K 2028 Düsseldorf: Plastics Fair Guide & Attendee List
By Ilyas Kerbal,
K is the world’s number one trade fair for plastics and rubber. It runs every three years at Messe Düsseldorf, and the next edition takes place in October 2028 over eight days. The 2025 show had about 3,200 exhibitors from 66 countries. In 2022, it drew 177,486 trade visitors, 71% of them from abroad.
K is an investment show. Plastics processors come ready to buy machines and materials, which makes it one of the highest-value fairs for anyone selling into manufacturing.
K 2028 at a glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Industry | Plastics & rubber |
| Venue | Messe Düsseldorf |
| City and country | Düsseldorf, Germany |
| Next edition | October 2028 (8 days) |
| Frequency | Triennial (2025, next 2028) |
| Does it move? | No. Always Düsseldorf, every three years. |
| Scale | ~3,200 exhibitors from 66 countries (2025); 2022: 177,486 trade visitors, 71% from abroad |
| Organiser | Messe Düsseldorf |
| Typical ticket price | Day ticket €60; 3-day €125; students €20 (2025) |
| Event app / platform | K App + ‘K Assistant’ AI chatbot |
| Website | k-online.com |
What you’ll see at K
Machinery makers for injection moulding, extrusion and blow moulding bring working production lines into the halls. Polymer producers and additive suppliers present new grades, and the recycling sector has grown fast. Recent editions focused on:
- Recycling and the circular economy
- Bio-based polymers
- Digitalisation and automation in production
- Energy efficiency
Because K only happens every three years, many major investment decisions in the sector are timed around it.
Where it takes place
K uses all halls of Messe Düsseldorf in Germany. Messe Düsseldorf runs regional plastics events elsewhere, but K itself is only in Düsseldorf. Hotel prices climb steeply during the show, so book well in advance.
Who attends K
| Audience | Buying focus | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Plastics processors and converters | Machines, moulds, materials | Core buyers with capital budgets |
| Packaging, automotive, medical and construction manufacturers | Components and production technology | Large end-user accounts |
| Procurement and production managers | Supplier comparison | Decision-makers on the shop floor |
| Chemical and polymer professionals | Raw materials and compounds | Materials and additives buyers |
| Recycling companies | Sorting, washing, recompounding | Fast-growing segment |
Around 70% of visitors come from abroad, so a country filter is essential when you build your list.
Injection moulding machine, a core product category at K. Photo: Justjainz, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Planning for K 2028? I prepare enriched K exhibitor and visitor lists from the K App and website, with company size, segment, role and LinkedIn profiles. You get the file in time to book meetings before the eight-day show. Get your K 2028 list.
Tickets
K 2025 prices give a good reference:
| Ticket | Price (2025) |
|---|---|
| Day ticket | €60 |
| Three-day ticket | €125 |
| Students and pupils | €20 per day |
Tickets are sold in the online K ticket shop, and many exhibitors send free vouchers.
The K App and K Assistant
The K App (iOS and Android) covers exhibitors and hall plans. Since 2025 the website also offers K Assistant, a multilingual AI chatbot that answers visitor and exhibitor questions around the clock.
Both are helpful for logistics. Neither gives you an exportable list of exhibitors with decision-makers, or any view of which processors and brand owners are visiting.
How to prospect K
- Pull the exhibitor list by product group: machinery, raw materials, recycling, semi-finished parts, automation.
- List your target processors by country and end market (packaging, automotive, medical).
- Identify plant managers, procurement leads and technical directors at each account.
- Book meetings early in the eight days, when decision-makers are fresh and diaries are open.
- Keep everything in one CRM view so that K leads, which often take months to close, are not lost.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Buyers come ready to invest in machines | Only every three years |
| Live production equipment on stands | Düsseldorf hotel prices rise steeply |
| Very international, decision-maker heavy | Machinery-heavy, less relevant to pure service firms |
| Eight days for meetings |
Frequently asked questions
When is the next K fair?
K returns to Messe Düsseldorf in October 2028 and runs for eight days.
How much does a K ticket cost?
In 2025 a day ticket cost €60 and a three-day ticket €125. Students paid €20 per day.
Is K only about machinery?
No. It also covers raw materials, additives, recycling, semi-finished parts and automation.
Can I download the K exhibitor list?
The K App lets you browse exhibitors but not export them with contacts. An enriched list provides the data in CRM-ready form.
Start your K 2028 pipeline early
With a three-year cycle, K deals are planned long in advance. If you want a clean, enriched list for your segments, get in touch through the Prospector home page.
Related event guides
- interpack 2029 Düsseldorf: Packaging Fair & Attendee List
- drupa 2028 Guide: Print Industry Exhibitors & Attendee List
- EuroShop 2029 Düsseldorf: Retail Trade Fair & Attendee List
Sources
Image credits
- Cover image: Photo: Messe Düsseldorf GmbH, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Hall 6 at Messe Düsseldorf, venue of the K plastics trade fair.
- In-article image: Photo: Justjainz, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Injection moulding machine, a core product category at K.
