Let’s talk about people. Particularly about those who work behind the scenes at K 2016 to make sure that the world’s biggest trade fair for the plastics and rubber industry really does turn out to be what everyone involved – exhibitors, industry representatives, visitors and, last but not least, Messe Düsseldorf, the organisers themselves – hopes to experience: a mega-highlight that remains a positive memory to one and all long after it is over and creates high expectations for K 2019. After all: when one K ends, the next one begins!
Suppose you want to celebrate something with your friends and acquaintances. The motto is: everyone is invited! Although you know from experience roughly how many guests you can expect to come, you don’t know the exact number until afterwards. You want the event to be a satisfying experience for your friends: special attractions, cuisine that has something to offer everyone, no matter what their taste, good entertainment. You want everyone to enjoy the time immensely. Right from the start, i.e. including their journey. In some cases, a trained project manager is in fact needed in order to make the necessary preparations.
Imagine now that you are expecting more than 200,000 guests from all over the world, spread over eight days, and that your attractions are industrial production plants weighing thousands of tonnes which are as big as houses in some cases, cover an area of about 180,000 square metres and are in full operation. Although you have enough space available, alterations and modifications still need to be made here and there, so that everything fits in and can work properly. As long as he is there, every visitor is supposed to have the chance to enjoy an incredible experience: every individual should ideally have the opportunity to take a look at all the attractions and find the refreshments he wants and needs- without having to wait in line too long. It goes without saying that the same applies to travel to and from the event.
To some extent, this scenario outlines the situation that the K team at Messe Düsseldorf has to face every three years, whenever plans are being made for the most important trade fair in the plastics and rubber industry.