The K 2019 trade fair for plastics and rubber will take place from 16 – 23 October 2019 in Düsseldorf, Germany, where the VDMA Plastics and Rubber Machinery Association will shine the spotlight on the recycling sector and show how closed loops can work effectively. A series of interviews is shedding light on why it is doing this and the significance of the "Circular Economy" for member companies of the association. In this interview, Andreas Lichtenauer, Managing Partner, Kautex Maschinenbau GmbH, will give his views on the subject.

ExxonMobil announced that it will demonstrate at its pavilion at the fairground between halls 10 and 16 how, by working together and utilising combined expertise, customers across the value chain can create differentiated sustainable solutions for a range of applications including packaging, automotive, consumer products, agriculture, building and construction, hygiene and personal care, and lubricants.

Sibur and Tatneft have signed a letter of intent with respect to Togliatti-based petrochemical facilities. Under the deal, Sibur plans to sell and Tatneft plans to acquire certain production and other assets that are currently registered in the name of Sibur Togliatti and Togliattisintez legal entities. The assets include production facilities for various types of synthetic rubber used by leading tyre manufacturers, for MTBE (high-octane fuel component), butadiene, isoprene, and other intermediates, as well as infrastructure of the industrial park accommodating a number of chemical and other technological companies.

Internationally operating chemicals distributor Nordmann (former NRC) will be exhibiting at K 2019 in Düsseldorf together with several of its partners: Francesco Franceschetti Elastomeri (FFE), Honeywell, Kraton, Nyacol and PMC. For Nordmann, this year’s fair will mean focusing on raw materials that meet the market’s high demand for sustainability in plastics.

Biesterfeld Spezialchemie has acquired the Norwegian distribution company Lindberg & Lund Group with its headquarters in Vestby/Oslo. It focuses on the technical distribution of raw materials and formulated products from areas such as adhesives, composites, electronics, oil/gas, and lubricants. The company, which is managed by its owners, was founded in 1984 and has branches in Sweden and Finland. Lindberg & Lund employs a total of 50 people in application technology, sales, administration and warehousing.

LyondellBasell has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Liaoning Bora Enterprise Group (Bora) to form a 50-50 joint venture in China, which will operate an ethylene cracker currently being built by Bora. Under the MoU, the parties will establish the joint venture in Panjin.

The injection moulding machines manufacturer Dr. Boy GmbH & Co. KG will showcase eleven exhibits at the trade show. Six Boy injection moulding machines will also be presented at the stands of its partner companies. Amongst others, Boy will highlight its plastification technology Servo-Plast for the first time at K 2019 as well as a new alternative positioning option for its linear handling LR 5 on an injection moulding machine.

DSM has announced to present new applications for Arnitel TPC (co-polyester TPE) in sustainable athletic footwear. In recent years, the athletic sportswear industry has increasingly integrated high-performance materials to deliver higher durability, stability and functional performance without compromising on weight. DSM will present expanded Arnitel that can be used in mid-soles of athletic footwear to deliver a range of performance advantages:

This year marks the 40th anniversary of Evonik’s polyamide 12 elastomer (PEBA), a popular, trusted material—especially in the athletic equipment industry—owing to its very good performance and design freedom*. To celebrate this anniversary, Evonik announced that it will be introducing a new member of the PEBA product family, whose transparency and gloss give designers far more freedom than they have ever had with PEBA.

At K 2019, the Zahoransky business unit Oral Care presents an innovative application for the production of toothbrushes: A laser unit makes it possible to add custom inscriptions to the soft and hard components of toothbrushes immediately before packaging. Kraiburg TPE supplied the thermoplastic elastomers, and Merck the additives for this project. A second demonstration at the stand at K 2019 is the new multicomponent mould which is used to produce a PBT/LSR part.