Fakuma 2017 – Plastics Processing Meets Functions Integration

When Fakuma opens its doors at the Friedrichshafen Exhibition Centre in the fall of 2017 from the 17^th through the 21^st of October, it will become plainly apparent that “functions integration based on plastics technology” is still advancing, and that processes are overlapping and intermeshing with each other to an ever greater extent. New as well as hybrid and composite materials are playing just as important a role in this respect as are the advancing industrialisation of additive-generative manufacturing, functions integration in the form of overmoulded metal and plastic inserts and, as of recently, fully digitally controlled printing of PET bottles and containers directly within the production process.

The list of exhibitors with firm bookings already includes all of the leading companies – from small to large – for technologies, processes and technical solutions based on plastics, so that the 25^th Fakuma will once again represent more than just the current state of the art in plastics processing. The implementation of the Industry 4.0 philosophy (or expressed perhaps more accurately: the Industry 4.0 strategy) will certainly play a central role – especially in light of the fact that the necessary networking of all processes embodies the basis of consistent production automation including testing, optimisation, identification and packaging functions.

The refinement of processes, innovative use of conventional and new materials, designs which reduce material consumption and efficient processing equipment – as manufacturing in flexible quantities including diverse variants becomes more and more prevalent, plastics and above all multifunctional tooling systems for efficient injection moulding, thermoforming and extrusion are gaining even more importance! The 25^th Fakuma will put the innovative capabilities of the manufacturers and distributors of injection moulding machines, thermoforming and forming technologies, extrusion equipment, tooling systems and materials into their proper perspective!