FAKUMA 2008 closes successfully with more than 40,000 expert visitors.

The FAKUMA international trade fair for plastics processing, which took place at the Friedrichshafen Exhibition Centre from the 14th through the 18th of October, 2008, defied any signs of economic weakness with record numbers and a large percentage of participants from outside of Germany

The great, and in the opinion of many exhibitors sustainable success of the 19th FAKUMA, international trade fair for plastics processing, makes it apparent that the so-called “real economy” will not necessarily have to get drawn into the downward spiral of the worldwide financial crisis. The 1705 exhibitors, as well as more than 40,000 expert visitors (41,856), were relatively unimpressed by the current debacle and ostentatiously turned their attention to business matters. This very good objective impression is reinforced by the fact that precisely 480 of the 1705 exhibitors came from foreign countries near and far, and with more than 20% of the 41,856 expert visitors, a comparatively large percentage of the visitors travelled from outside of Germany to Friedrichshafen on Lake Constance as well.

After welcoming 1445 exhibitors to the 18th FAKUMA in 2006, and now that the Friedrichshafen Exhibition Centre has been expanded with two additional pavilion in 2008, the private trade fair promoter has now set a new record with 1705 exhibitors from 35 countries around the world.

More exhibitors than ever, an additional 152,000 square feet of exhibition floor space, very high levels of internationalism amongst exhibitors and expert visitors, lots of world’s firsts, innumerable innovations which provide quick benefits – and despite all of this, FAKUMA was able to retain is special flair. Paul E. Schall, managing shareholder of trade fair promoters P. E. Schall GmbH & Co. KG: “As an industry meeting place, FAKUMA is plainly accepted as one of the world’s most important business platforms for plastics processing companies”. Indeed, many of the exhibitors from both inside and outside of Germany were highly satisfied, and are expecting good post-event business.

The 20th FAKUMA will take place from 13 through 17 October 2009, once again at the Friedrichshafen Exhibition Centre, and will point the way to the future for plastics technology beyond 2010 as an anniversary event for the industry.