8 Things to Check Out at K Show 2025

Photo: Messe Düsseldorf / Tillmann

Surprisingly, these innovative materials have only been in existence since the early 1900s. The Belgian chemist Leo Baekeland was experimenting with synthetic resins when he created Bakelite, a hard, moldable plastic that retained its shape after being heated. This material marked the beginning of what is now known as “the age of plastics.” Russian chemist Sergei Lebedev developed polybutadiene, the first mass-produced, commercially viable synthetic rubber, which replaced natural plant-based rubber in many applications. 

Over time, these two inventions led to a record-high worldwide plastics and rubber products market size of $1552.46 billion in 2025. If you’re part of the plastics and rubber industry, this is cause to celebrate—and there’s no better place to do it than K Show 2025, the world’s top international trade fair for innovations in the plastics and rubber industry. 

Held in Düsseldorf, Germany, for over seven decades, K is the best place for professionals interested in plastics, rubber, and materials R&D trends to discover breakthroughs and share forward-looking ideas—and this year, MaterialsZone is proud to join the event with a new innovation in product development. Here’s everything you need to know about K Show 2025, and eight can’t-miss things to check out at the exhibition.

What is K Show 2025?

The first K Show was held by promoter Messe Düsseldorf in 1952 and has taken place every three years since then. Known as the world’s #1 trade fair for the global plastics and rubber industry, it features a diverse international audience of exhibitors and visitors showcasing the latest applications and concepts in those fields. 

A vast range of products and services, including the newest machinery, measuring technology, equipment, and raw materials, will be presented to industry professionals. K Show is also well-regarded for the quality and variety of its supporting programs, including the official special show organized by Plastics Europe and Messe Düsseldorf, as well as targeted fair areas such as Rubber Street and the Start-up Zone. 

Serving as the plastics and rubber industry’s performance barometer, K Show provides attendees with insights into material innovations, advanced processing technologies, digitalization trends (including digital security solutions), and regulatory compliance that are essential for R&D and production now and in the future.

What’s K Show 2025 all about?

This year’s theme is “The Power of Plastics! Green – Smart – Responsible.” The theme is broken down into three core topics for the trade fair:

1. Shaping the Circular Economy

Developing a functioning circular economy for polymer materials has been a critical industry task in recent years. The vision is to develop new, sustainable solutions and innovations for responsible plastic and rubber management, including methods for implementing closed-loop systems and introducing new materials that are safe, easy to use, of equal quality to current materials, and recyclable.

2. Embracing Digitalization

The digital transformation of the plastics and rubber industry will present opportunities for advancements in technology, the creation of new business models, and enhanced ways to meet rising global market demands. Cutting-edge technology like MaterialsZone’s materials informatics platform plays a key role in this process for plastics and rubber R&D labs.

3. Caring About People

The plastics and rubber industry is strongly focused on nurturing new talent while upholding both social and environmental responsibility. The goal is to create a workplace that provides young professionals with promising career opportunities, while also contributing to society through sustainable practices and responsible production.

Who is K Show 2025 for?

At the most recent K in 2022, there were 3,020 exhibitors from 59 countries who were visited by 177,486 attendees, 71% of whom were from outside of Germany. Plastic and rubber industry professionals will find great value in the information and inspiration presented at the fair, as will leaders from related industries such as: 

• Aerospace
• Advanced materials
• Chemicals
• Construction
• Electronics/Electrical engineering
• Food & Beverage
• Medical technology
• Packaging
• Pharma & Bio
• Vehicle manufacturing
  

The prospects of young professionals in the plastic and rubber industry are a key focus this year. Those employees and university students with an interest in the field should also consider attending to explore options in the industry.

K Show 2025: Logistical Details

Ready to head to K Show? Here are the details on attending the plastic and rubber industry’s Düsseldorf trade fair:

• What: K Show 2025
• When: 8-15 October 2025
• Where: Messe Düsseldorf Fairgrounds, Germany
• How to Attend:
  
  • Visitors:
    
    • Purchase Tickets/Redeem Voucher 
    • Registration (required after ticket purchase/voucher redemption)
  • Exhibitors:
    
    • Get Exhibitor Pass
  • Additional information/Questions answered:
    
    • Ticket Hotline: +49 211 / 4560-7600 
    • Email: ticket@messe-duesseldorf.de
    • Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
    • Download the K trade fair app: iTunes / Google Play Store
• Who will be there:
  
  • Exhibitors & Products at K 2025
  • Interactive Trade Fair Hall Map
  • Programme Overview
  • Bookmark MaterialsZone’s Booth for digital transformation insights. 

8 Things to Check Out at K Show 2025

Whether you’re an industry team looking for the latest materials R&D trends, a VP researching plastic and rubber innovations, or an exhibitor taking a break from your company’s booth to stroll the fairgrounds, there’s plenty to see and do at K Show 2025. Be sure to check out:

1. Plastics Shape the Future Show

Hall 6 hosts this special exhibition and full-week of stage events that serves as a central platform for talks, keynotes, and presentations within the global plastics and rubber industry. 

The various programs spotlight how the industry is addressing sustainability challenges in pursuit of transitioning to a climate-neutral plastics system by 2050. It features solutions that drive the circular economy, including advanced recycling methods, bio-based materials, and digital product tracking.

2. Rubber Street

Take a stroll down Rubber Street, K’s hotspot for innovations in rubber and thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) that’s also located in Hall 6. The goal of this eleven-company exhibit space is to increase the visibility of rubber and elastomers while showcasing their unique performance qualities. First established at the 1983 K Show, Rubber Street is all about the latest breakthroughs in this sector, while also emphasizing the indispensable nature of rubber and TPE to manufacturers of all kinds.

3. Materials and Design Curated Tour

With so much to check out over K Show’s over 170,000 square meters of exhibitions, choice paralysis could be a real problem for visitors. Fortunately, you can take a curated tour that highlights the most essential plastic innovations at K. Hosted by internationally recognized author, designer, and materials expert Chris Lefteri, this design-focused survey spotlights the exhibitors pegged as future trendsetters in emerging materials, technologies, and processes.

4. Power of Plastics Forum

If you need a breath of fresh air, this event is held in six pavilions in the outdoor exhibition area. The focus is the convention’s “The Power of Plastics! Green - Smart – Responsible” theme, and it’s crucial for understanding how the plastics and rubber industry is addressing its significant challenges and transforming for the future. 

A themed program will take attendees on a literal circular journey that emphasizes the need for closed plastic cycles, resource conservation, and reducing the carbon footprint. Other programs touch on optimizing digitalization, automation, and AI for increased efficiency and feasibility. There will also be networking opportunities to engage young industry professionals.

5. Start-up Zone

If you’re looking for bold ideas and fresh perspectives on sustainability within the plastics and rubber industry, you don’t have to go further than Hall 7. That’s where you’ll find the Start-up Zone, where you’ll get direct access to new companies that are pushing boundaries and shaping tomorrow’s markets—making it an essential stop if you’re looking for partnerships, investment, or inspiration. Here you’ll find:

• A curated lineup of fast-growing start-ups presenting real-world solutions.
• A focus on game-changing materials and disruptive processes.
• Exhibitions of eco-conscious technologies, including recycling innovations and circular products.
• Showcases of AR & VR applications and AI start-ups that are redefining how plastics are designed, tested, and experienced.

6. Bioplastics Business Breakfast

To truly maximize your time at K Show, you’ll want to ensure that you make new contacts that can help your business. What better way to do that than by combining breakfast and networking—two great tastes that taste great together. Bioplastics Magazine will be hosting three business breakfasts at the Congress Center on the fairgrounds on October 9, 10, and 11. 

The breakfast ticket also includes a one-day pass to K Show, so this is a great opportunity to attend for the day and take advantage of an opportunity for intimate networking, listening to and discussing high-class presentations, and, of course, a catered breakfast. In 2022, the Bioplastics Business Breakfasts (B³) hosted 125 hungry participants from 27 countries, so it’s truly a global buffet. There’s an online streaming option if you’re unable to attend in person, but don’t expect a side of bacon with that. 

Here are the dates and themes for B³ 2025:

• 09.10 (Thursday) – Renewable Plastics in Packaging
• 10.10. (Friday) – Renewable Plastics in Durable Applications
• 11.10. (Saturday) – End-of-life Pathways

7. Must-See Exhibits Recommended by Plastics Today

Plastics trade publication Plastics Today recommends these exhibits that are sure to excite and delight conventioneers interested in new materials analysis and development, properties and applications, and sustainability:

• Covestro (Hall 6, Stand A75) – Covestro’s SUE People Mover offers a real-world look at how polycarbonate glazing and Arfinio monomaterial are used in public transportation design. The exhibit highlights performance and durability in lightweight mobility applications.
• Wacker (Hall 6, Stand A10) – Wacker is presenting Elastosil eco LR 5003, a liquid silicone rubber approved for food contact that eliminates the need for post-curing. Live demos will show its production efficiency and suitability for scalable manufacturing.
• BASF (Hall 5, Stand C21/D21) – BASF will display the first chair built with recyclable polyurethane foam, showing how flexible foams can support circular design. The exhibit reflects BASF’s broader push toward recyclable polymers and sustainable materials innovation.
• Sikora (Hall 10, Stand F14) – Sikora is featuring new systems that provide real-time and lab-grade detection of pellet contaminants using X-ray and optical inspection. Attendees can bring their own pellets to test the technology and receive either a detailed contamination report or a small gift if no impurities are found.

8. Discover AI-Guided Product Development at MaterialsZone’s exhibit

MaterialsZone’s powerful materials informatics platform has accelerated the adoption of digitalization technologies in materials science R&D, helping to discover innovative new materials. Now, they are introducing their latest feature, AI-guided product development, which accelerates and transforms the R&D process. 

Researchers can easily upload their historical data, define targets, and set constraints, and then the AI generates suggestions. This approach reduces trial and error while optimizing research recommendations instantly. The results: 70% fewer experiments and 5x faster product development. If you’re developing new polymers and elastomers, don’t miss a demo at the MaterialsZone booth in Hall 7, Level 0/B25.

Make the Most of Your K Show 2025 Attendance

Here’s five tips to help you maximize the benefits of attending K Show 2025:

1. Network in advance with Fair Match – Use K’s networking tool to pre-schedule meetings with relevant suppliers, partners, or prospects so your time on-site is spent on high-value conversations.
2. Use the K Chatbot for real-time support – Located on the bottom right of K Show website pages, you can get instant help navigating halls, locating exhibitors, checking session schedules, and accessing logistics or technical info.
3. Filter exhibitors by product category – Focus your visit using the online database to identify companies aligned with your interests, whether that’s the circular economy, processing systems, or the latest tech.
4. Attend sessions that drive long-term strategy – Programs like Plastics Shape the Future and the Power of Plastics Forum cover industry-critical topics and future trends you need to be aware of.
5. Watch for directional trends – Track how messaging, material choices, and solution framing are shifting across the show floor to understand where the plastics and rubber industry is moving.

K Show 2025: the Future of the Plastics and Rubber Industry

K Show is a global marketplace for innovations in the plastics and rubber sector. Attendees can discover forward-looking trends, groundbreaking technologies, and new solutions across machinery, raw materials, semi-finished products, and services. It’s where the future of the industry is shaped and new standards are set.

MaterialsZone boosts the industry’s digitalization with its AI-guided materials informatics platform. It accelerates the development of materials-based products by transforming complex material data into actionable insights, empowering researchers and organizations to innovate faster, smarter, and better. 

Visit MaterialsZone at K Show 2025 to experience it firsthand. Request a demo today to try it out and have questions ready for our booth team. See you at K in October!