K Preview 2025: three days of innovation and industry insight

From June 16 to 18, 2025, Düsseldorf hosted the K Preview 2025, drawing the global plastics and rubber industry together. With participation from over 70 journalists representing 33 countries and 15 major exhibitors, the event marked the official kickoff to the lead-up for K 2025, which is set to take place between October 8 and 15 in Düsseldorf.

Over the course of three days, keynotes, panel discussions, and presentations focused on the key themes of circular economy, digitalization, and global competitiveness. Leading companies such as Reifenhäuser, KraussMaffei, Covestro, Wacker Chemie, CHIMEI, and Paques Biomaterials shared their insights, setting the tone for an industry in transformation.

Offering exclusive previews and international perspectives, the K Preview highlighted that K 2025 will be a pivotal event driving progress and innovation within the sector.

Day 1

The first day of the event featured presentations by Reifenhäuser, battenfeld-cincinnati, KraussMaffei, SIKORA and SEPRO ROBOTIQUE.

As in previous years, Reifenhäuser’s main booth – spanning over 1200 square meters – will be located in Hall 17, Stand C22. Here, the company’s Blown Film, Cast Sheet Coating, and Reicofil divisions will showcase their latest line technologies for film and nonwoven applications. For the first time, the barrel and screw unit Reiloy, along with Kdesign, a subsidiary focused on cooling, measuring, and calibration technologies for blown film lines, will also be featured at the main stand. Meanwhile, the Reifenhäuser Extrusion Systems components division will present its offerings in Hall 1, Stand D91. In addition, R-Cycle – an initiative co-founded by Reifenhäuser to promote an open tracing standard for plastic packaging – will be presented in Hall 7 within the Start-Up Zone.

As a leading international manufacturer of extrusion lines, battenfeld-cincinnati will be demonstrating at this year´s trade show how environmental management, digitalization, and sustainable practices can be implemented in practical solutions. Among the highlights will be the recently developed BC 120-40 DVT single-screw extruder, the multiTOUCH-X roll stack, the IOA system for automated pipe centering and more.

Under the motto "Pioneering Plastics – Performance. Perfected. For you." KraussMaffei will present itself at K 2025 as a full-service provider across the entire polymer processing value chain. The spotlight will be on advanced solutions in injection molding, automation, and additive manufacturing – emphasizing efficiency, high-quality components, sustainability, and seamless digital integration. Key highlights at the show will include the new all-electric PX series featuring the intuitive MC7 control system, the innovative Chopped Fiber Processing (CFP) technology, a fully automated assembly line, and a range of digital tools and additive manufacturing advancements.

At K 2025, SIKORA will showcase cutting-edge technologies for measuring, control, inspecting, and sorting – designed to ensure quality in the plastics industry. The spotlight will be on future-oriented solutions for tube, pipe, hose, and sheet extrusion. Among the highlights will be the largest model yet in the CENTERWAVE 6000 series, capable of accurately measuring minimum wall thickness, centering, diameter, and ovality in pipes with diameters of up to 1600 mm.

Sepro Group will introduce its completely redesigned S-Line robots, engineered for plastic injection molding machines with clamping forces up to 900 tons. Making their debut at K 2025, these advanced robots succeed the trusted S5 Line (3-axis) and 5X Line (5-axis), which have delivered top-tier automation performance for more than ten years. The new S-Line series brings improved efficiency, precision, and user-friendly operation – setting a new standard for high-performance molding automation.

Day 2

The second day of the K Preview 2025 featured presentations by BASF, Covestro, Röhm, Wacker Chemie, Domo Engineering Plastics Europe and Wanhua – BorsodChem.

At K 2025, BASF will showcase products for which fossil resources are replaced with renewable feedstock at the beginning of the production process using the Biomass Balance approach.

This October in Düsseldorf, Covestro will present cutting-edge material solutions at K 2025, aimed at tackling some of today’s most pressing global challenges. Under the theme "The Material Effect", the company will demonstrate how innovative and sustainable materials can drive meaningful transformation at the world’s leading trade fair for plastics and rubber.

"Shaping the Circular Economy" is one of the key topics of the world’s No.1 plastics trade fair in October. PLEXIGLAS, Röhm´s brand PMMA, is a material with ideal properties for circularity. At K 2025 The company will be showcasing components and objects contributed by leading manufacturers from the automotive, lighting, and kitchen appliance industries.

At Booth A10 in Hall 6 – spanning 360 square meters and featuring Wacker Chemie’s new booth design — the Group will present innovations related to grid expansion, e-mobility, sensors, and lifestyle applications. Highlights include ceramifying silicone rubber for e-mobility and electroactive silicone laminates for sensor applications, among others.

DOMO Chemicals’ fully digital and interactive booth (Hall 6, Booth B28) will showcase the company’s innovations across four key application pillars – each inspired by one of the four classical elements: Earth – bio-based and recycled polyamide solutions; Air – lightweight materials enabling metal replacement and CO₂ reduction; Fire – flame-retardant and high-temperature-resistant materials for EVs, E&E and performance fibers; Water – safe, high-performance solutions for fluid handling and sanitation.

Wanhua Chemical will showcase its advanced solutions in areas such as new energy vehicles, sports footwear, premium medical materials, and smart electronic devices, highlighting innovative technologies and real-world progress in the rubber and plastics sector aimed at enhancing quality of life.

Day 3

Day 3 of the K Preview 2025 offered presentations from Advanced Petrochemical Company, CHIMEI Corporation, Kuraray Europe and Paques biomaterials.

This year, CHIMEI will showcase its Ecologue portfolio, a transformative suite of sustainable material solutions, underscoring its commitment to accelerating the transition to a circular and sustainable future. This comprehensive portfolio integrates mechanical recycling, chemical recycling, and biomass balanced plastic and rubber. These solutions are designed to minimize product carbon footprints and promote material circularity, and meet the rising demand for sustainable products across industries.

Kuraray, a global specialty chemicals company based in Japan, will showcase a diverse portfolio of advanced materials designed to meet practical industry demands at K 2025 in Düsseldorf (Hall 7a, Booth D06). These materials support a wide range of applications, including recyclable packaging, PFAS-free automotive parts, and soft, safe options for hygiene and medical products. The exhibit emphasizes innovation, collaboration, and sustainability, featuring ISCC PLUS-certified materials and highlighting how Kuraray partners with customers to develop future-oriented solutions for mobility, packaging, and healthcare.