Taiwan’s plastics and rubber industry used K 2025 in Düsseldorf to underline its global competitiveness, combining sustainability with advanced production. In total, 118 Taiwanese companies, the fair’s sixth-largest exhibiting region, presented solutions that spanned closed-loop recycling for post-consumer materials, energy-efficient packaging equipment and high-performance injection molding, extrusion and blown film systems. The exhibits showed how higher levels of automation, process integration and energy management are being deployed to reduce operating costs and improve resource efficiency. Alongside the technology focus, industry leaders and public agencies addressed ongoing trade headwinds, including U.S. punitive tariffs on plastics machinery and intensified price and technology competition from other exporting countries. The response highlighted differentiation strategies, smarter manufacturing and closer international cooperation. Within the Taiwan Pavilion, suppliers and associations structured a program of technical presentations and a supply chain showcase linking materials, machinery and end products, while a dedicated networking format connected exhibitors with global buyers. Looking ahead, the industry signaled continuity of these priorities at the next Taipei International Plastics & Rubber Industry Exhibition.
Green transformation and circular solutions
Taiwanese suppliers placed circularity at the center of their K 2025 offerings. Polystar presented its "Recycling Made Simple" approach, covering film and fiber recycling through to turnkey systems for post-consumer materials. The portfolio emphasized higher automation and energy-efficient technologies to raise the economic attractiveness of recycling operations. Jumbo Steel Machinery showcased production systems focused on biodegradable materials and energy-efficient packaging solutions. Taken together, these developments demonstrate how process optimization and material choices are being aligned with circular economy objectives while maintaining cost control.
Smart manufacturing and market challenges
During the exhibition, Ku Jui-Sheng, the newly appointed Representative of Taiwan in Germany, visited the Taiwan Pavilion to review outcomes and future technologies. Taiwan’s plastics machinery industry remains among the sectors most affected by U.S. punitive tariffs and faces price and technology competition from other major exporting countries. According to the organizers, the Taiwanese government will continue to support companies in pursuing differentiation strategies to secure new business opportunities and safeguard competitiveness.
Manufacturers including Chumpower, Huarong, Fu Chun Shin and Fong Kee held 17 "Smart Machinery Flash Presentations" during the week. The sessions highlighted recent injection molding, extrusion and blown film machines, with an emphasis on energy efficiency, automation and connectivity, underscoring the breadth of Taiwan’s machinery capabilities.
Taiwan Pavilion and opening ceremony
The Taiwan Pavilion was organized by the International Trade Administration of the Ministry of Economic Affairs together with Taitra. Within the pavilion, 34 Taiwanese companies jointly presented their capabilities. An immersive industrial supply chain experience area connected 31 upstream and downstream suppliers with 80 products, illustrating the value chain from raw materials and machinery to finished products.
The official opening ceremony was moderated by Simon Wang, President and CEO of Taitra. Honored guests included David Chang, Chairman of the Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry (Tami), Mei-Shun Lo, Director General of the Taipei Representative Office in Germany in Frankfurt, and Bush Hsieh and Ryan Hsiao, Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Plastics and Rubber Machinery committee at Tami. Wang emphasized that intelligent manufacturing, advanced materials and green transformation are key directions for Taiwan’s industrial development, with technological upgrades and diversified market strategies intended to deepen international cooperation.
Networking and outlook
At the "Taiwan Night" networking event on the Wednesday of the fair, Taiwanese companies met international buyers. Taitra welcomed Florian Mikulasch, Manager of Economy and Markets at Vdma, as well as Petra Cullmann, Executive Director of Messe Düsseldorf. Together with representatives from machinery associations and plastics committees, participants discussed future global trends in the sector.
Looking ahead, Taiwan and the Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry will host the Taipei International Plastics and Rubber Industry Exhibition (TaipeiPLAS) from 15 to 19 September 2026. The show theme will be "Form to Future - Shaping the Future". The event will focus on intelligent manufacturing, innovative materials and sustainable circular systems, providing a home-stage platform for Taiwan’s leading companies.
