Commercially Minded, Clear-headed, Committed: How Jacqueline Fritz Fits in at Arburg
23/09/2025
From business school straight into practice: Jacqueline Fritz made a conscious decision not to go to university and instead opted for an apprenticeship at Arburg – and she has not been disappointed. Today, she works in human resources development, supervises training courses, supports apprentices – and will soon be at K.
Recycling, Technology, Responsibility: How Jacob Manhartsgruber is growing at EREMA
16/09/2025
Commissioning recycling plants during the day, hitting the books in the evening – and inspiring young people to take an interest in technology at K: Jacob Manhartsgruber is a plant and operations technician at EREMA and is also completing his HTL degree in electrical engineering. In the video, he talks about his path into the plastics industry, about responsibility, motivation.
Technology, Plastics, Team Spirit: How Mathias Biermann Got Started at Simona
11/09/2025
Industrial mechanic, plastics technician, application engineer – and always right in the thick of things: Mathias Biermann has found his way at Simona. In the video, he talks about CAD, customer contact and coffee machines, sustainable materials, 3D printing and his upcoming assignment at K 2025. A real insight into the possibilities of the industry – straight from the field.
Miriam Olivi: The Plastics Industry Needs a Cultural Change – and More Women
20/08/2025
The plastics industry is facing change: sustainability and digitalisation are dominating discussions – but diversity and promoting young talent are also becoming increasingly important. In a video interview, Miriam Olivi, President of Women in Plastics Italy, explains why more than just visibility is needed to achieve this. At K 2025, an event will be dedicated to this topic – by women for women.
At Pöppelmann, Young Talents are Shaping the Future of Plastics
15/08/2025
Plastics are often viewed critically, yet they offer a wide range of possibilities for making the world more sustainable. Matthias Lesch, Managing Director of Pöppelmann, is convinced of this. In the video, he explains why the industry is exciting for young talents, what prospects training and dual study programmes open up – and why a visit to K 2025 is worthwhile for young professionals.
Chemistry, Plastics, Career: How Johanna Stritar Found Her Way at Covestro
11/08/2025
What makes a dual study program in the plastics industry so special? How does it feel to be a young chemical engineer juggling between the laboratory, the plant, and everyday university life? Johanna Stritar works at Covestro and gives personal insights into her career path, talks about warm shower water as an underrated benefit—and why plastics should not be demonized.
Shaping the Future: Why the Plastics Industry Needs Young Talents
31/07/2025
How can we bridge the gap between science, industry, and young talent? Prof. Dr.-Ing. Christian Hopmann of the IKV at RWTH Aachen University, talks in the video about the importance of interdisciplinary skills, the future of the plastics industry, and why formats such as the Science Campus and Career Day at K 2025 play a central role for the skilled workers of tomorrow.
Women in the Plastics Industry: More Diversity, More Future
30/07/2025
While the shortage of skilled workers in technical professions is steadily increasing, the potential of female workers remains untapped in many places. The industry is still very male-dominated – especially in management positions. Studies show that more women in technical professions could not only help to close the skills gap, but also bring new perspectives and innovative strength to companies.
International Women's Day: Women in the History of Plastics
26/02/2025
8 March is International Women's Day – the perfect occasion to highlight the role of women in the history of plastics. Although the plastics industry has long been dominated by men, women have made significant contributions to materials research, product development and the application of plastics.
Make@thon: Young Talents Develop Sustainable Solutions
05/02/2025
Have you ever heard of a Make@thon? In this format, young people come together for several days to develop creative solutions to pressing challenges of our time. Make@thons are often organized by universities and supported by NGOs or companies. The topics are diverse – from energy production and food security to climate change and the sustainable use of plastics.
From mechanical engineering studies to the award for young talent in plastics technology
16/10/2024
The more insights, the broader the knowledge and experience - that's what Marcel Piechnik realized during his studies. At the same time, he discovered his enthusiasm for plastics. In many different areas, he has deepened his insights into plastics and their variety.
One year to go until K 2025: trends that move the industry
08/10/2024
In a year's time, it will be that time again: K 2025 will open its doors and bring the global plastics and rubber industry together in Düsseldorf. From October 8 to 15, 2025, K will once again be the place where innovations are presented, new trends are discussed, and contacts are forged. The industry is already looking ahead to what will be on the agenda in October 2025.
Making Blister Packaging More Sustainable
21/08/2024
During the last allergy season, they may have ended up in your garbage once again: Blister packs. And you may have noticed how few tablets there are in a comparatively large pack. Not particularly sustainable, is it? That's what Olivia Falconnier Williams thought, too, and she set about researching how the packaging could be made more resource-efficient.
PET Youth Camp for Sustainable Plastic Management
12/08/2024
Indorama Ventures, a global leader in sustainable chemical production, has partnered with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) and its Department of Education to host the "PET Youth Camp for Sustainable Plastic Management." This initiative aims to educate and empower young leaders from BMA schools in effective plastic waste management, with a focus on PET recycling.
Skills shortage in the plastics industry
24/07/2024
The shortage of skilled labour poses considerable challenges for the plastics industry. In an interview with K-Mag, Sven Weihe from the German Plastics Processing Industry Association (in German: Gesamtverband Kunststoffverarbeitende Industrie e.V. - GKV) explains the main causes of the shortage of qualified specialists and what measures the association is taking to counteract this.
ARBURG trainees get Günter Schwank Award 2023
19/01/2024
Two former ARBURG trainees, Frank Kössig and Dennis Sagel, have been awarded the Günter Schwank Award 2023, which is presented by pro-K for outstanding achievements in the plastics processing industry. The two received certificates, 1,000 euros in prize money and are now members of the "Club of the Best", where they receive regular invitations to network meetings.
Working in the plastics industry
19/12/2023
The plastics industry offers a wide range of career paths in various disciplines. Each has its own focus and gives the opportunity to promote sustainability in the industry.
Educate, empower, inspire: Zukunftsmobil imparts plastics knowledge to young people
29/11/2023
Plastics are a valuable resource that can contribute to climate protection. Pöppelmann's Zukunftsmobil ("Future Mobile") educates schools, for example, about precisely this. With interactive workshops, it combines knowledge transfer about plastics with practical learning and shows children and young people the diverse possibilities and potential of plastics recycling and the Circular Economy.
Borealis supports ZOOM Children's Museum in promoting playful learning in new interactive exhibition "WELCOME TO THE FUTURE!"
10/11/2023
The company Borealis is supporting the ZOOM Children's Museum in promoting learning through play in the new interactive exhibition "WELCOME TO THE FUTURE!" The new hands-on exhibition can be visited from October 4, 2023 and is designed to inspire enthusiasm for science and chemistry.
Academic training and further education in Mexico
05/09/2023
ARBURG and Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey (Tec de Monterrey) have jointly launched a four-month academic training course in Mexico for the plastics industry, with the aim of producing skilled professionals. The course began with 16 participants and a commitment from ARBURG to support industry growth and development in the country.
With the power of the sun to the mobility of the future
20/07/2023
Team "Sonnenwagen" presented the new Covestro Adelie solar racing vehicle in front of a large crowd and high public attention at the Eurogress Aachen. Covestro supports the team as a main sponsor and provides innovative material solutions as well as technical exchange to optimize the vehicle for participation in the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge.
Training in the Plastics Industry: TikTok is Indispensable Today
16/06/2023
Boundaries are only in your head - with this motto, Thomas Deser took over as Teamlead Apprenticeship at KraussMaffei at the beginning of March. In this interview, the 51-year-old talks about his first successes in his new job, his goals and why TikTok and Instagram have become indispensable in the department of apprenticeships.
Plastics Engineering Studies at the JKU Linz
01/03/2023
Plastics must be newly thought and designed - that is the credo at the Johannes Kepler University in Linz. From autumn 2023, courses on plastics technology will be offered here. Plastics don't just play a supporting role there, they are the star of the show. Because they are a key factor for both the present and the future.
Digitization, automation, networking: "We have the whole wide bandwidth!"
09/08/2022
Twenty-year-old Yannick Herzog trained as an electronics technician for automation technology at Arburg and now works in the company's printed circuit board production. Since August 2021, he has been responsible for SPI and AOI for quality control of printed and assembled PCBs, respectively, in a production line. These are used in the control systems of the Arburg machines.
Training in the plastics industry: technical college and companies get trainees fit for the job
06/05/2022
At 16, did you already know where you wanted to go on your professional journey? With the range of choices available to young people today, it can be difficult to make a decision at first glance. That's why it's beneficial to be taken by the hand and introduced to different professions. Wentus GmbH from Höxter sets a good example.
School meets business: getting young people excited about the plastics industry
19/04/2022
At 16, did you already know where you wanted to go on your professional journey? With the range of choices available to young people today, it can be difficult to make a decision at first glance. That's why it's beneficial to be taken by the hand and introduced to different professions. Wentus GmbH from Höxter sets a good example.
From the idea to a (sustainable) company: Circular Valley promotes start-ups
11/03/2022
Mentoring in areas such as marketing and sales, direct contact with large companies, and support from industry experts – this is what every start-up dreams of. In the Circular Valley in Wuppertal, Germany, this is reality. Entrepreneurs from a wide variety of fields who want to contribute to the Circular Economy with their work are supported here.
Recyclable furniture from the creative workshop
24/01/2022
Plastic is a versatile material that can be used for a wide variety of projects. What's more, it is reusable and can be given new forms – so it can be given a second life in the sense of the circular economy. In the plastikfabrik in Saarbrücken (Germany), Daniela and Pascal Becher breathe such a second life into plastic.
Young plastics researchers are on the trail of proper recycling
07/01/2022
The Pöppelmann Research Week on the topic of "Plastics and Recycling" brought young people closer to the topics of plastics and recycling.
"If you never ask, you'll never know" – traineeship in plastics extrusion
12/10/2021
There is a desperate need for skilled workers in the plastics industry. Yet the industry has a lot to offer. Reifenhäuser GmbH also proves this with its diverse range of training programs.