The inaugural meeting of the Exhibitor Advisory Board marked the start of preparations for K 2028, the world's leading trade fair for the plastics and rubber industry, which will take place in Düsseldorf from 18 to 25 October 2028. The body supports Messe Düsseldorf in the strategic and conceptual development of the event and advises on key issues relating to the main thematic areas, programme structure and trade fair communication. At the beginning of the meeting, the board members unanimously elected Dr Axel von Wiedersperg, CEO of Brückner Group SE, as the new chairman. He succeeds Ulrich Reifenhäuser, who had led the advisory board since 2004 and played an important role in shaping K over the past two decades.
Dr Axel von Wiedersperg holds a doctorate in law and has served as Managing Director of Brückner Group since 2009. According to the information provided, he has many years of industry and market knowledge related to the plastics and rubber sector, as well as an extensive international network within the industry. He has been a member of the K Exhibitor Advisory Board since 2023, and was therefore already involved in preparations for K 2025 and in the strategic development of the event. In addition, he serves on the board of the VDMA Plastics and Rubber Machinery Association.
Scope of the board's work and direction for K 2028
The meeting focused on a joint review of K 2025, an evaluation of the exhibitor and visitor survey, and initial assumptions regarding the direction of K 2028. The discussion covered the key themes of the next edition and the next steps connected with the strategic development of the trade fair.
The K Exhibitor Advisory Board represents the full spectrum of areas present at the event, from machinery and plant engineering, through the production of plastics and rubber, to processing. It includes representatives of exhibiting companies as well as leading industry organisations.
Composition of the K 2028 Exhibitor Advisory Board
The K 2028 Düsseldorf Exhibitor Advisory Board comprises:
- Marc Gregor Baier, BBP Kunststoffwerk Marbach Baier GmbH
- Dr Christine Bunte, Plastics Europe Deutschland e.V.
- Boris Engelhardt, wdk – Wirtschaftsverband der deutschen Kautschukindustrie e.V.
- Dr Stefan Engleder, Engel Austria GmbH
- Dr Guiscard Glück, BASF SE
- Manfred Hackl, Erema Group GmbH
- Jochen Hardt, Covestro Deutschland AG
- Juliane Hehl, Arburg GmbH & Co. KG
- Thomas Holzer, Troester GmbH & Co. KG
- Jan Karnath, Reifenhäuser GmbH & Co.KG Maschinenfabrik
- Thorsten Kühmann, VDMA Plastics and Rubber Machinery Association
- Dr Oliver Möllenstädt, GKV German Plastics Processing Industry Association
- Eric Schönel, Simona AG
- Ute Spring, Dow Deutschland Anlagengesellschaft mbH
- Dr Axel von Wiedersperg, Brückner Group SE
- Dr Sascha Witt, Windmöller & Hölscher SE & Co. KG
- Michael Wittmann, Wittmann Technology GmbH
According to the information provided, Düsseldorf is once again set to become a global meeting place for the plastics and rubber industry during K 2028. Leading international suppliers from machinery engineering, raw materials and processing, as well as companies active in plastics recycling, are expected to attend. Exhibitor registration for K 2028 is scheduled to open in January 2027.
Members of the K 2028 Exhibitor Advisory Board and the K team met in Düsseldorf on 27 May. Photo: Messe Düsseldorf GmbH
