats, visitors will receive practical guidance on education pathways, insights into the industry’s diverse roles and expo- sure to topics that are shaping plastics, including the circular economy, climate protection, and high-tech applications in medicine and mobility. From 8 to 15 October 2025 in Düsseldorf, the fair will provide central points of contact for information on training courses, study opportunities and career pros- pects, complemented by a new pre- show podcast and a structured tour on K Sunday that connects participants with companies and institutions active in workforce development. I Young Talents initiative and podcast Ahead of the fair, the podcast “A look behind the scenes, young talents in the plastics industry” offers first-hand per- spectives from four trainees and stu- dents, Jacob, Jacqueline, Johanna and Mathias. They discuss their day-to-day work, experiences, challenges and op- portunities, illustrating the breadth of roles and the future orientation of the sector. The same four young profes- sionals will guide the Young Talents Tour at the trade fair. I Young Talents Tour The Young Talents Tour will take place on Sunday, 12 October. The program includes stops at the GKV’s Young Talents Lounge and at the exhibition stands of training companies: Arburg, Erema, Covestro and Simona. Partici- pation is free of charge and no advance registration is required. Tours will be conducted in German and will start at the GKV, Hall 8a / Stand F11-01. I Young Talents Lounge The Gesamtverband Kunststoffverar- beitende Industrie (GKV) will serve as the responsible sponsor of the official special format “Young Talents Lounge” at K 2025, underscoring training, study and career prospects in plastics processing. The lounge will present interactive experiences, including an obstacle course, VR applications and a mini injection moulding machine. The association will also showcase in- novative courses of study and initia- tives to promote young talents. A spe- cial highlight will be the gathering of the winners of the Günter Schwank Prize within the “Club of the Best”. The award honors the best graduates in plastics technology each year. I VDMA pavilion and “Young Talents Time” Mechanical engineering will provide its own platform for young talent in the VDMA pavilion, which is part of the “The Power of Plastics!” Forum. Train- ees, students and young professionals will host the daily “Young Talents Time” from 9 to 14 October at 11:00 a.m., where ideas for the future of the plas- tics industry will be discussed. In addi- tion, VDMA will highlight initiatives to promote young women in mechanical engineering, including EnSHEneer. I Career Sunday with Plastics Europe Germany K Sunday will focus on recruitment and careers at Plastics Europe Germa- ny. In the official special show “Plas- tics Shape the Future”, the association will present a program that addresses training, recruiting and career devel- opment. The agenda includes a panel on recruiting skilled workers, expert talks on topics such as “Recruiting by Gaming” and “Recruiting by Diversity”, a recruiting stand-up and interactive formats such as “HR Bullshit Bingo”. A Science & Poetry Slam will round off the program. School pupils, trainees and students will receive free admission on K Sun- day, 12 October. Proof of eligibility in the form of a pupil or student ID card is required according to the informa- tion on tickets for K 2025. The fair will be open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. from Wednesday, 8 Octo- ber to Wednesday, 15 October 2025. Further information is available at www.k-online.com. Plast Echo06“ENSŌ“ IN MIXING looking for perfection in equipment manufacturing for PVC DRY-BLEND, MASTER BATCH, THERMOPLASTIC RUBBER, POWDER COATINGS, METALLIC BONDING and WPC PLAS MEC S.R.L. Via Europa 79, 21015 Lonate Pozzolo (VA) – Italy phone +39 0331 301648 - comm@plasmec.it www.plasmec.it I Plastic is Fantastic Association to debut at K 2025 The Plastic is Fantastic Association, initiated by the Alpla Group, will make its public debut at K 2025 in Düsseldorf. Presented as a global movement focused on how plastic is perceived, the association aims to provide science-based, objective information and to act as a network for stake- holders across the plastics value chain. Its stated approach prioritises factual communication over opinion, with an em- phasis on addressing practical questions about materials, applications and end-of-life solutions. According to the organisers, the initiative will address top- ics such as next-generation materials, waste management and sustainability, while seeking to counter common clichés and myths about plastics. The association positions plastic not as the root of environmental challenges but as part of potential solutions, depending on responsible design, use and recovery systems. The slogan announced for the cam- paign is “Powerful material. Powerful voice”. From 8 to 15 October, the group will present itself at K2025, booth N05 at the North entrance, inviting visitors to learn more, ask questions and engage with the program. The association describes itself as an open, hands-on com- munity format. K 2025 will also serve as the launch platform for a global communications campaign. The association states that the campaign will emphasise benefits associated with plastics in modern applications, including safety, low weight, hy- giene and recyclability. It also asserts that plastic can often be the most sustainable option when assessed across the product life cycle. The stated objective is to bring existing scientific knowl- edge about plastics to broader public awareness and en- courage informed discussion. International Edition – K 2025 07Plast EchoI “Fair Match”: a smart matchmaking tool for exhibitors and visitors With “Fair Match”, K 2025, from 8 to 15 October 2025 in Düsseldorf, is offering an innovative digital service that connects exhibitors and visitors in a new, smart way. The aim of the tool is to enable business contacts to be made in an even more targeted and efficient manner – before, dur- ing and after the trade fair. Fair Match is designed for both exhibitors and visitors. Af- ter registering and redeeming their exhibitor badge code, exhibitors can activate their participation with just a few clicks. Companies that are already registered can simply ac- tivate the service in their personal profile. Visitors register free of charge or log in with their email address to access all functions directly. Personalised contact suggestions are at the heart of Fair Match. Based on the interests of the trade visitors stored in their profiles and the product categories of the exhibitors, an intelligent algorithm suggests suitable business partners. This enables companies to find potential customers in a targeted manner and visitors to quickly discover relevant exhibitors. The integrated chat function allows direct com- munication and easy appointment scheduling – without time-consuming coordination or lengthy email correspond- ence. Interesting contacts can also be saved as favourites for quick access at any time. Another advantage is that Fair Match does not end with the last day of the trade fair. The service re- mains available through- out the year, enabling valuable contacts to be maintained beyond the trade fair and new busi- ness opportunities to be developed. This extends the trade fair experience and maximises the ben- efits for all involved. Visi- tors benefit in particular from the ease of use: they complete their profile with a few details about their interests and business objectives and immediately receive suitable recommendations. All communication and appointment coordination take place conveniently in the K app, which is available free of charge in the App Store and on Google Play. With Fair Match, Messe Düsseldorf provides an efficient tool for successful networking: personal, efficient and available at all times – whether on site at the exhibition centre or on the move. I K Assistant now makes trade fair preparation even more convenient and efficient K in Düsseldorf now offers the AI-supported chatbot “K As- sistant”: a virtual companion that provides exhibitors and visitors with targeted information around the clock – indi- vidually, multilingually and intelligently. K Assistant is available to assist anyone interested at www.k-online.com. Whether you need initial information on hall plans, exhibitor offers, the supporting programme or services, the chatbot ensures you are perfectly prepared for an optimal trade fair experience. “With K Assistant, we are offering an innovative service that enables visitors and exhibitors to plan their trade fair visit even more efficiently”, explains Thomas Franken, Director K at Messe Düsseldorf. “Digital tools such as the chatbot are an important step towards offering our customers modern and user-friendly support”. More than just a chat – what the K Assistant can do: •Available 24/7: The AI chatbot is available to users at any time of the day or night, ensuring maximum plan- ning freedom. •Intelligent answers instead of mere search results: The K Assistant thinks for itself – it analyses questions in context and provides structured, precise information instead of long lists of hits. •Language diversity for global target groups: Visitors and exhibitors from all over the world benefit from the multilingualism of the system, which communicates in numerous national languages. Plast Echo08Next >