The Ultimate Antiblocking Solution

SMARTshot i brings Intelligence to LSR Molds

At Fakuma 2026, ELMET, an internationally active provider of precise and innovative solutions for liquid silicone rubber (LSR) processing, will present its SMARTshot i system to a broad, international audience of industry professionals for the first time. This new generation of intelligent cold runner technology for LSR injection molding continuously analyzes the injection process, automatically balances the cavities, and independently optimizes the nozzle pin positions.

BASF Group in second quarter 2026

BASF was able to increase earnings in nearly all segments in the second quarter of 2026. Stronger prices and higher volumes contributed to this rise. “We further strengthened BASF’s position in the market and achieved major progress with our restructuring as well as portfolio measures,” said BASF CEO Dr. Markus Kamieth when presenting the company’s half-year results, together with CFO Dr. Dirk Elvermann. On July 15, 2026, BASF had already pre-released preliminary figures for the second quarter of 2026 because EBITDA before special items of €2.4 billion significantly exceeded average analysts’ expectations. BASF raised its earnings outlook for the full year 2026.

Three High-Temperature ZSK Extruders

Dongguan Baier Plastic Co., Limited, a leading provider of high-performance engineering plastics based in China, has acquired three ZSK Mc18 compounders from Coperion. With these twin screw extruders, the company is expanding its production capacity for high-performance engineering plastics such as PA6/PA66, PEEK, PEI, PAI, PPS, PPO, PPA, PA9T, PA10T, LCP, and PA46, which are primarily used in the automotive industry, the electrical and electronics sector, and mechanical engineering.

Industrial Direct Part Marking

Permanent readability is only one part of the requirements for industrial marking. Just as important is how the chosen marking process affects manufacturing workflows, quality assurance, and traceability. Whether it proves its value over the long term depends not on the mark alone, but on how it fits into the overall production process.

MedGuard®: more than packaging

With MedGuard®, SÜDPACK Medica offers a fully integrated packaging system that helps manufacturers in the medical technology, pharmaceutical, and life sciences industries select and implement the right packaging concepts. Within the MedGuard portfolio, the packaging specialists combine different material structures with process expertise to create validated packaging solutions de-signed for performance, product and process safety – while also improving sustainability throughout the packaging life cycle.

PP recyclable blister for nutraceuticals

At booth 5F6, IMA Group will place SÜDPACK Medica’s pioneering PP-based – and therefore recyclable – NutriGuard® packaging solution in the spotlight at Vitafoods. In a live demonstration, trade visitors will be able to watch it being produced on a TR series machine and see for themselves the excellent ma-chinability of these sustainable high-performance films.

ENGEL at Plastpol 2026

At PLASTPOL 2026, taking place in Kielce, Poland, from 19 to 22 May, the ENGEL Group shows how intelligent injection moulding solutions improve process stability, efficiency and cost-effectiveness in a targeted manner. ENGEL is focusing its trade fair presentation on production solutions that enable processors to respond more quickly to deviations on the basis of data, reduce scrap and make their manufacturing operations more robust.

Hellweg at PRS Europe

Further developments improve efficiency and quality of ground materials.

DewTector® Coperion

With the launch of the DewTector®, Coperion introduces an innovative moisture measuring device designed to provide reliable, automated online measurements of surface moisture content in bulk materials, particularly plastic pellets. The patent-pending device offers an economical, simple and reliable method to help plastic manufacturers and recyclers monitor moisture levels more efficiently. It addresses a critical challenge faced by processors in maintaining both product quality and maintaining compliance with industry standards.

Engel at Chinaplas 2026

At Chinaplas 2026, taking place from 21 to 24 April in Shanghai, the ENGEL Group presents a total of six production solutions in live operation. They cover a broad spectrum of industrial applications and show how efficiency, process stability and cost efficiency in series production can be specifically improved. Two of these exhibits specifically address the requirements of the packaging and medical sectors, in which high cavity counts, short cycle times as well as reproducible quality and cleanliness determine competitiveness.

Allrounder Trend to be seen in Poland

From 19 to 22 May 2026, Plastpol will take place for the 30th time – and Arburg Poland has been there from the very beginning. This trade fair in Kielce is regarded as an important barometer of the mood in the Polish plastics and rubber industry. This makes it the perfect stage for Arburg (Hall E, Stand E30) to launch its new standard electric machines in Poland. On display is an Allrounder 1800 e Trend with a Multilift Select. This linear robot system produces spatulas. The second machine on display, also an automated hybrid Allrounder 470 H, produces drinking cups.

Hydraulic presses in the defense industry

Wickert Maschinenbau considers itself well positioned for the manufacture of safety-related components in the defense industry. For many years, the German family-owned company has been developing and manufacturing complete systems consisting of hydraulic composite presses with automated loading and unloading and efficient temperature control for customers in the defense sector.

Koszty w przetwórstwie tworzyw

B.IRD Machinery Takes Off

Companies in the plastics-processing industry must make their operations more efficient, avoid material losses and, at the same time, reduce energy consumption. At K 2025, it became clear which concepts can support these efforts. Many trade visitors had B.IRD Machinery Stricker GmbH’s infrared solution firmly on their agenda. They came specifically to the stand of the family-owned company from Aachen to learn more about its infrared rotary-drum technology. Demand was so strong that several machines were sold directly at the fair.

Recycled Content for Automotive Interiors

HEXPOL has successfully approved materials from the Dryflex Circular TPE range to the Porsche PN 780 standard.

Quality control and plastics analysis

Increase the profitability of recycling plants

Certified PP & PE Recyclates for Food Industry

At K 2025 in Düsseldorf, WIS Kunststoffe will showcase how a modern circular economy is already a reality in today’s plastics processing industry. At Hall 7A, Booth B11, the company will present technological collaborations, innovative recyclates, and efficient solutions for the sustainable use of plastics. Key highlights include a new recycling process for food-grade rPP, the cleaning compound Schneckenputzer®, and the interactive Walk of Waste.

K 2025: MOCOM

From October 8 to 15, MOCOM will showcase its comprehensive product portfolio at K 2025 in Dusseldorf. The spotlight will be on materials for lighting, lightweight construction and sustainable applications. At Hall 6, Booth A62, visitors will discover innovative and sustainable thermoplastic compounds from the brands Alcom, Altech, Alfater, Tedur, Wic, Wiplast and Wipaflex. These products provide flexible and sustainable solutions for the automotive, electrical & electronics (E&E), sports and leisure, transportation industries as well as for many other sectors.

Ensuring polymer consistency at scale

With global plastic production soaring to almost 450 million tonnes annually, small variations in polymer quality can quickly cascade, leading to scrap, downtime or even recalls. Here, Stephanie Williams, senior product specialist at materials testing giant Instron explores how melt flow testing helps ensure consistency and efficiency in polymer processing.

New additive solutions at K 2025

At K 2025, BASF will showcase the evolution of its VALERAS portfolio, highlighting how its additive solutions and services are enabling sustainability across the plastic lifecycle. First introduced at K 2022, VALERAS has developed into a robust platform that addresses plastic circularity, durability, and carbon transparency.

High Performance Additives

At K 2025, Brüggemann (www.brueggemann.com) will present its expanded range of performance-enhancing additives for polyamides and polyolefins, for the first time together with its Italian subsidiary Auserpolimeri, which has been fully integrated since 2022. The focus is on innovative developments that enable lighter and more complex designs, meet specific requirements in the E&E and e-mobility sectors, or make recyclates usable in demanding applications, even at elevated temperatures. These include highly efficient flow enhancers, thermostabilizers and impact modifiers as well as an innovative additive that is used to achieve thermoset-like performance especially during thermal treatment while keeping the thermoplastic processing for applications such as polyolefin foams, HFFR compounds and cables.

WICKERT at the K 2025

Under the motto “Your Partner for Presses and Automation”, WICKERT will present itself at K 2025, October 8–15 in Düsseldorf, as a full-service provider of customized automation solutions for hydraulic presses. At booth 14A41 in Hall 14, the company will showcase its extensive expertise in the fields of composites, rubber, friction, plastics, and powder processing – including cleanroom solutions.

Four years as Innovation Champion

With the August 8 issue of WirtschaftsWoche, it’s now official: SÜDPACK has once again secured a spot among the top 100 companies in the renowned business magazine’s innovation ranking – for the fourth year in a row. The film manufacturer is now entitled to carry the “Innovation Champions 2022–2025” seal of excellence.