"K 2013 PREVIEW” INTRODUCTION MEETING HELD AT MESSE DUSSELDORF
The world's largest plastics fair, **K 2013**, held every 3 years in Düsseldorf, Germany, will take place this year between October 16-23. Our institution, **PLASFED Plastics Industrialists Federation**, participated in the information meeting **"K 2013 Preview"**, traditionally organized by the fair organizer **Messe Düsseldorf GmbH** before the K Fairs, representing our country. In the meeting, attended by **Selçuk Bostancı on behalf of PLASFEDDERGİ**, PLASFED's sectoral publication, **Dr. Josef Ertl, President of the German Plastics Federation (WVK)**, who made a presentation, said: **"We will hear Turkey's name much more often."**
The **"K 2013 Preview"** meeting, held on July 3, was realized with the participation of 96 guests from 34 countries. In addition to technical information regarding the fair's organization, 13 different organizations made presentations outlining the innovations they would exhibit and their views on the future of the sector.
**"We will hear Turkey's name much more often"**
In the meeting where Dr. Josef Ertl, President of the German Plastics Federation (WVK), made a presentation, he also included his views on the plastics industry in Turkey in his speech. Ertl stated, "Turkey's growing plastics industry is showcasing its products and services more strongly. Compared to three years ago, with a thousand square meters increase in exhibition space, **Turkish plastic products and machinery will be exhibited in a total net exhibition area of 4000 m²**. I believe we will hear the name of the Turkish plastics sector much more often this year and in the coming years."
**The effects of the global crisis continue to be seen in the plastics sector, as in all sectors**
Dr. Josef Ertl pointed out that in Europe, especially with the declining production rate of the automotive industry, the stagnation of the construction sector, and increasing energy and raw material prices, many countries are facing the Euro crisis, and the economic situation in the monetary union is not very promising. Ertl reminded that the effects of the global crisis continue to be seen in the plastics sector, as in all sectors, and moreover, he emphasized that the EU is discussing its own political problems.
Ertl stated that through "shale gas," which is obtained very cheaply and which the USA has begun to use intensively, a serious competitor to Europe is emerging in the plastics sector, and added, "The USA is becoming a new global center in petrochemicals. Many people are talking about the re-industrialization of the USA. This situation could also have a long-term impact on plastics."
Ertl explained that in the sector, besides the global crisis, banking crises, protectionist tendencies in trade, pressures on the industry regarding climate change, and political instability in African and Arab countries constitute other unfavorable conditions, but the sector has previously shown its strength to emerge with creative solutions during crisis periods.
**"K 2013 will be the stage for innovations"**
At K 2013, which has an exhibition area of 170 thousand square meters, German plastics and rubber industrialists will occupy 43 percent of the fair, while the Italian plastics sector ranks second. At the fair where US companies will exhibit their products in an area of 5300 square meters and Turkish companies in an area of 4000 square meters, it was noted that Asian countries also expanded their exhibition areas compared to K 2010 Fair, with China, Taiwan, India, Japan, and South Korea's exhibition areas increasing from 18 thousand square meters to 25 thousand square meters.
It was noted that at the fair to be held in October, environmentally friendly and cost-effective innovations in plastic products will come to the forefront, and energy efficiency will be emphasized in the machinery sector.
This content has been translated using artificial intelligence technology.