The 30th edition of Fakuma, the international trade fair for plastics processing, will take place in Friedrichshafen from 12 to 16 October 2026. Around 1,600 exhibitors from 40 countries are expected to take part, filling twelve halls with technologies and solutions covering injection moulding, forming, extrusion, 3D printing, masterbatches, raw materials, tooling, process technology and recycling.
Alongside the exhibition, the anniversary edition will feature a programme of awards, technical discussions, startup initiatives and activities aimed at attracting new talent to the plastics industry.
Awards open the anniversary edition
The first day will begin with the presentation of the Paul Eberhard Schall Medal, which will be awarded for the first time. The recognition is intended for a company with a long-standing connection to Fakuma that has distinguished itself through innovation in plastics processing.
The organisers will also pay tribute to companies that took part in the first Fakuma in 1981 and have continued to exhibit at every edition since then.
Later the same day, the Fakuma Innovation Award 2026 will be presented. The competition is divided into six categories covering different areas of plastics processing. Entries have been assessed by independent experts from industry and academia according to criteria including level of innovation, technical benefits, economic relevance and sustainability.
“Building on Strengths” at the Fakuma Round-Table
On Tuesday 13 October at 4 p.m., the East Foyer will host the third edition of the Fakuma Round-Table. Under the title “Building on Strengths”, the discussion will focus on how plastics processors can respond to changing economic conditions while addressing environmental and social challenges.
Participants will include Dr Johannes Kilian, Vice President Process and Application Technology at Engel Austria; Josef Hochreiter, Managing Director of Next Generation Holding; Eva Söhnlein, Managing Director of the Geiger Group; and Michael Weigelt, Managing Director of TecPart – Association for Technical Plastics Products.
The session will be moderated by Markus Lüling, Managing Director of Kunststoff-Profi Publishing and Editor-in-Chief of K-PROFI and K-AKTUELL.
Career Friday returns
The final day of Fakuma, 16 October, will once again be dedicated in part to young people and new professionals entering the sector. Organised in cooperation with the trade fair advisory board and PlasticsEurope Germany, Career Friday will run under the slogan “Mould Your Dreams, Mould Your Future”.
Pupils, students and young professionals will be able to take part in guided tours, learn more about plastics processing technologies and establish direct contacts with exhibiting companies.
Patents and intellectual property
The German Patent and Trademark Office (DPMA) will also be present at Fakuma on 14 and 15 October. Two experts will provide information on patents, utility models, trademarks and designs, with particular attention to the protection of innovations developed within the plastics industry.
Startups and technical presentations
Young companies will present new technologies and business ideas throughout all five days in the Startup Area, while a programme of technical presentations will run daily at the trade fair forum.
The combination of exhibition, technical content and industry debate will therefore mark Fakuma’s 30th edition, with the event continuing to focus on market-ready technologies for plastics processing and on the main developments affecting the sector.