As part of the 30th edition of Fakuma, organiser P. E. Schall, in cooperation with the trade fair advisory board and PlasticsEurope Germany, will again host Career Friday. The event is scheduled for 16 October 2026 and will be held under the motto "Mould Your Dreams, Mould Your Future". The initiative is aimed at pupils, students and young professionals and is intended to enable direct exploration of career development opportunities in the plastics sector. The concept is to combine elements of the trade fair programme with contacts at exhibitors’ booths, so that participants can see processing technologies and discuss pathways for entering the industry.
According to the announcement, international exhibitors are to run dedicated activities at their booths, including presentations of manufacturing solutions and discussions about starting a career. The organisers emphasise the practical nature of the meetings and the opportunity to obtain information directly from people working at exhibiting companies, including professionals, apprentices and students associated with the companies.
Bettina Schall, managing director of Schall Trade Fairs, indicates that the goal is not only to present job profiles but also to show real development prospects: "We don’t just want to acquaint young people with various job profiles, we want to open up real career horizons. Career Friday brings talented individuals and companies together face-to-face in an authentic, pragmatic manner, on an equal footing." She also adds: "This allows visitors to discover just how exciting and progressive the plastics industry really is."
The importance of such formats for the industry’s future is also emphasised by Dr. Christoph Schumacher, head of Global Marketing at Arburg GmbH + Co KG and a member of the Fakuma trade fair advisory board: "Event formats like Career Friday clearly demonstrate the importance of our industry, as well as our society, for the industrial future. Anyone looking for meaningful work and technological excellence will find a truly creative environment in machinery and systems engineering."
Guided tours as part of the programme
One of the key elements of Career Friday is to be organised guided tours at the trade fair. As stated, they will again be prepared in cooperation with PlasticsEurope Germany and are among the highlighted items in the exhibition programme. Participants are to move in groups to registered exhibitors, which is intended to facilitate a targeted introduction to companies and their profiles.
During visits at the booths, company representatives are to present specific development opportunities, current projects and technological innovations. At the same time, space is planned for discussion and networking focused on connecting young people with industry representatives.
Bettina Dempewolf, head of Communications at PlasticsEurope Germany, points to the context of changes underway in the sector: "The plastics industry is in the midst of a profound shift towards greater sustainability and circular economy. In particular for this reason, we need committed young professionals who will actively help shape this transformation. Career Friday is an excellent opportunity for inspiring young people to take on this task and providing them with insights into the great diversity of our industry sector."
Susanne Zinckgraf, a member of the trade fair advisory board and head of Strategic Marketing at the Wittmann Group, in turn stresses the broad range of topics that early-career participants can encounter: "The industry offers tremendous opportunities for young talent, from high-tech applications to sustainable innovations. Initiatives like Career Friday are essential for raising general awareness of these opportunities and fostering a direct dialogue between companies and young people."
The plastics sector, innovation and sustainability
The source material indicates that the plastics sector is regarded as important for future challenges, from resource-efficient production and lightweight design to innovative recycling solutions. At the same time, companies are said to be continuously investing in new technologies and sustainability-oriented approaches, which translates into varied career opportunities.
It is also noted that industry feedback on the initiative has been consistently positive, and that leading companies are getting involved with their own activities, presentations and opportunities for discussion, which is presented as evidence of the high priority placed on developing young talent. Interest is also expected within the education sector, with schools, universities and educational institutions planning visits aimed at providing practical guidance for pupils and students.
The organisers underline the importance of cooperation among the entities preparing the event, industry representatives and trade associations, which is intended to support a varied programme and provide value for participants.
Free admission for target groups
Career Friday is targeted at pupils, students, teachers and career starters. Admission is to be free of charge, and participants are to have an opportunity to experience plastics processing in a trade fair environment. The communication states that the motto "Mould Your Dreams, Mould Your Future" is intended to highlight the role of young professionals in the future of the sector and the need to inspire, inform and integrate them into networks at an early stage.
The 30th Fakuma invites interested parties to take part in this trade fair format on 16 October 2026, with the premise that the event will help participants shape their own career prospects.
