Way2K: Industry interviews on the way to the K

Our society is facing challenges such as climate change and resource conservation. The plastics industry plays a central role in this. At K 2025, the focus will be on the circular economy, digitalisation and responsibility for people and the environment - crucial for sustainable development.

The VDMA invites representatives from the plastics machinery industry and other stakeholders to weekly interviews to share perspectives. These discussions emphasise our responsibility to promote skilled workers and to use the opportunities offered by plastics for a better future.

A man with shaved hair and glasses in a white shirt smiles into the camera - Andrea Carta; Copyright: Kurtz Ersa

NEW!

"You can't please the whole world from Germany"

Interview with Andrea Carta, Moulding Machines Managing Director at Kurtz Ersa

"It is extremely important for us not to be dependent on one single business or sector. Although there are many joint projects between our three divisions, each division runs its business independently."

man smiles into the camera - Dr. Henning Stieglitz; Copyright: Battenfeld-Cincinnati

"Operator support is becoming increasingly important"

Interview with Dr. Henning Stieglitz, CEO and CTO at BC Extrusion Holding GmbH

"There are four key factors for us to improve efficiencies in plastics extrusion: the use of materials, the line speed, the use of energy and the use of recyclates. The biggest driver is the use of materials. This is also the focus of our research."

A man with shaved hair and beard in a white shirt smiles into the camera - Thorsten Jacoby; Copyright: Erlenbach GmbH

"The quality of the recyclate is crucial"

Interview with Thorsten Jacoby, Managing Director of Erlenbach GmbH, part of the hetech group

"As a medium-sized mechanical engineering company specialising in processing technologies for particle foams, we are making a significant contribution towards resource conservation and sustainability."

A bald man with a short white beard in a blue jacket and white shirt smiles into the camera - Christoph Schumacher; Copyright: Arburg GmbH + Co KG

"Plastic is simply indispensable as a material"

Interview with Dr. Christoph Schumacher, Vice President Global Marketing at Arburg GmbH + Co KG

"At K 2025, we now want to emphasise the strength and ability to shape the future of both plastic materials and the industry in all its facets - hence the absolutely self-confident – and, in my opinion, truly meaningful – motto."

A man in a blue jacket, white shirt and glasses smiles into the camera - Jörg Stech; Copyright: KraussMaffei

"Efficiency is the driver of the plastics industry"

Interview with Jörg Stech, Chairman of the Management Board, KraussMaffei Technologies

"Profitability and efficiency continue to be the main drivers of the plastics industry. When customers manufacture plastic parts, they usually do so in large quantities."

A man with dark hair and beard in a black polo shirt - Sebastian Rust; Copyright: ENTEX

"We are still at the beginning of the circular economy in many areas"

Interview with Sebastian Rust, Managing Director at ENTEX

"The tyre industry is very conservative and likes to stick to established and traditional process chains. In tyre production, the recipes are often very old. Every minor change to a tyre composition always entails a change in production and a great deal of effort, which is why it is not so easy to implement innovations."

Image: Michael Boerner and Simon Stadtmueller stand smiling in a technical room.

"Ultrasonic technology is safe and user-friendly"

Interview with Michael Boerner, Head of Global Business Development Plastics and Simon Stadtmueller, Expert Medical Applications at Herrmann Ultraschalltechnik

"We have been working extensively on recyclable packaging in blown film extrusion for a long time."

Image: Marcel Perrevort; Copyright: Reifenhäuser

"We have never had such efficient systems as we have today"

Interview with Marcel Perrevort, Chief Sales Officer at Reifenhäuser

"Definitely, because we can see that the image of plastic has changed significantly. Today, plastic is no longer seen as a problem, but as a valuable material that can make a significant contribution towards solving many of the world's problems."

Image: Michael Lackner; Copyright: Lindner Holding

"Our customers are increasingly requesting complete solutions"

Interview with Michael Lackner, Managing Director at Lindner

"In recent years, we have noticed a trend in the market towards consolidation among our customers. Small recyclers are being taken over and integrated into larger corporate groups."

Image: Anatol Sattel; Copyright: Sumitomo (SHI) Demag

"We have to appeal to the people in our region"

Interview with Anatol Sattel, Chief Sales Officer at Sumitomo (SHI) Demag

"It is certainly right to demonstrate self-assurance. The simple fact is that at least 75 per cent of all plastic products will continue to be without alternatives in the future."

Image: Bengt Schmidt; Copyright: Kiefel GmbH

"There is a quest for orientation within the market"

Interview with Bengt Schmidt, Global Director Packaging at Kiefel GmbH

"Recycling has been a major issue in the plastics industry for years. The quantities available for recycling from the yellow bag are not sufficient. Processors are therefore often forced to use virgin material."

Image: Lukas Buske; Copyright: Plasmatreat

"Plasma technology makes plastics more valuable"

Interview with Lukas Buske, Managing Director of Plasmatreat

"Plastic is a versatile material and indispensable in many industries. However, many plastics are naturally water-repellent, i.e. hydrophobic, meaning that paints, varnishes or adhesives adhere poorly."

Image: Konstantin Klein - Man with grey hair in a grey jacket stands smiling in front of an industrial machine; Copyright: Hosokawa Alpine AG

"Previous major challenges with single-material composites have now been solved"

Interview with Konstantin Klein, Sales Director of Blown Film at Hosokawa Alpine AG

"We have been working extensively on recyclable packaging in blown film extrusion for a long time."

Picture: Georg Kiesl - Man with dark hair in a blue jacket looks directly into the camera outdoors; Copyright: Billion SAS

"We create added value for the customer "

Interview with Georg Kiesl, General Manager at Billion

"The advantages we have in Europe, especially in France and Germany, are basically the advantages that characterise the SME sector, of which high flexibility is one."

Image: Dr. Stephan Gneuss - man with dark hair looks directly into the camera; Copyright: Gneuss Kunststofftechnik GmbH

"Design for recycling is the key"

Interview with Dr. Stephan Gneuss, Managing Director of Gneuss Kunststofftechnik GmbH

"Many distributors of plastic products have now recognised that they also need to identify recycling routes for products. For this reason, recycling processes have been developed in recent years that did not previously exist."

Image: Markus Gschwandtner - Man in suit jacket with light-colored shirt and dark blond hair; Copyright: Brückner Maschinenbau

"Mono-material structures are increasingly in demand"

Interview with Markus Gschwandtner, Managing Director and Chief Sales Officer (CSO) at Brückner Maschinenbau

"Our aim is to always be one step ahead in terms of technology. Competition has indeed become more intense, with new providers in our industry segment coming primarily from Asian countries, which is why we have to counter this with innovation, focusing on our research and development department."

Image: Ulrich Reifenhäuser; Copyright: Reifenhäuser

K defies all challenges to remain the centre of the plastics industry

Interview with Ulrich Reifenhäuser, Chairman of the K Exhibitor Advisory Board, and Thorsten Kühmann, Managing Director of the VDMA Plastics and Rubber Machinery Association

"It is a fact that we have a huge climate problem in this world. It is also true that plastic is the most climate-friendly material. Its production consumes significantly less CO2 than that of other materials. This climate advantage would be immediately visible if, for example, the CO2 footprint was labelled on packaging. It is therefore not presumptuous to be very self-confident."

With TROESTER Robotics, we are bringing the future into the present. Intelligent automation opens up new opportunities to optimise processes, use resources more effectively and alleviate the shortage of skilled workers at our customers.

Photo: Tobias Holzer, CEO, TROESTER GmbH & Co. KG

K 2025 remains the global benchmark for the plastics industry.

Photo: Ulrich Reifenhäuser, Board Member VDMA Committee for Plastics and Rubber Machinery, CSO Reifenhäuser Group

The plastics industry is driving innovation - but responsibility is growing: energy prices, bureaucracy, environmental regulations. AZO sees this as an opportunity to shape the future sustainably and efficiently.