The 30th edition of the Fakuma trade fair will be a five-day event for the plastics industry in Friedrichshafen on Lake Constance, scheduled from Monday 12 to Friday 16 October 2026. As emphasised by Dr Christoph Schumacher, Vice President Global Marketing at Arburg, the trade fair has developed into a significant European platform for plastics processing. The German company from Loßburg is an integral part of Fakuma's history, and its presence from the outset has helped shape the profile of the event, which is focused on practical applications of injection moulding technology. The relationship between the trade fair and Arburg is long term and consistent, covering both exhibition participation and involvement in the trade fair advisory board.
Arburg stresses that Fakuma is one of the company’s most important events in its exhibition calendar.
"We congratulate Fakuma wholeheartedly. It is no exaggeration to say that this event is one of our most heartfelt passions. Right from the very beginning of this success story, it was clear how close the ties between Fakuma and Arburg were, and still are. As its largest exhibitor, we are very pleased to contribute to this success, and our booth in hall A3 is a cherished destination for all visitors."
The beginnings of cooperation between Arburg and Fakuma
The joint success story began in 1981 with just 70 exhibitors, following an earlier visit to Loßburg one year before. As reported by Dr Christoph Schumacher, the story often told by the company’s long-standing senior partner, Eugen Hehl, who passed away in 2023 at the age of 94, is frequently recalled. He described how in the autumn of 1980, Paul E. Schall travelled to Loßburg and presented to him the idea of organising a trade fair for injection moulders in Friedrichshafen, in the tri-border region on Lake Constance.
This founding story is an integral part of Arburg’s historical canon and, at the same time, is firmly embedded in Fakuma’s own history. The concept and the location were positively assessed and Arburg decided to come on board without hesitation. According to Paul E. Schall, this decision was the decisive factor that prompted him to embark on the trade fair venture under the name Fakuma. Two determined entrepreneurs and visionaries, with a strong sense of business, joined forces to initiate, develop and promote a joint project.
Location and focus on practical relevance
The tri-border region on Lake Constance proved to be the right place for the trade fair, and the concept adopted from the outset was coherent and clearly defined. The key objective was to concentrate on the practical relevance of the technologies presented. While the K trade fair in Düsseldorf showcased what was technologically conceivable to a large international audience, participants at Fakuma in Friedrichshafen focused on what was technically feasible under real production conditions, in a favourable working atmosphere.
As a result, Fakuma evolved into an important industry meeting point, where practical applications and high professional expertise have always been at the forefront. According to Arburg, these two elements continue to be particularly valued on Lake Constance. Another important factor was the organisers’ decision to hold Fakuma only in non-K years. This step, described as forward looking, enabled a deliberate distancing from the world’s leading trade fair while maintaining complementarity with it.
This approach, as Arburg points out, has proven highly effective. It has made it possible to establish a specific rhythm for the industry and has contributed to transforming Fakuma into an important European platform for plastics processing. The increasing importance of the event is confirmed both by the sustained interest from exhibitors and by the development of the supporting programme.
Dr. Christoph Schumacher, Vice President Global Marketing at Arburg
Fakuma as an event, inspiration and networking platform
At trade fairs, in addition to initiating new business contacts, providing information and exchanging expert knowledge, the event dimension is gaining in importance. In this context, Fakuma is perceived as a platform that offers inspiration and opportunities for building networks. It is often pointed out that the almost family like character of the event in Friedrichshafen is consistently emphasised, which supports an intensive exchange of views among participants.
According to Arburg, the combination of professional focus on practical issues with a friendly atmosphere is one of Fakuma’s distinguishing features. An additional advantage is the location on Lake Constance, which enhances the overall experience of attending the event. Organisers and exhibitors indicate that this is reflected in visitor numbers, which confirm the continuing attractiveness of the trade fair.
The role of Fakuma in Arburg’s trade fair strategy
Fakuma is described by Arburg as an integral part of a precisely structured, strategically oriented concept for participation in international trade fairs. The importance of the event is underlined, among other things, by the company’s continuous presence on the trade fair advisory board, which makes it possible to co shape the development directions of the event and to respond to the needs of the plastics processing market.
For Arburg, participation in Fakuma also has a dimension linked to longstanding tradition.
"In the autumn of the Fakuma years, arriving at the exhibition grounds in Friedrichshafen feels like coming home for us."
The 30th anniversary edition of the event in 2026 is a further confirmation of Fakuma’s role as a firmly established meeting platform for the plastics processing industry in Europe, maintaining a close link with key market players, including Arburg.
