According to the motto “Quo vadis plastics industry – How can we make the location NRW even more sustainable?” on 24th November representatives of the whole plastics industry met at the seventh plastics industry day kunststoffland NRW in Paderborn. In addition to top-class speakers from industry and research the participants enjoyed an exciting supporting program with a live production by Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM).


After Prof. Dr. Nikolaus Risch, president of the University of Paderborn, had welcomed the about 100 guests of the 7th plastics industry day, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Guido Grundmeier, chairman of the managing board of the Institute for Polymer Materials and Processes (PMP) and thus host of this year’s plastics industry day, introduced the various research areas and the services of the new institute PMP.


Matthias Poschmann, chairman of the managing board of the association kunststoffland NRW, explained the importance of the region East Westphalia-Lippe and in particular that of the University of Paderborn for the plastics industry. Thus, for example his company –supported by the association work of kunststoffland NRW – can now realize a research project with the University of Paderborn. Prof. Wörner, chairman of the German Aerospace Center (DLR) also presented his contribution to the topic “Building with plastic” practice-oriented. The participants could here see what part plastics can play for innovative architectures and which challenges have still to be faced in this field.


Challenges after the crises
The current economic data shows it clearly: The crises seems to be overcome. But the plastics industry day clearly showed that the current boom confronts the companies with new challenges. The processors suffer from the shortage of materials, the orders cannot be executed fast enough because of the shortage of employees. Dr. Wolfgang Falter’s, Managing Director Chemicals & Process Industries of AlixPartners GmbH, speech focused on the world career of the German chemical and plastics industry. Here, North Rhine Westphalia has a great locational advantage despite the international challenges due to tightly networked value chain. This cannot be easily imitated in other regions.


Dr. Peter Orth, managing director PlasticsEurope Germany, thinks that it is the improvement of the competitive basic conditions that is most important. Germany is strongly positioned in the field of plastics, the parallel developments at the manufacturers, engineers and processors should be used even better by joint project activities. For this purpose kunststoffland NRW offers the right platform.


In initiation statements and a following discussion the strengths and weaknesses of NRW were discussed. Michael Carus, nova-Institut, emphasized the expendable part it can play in the topic area bioplastics and at the same time held out the prospect of an even more intensive cooperation with kunststoffland NRW to push common topics with concentrated power. Dr. Herbert Nagorski pointed out the already existing networking potential between the companies. Prof. Dr. Volker Schöppner presented in particular the part of the universities as guarantor for the current lack of young talents.


Matthias Poschmann underlined in his closing words that North Rhine Westphalia – due to the great commitment of kunststoffland NRW – must not hide behind other states. The work accomplished here is a good basis for the expansion of the value creation in NRW. He called for the already existing platform established by kunststoffland NRW to be used more strongly in its own interest and thus to enlarge the know-how transfer.


For the musical entertainment the glass harmonizer Sascha Reckert could be won. During the get together the participants used the time to networking and consolidating of the discussion.


The premises were this year provided by the Institute for Polymer Materials and Processes. Their facilities could be visited in the run-up of the plastics industry day.