Fakuma is the trade fair where the plastics processing industry meets every two years. Companies working in injection molding, extrusion, and thermoforming use this show to display new machines and connect with buyers from across Europe and beyond. The 2026 edition marks the 30th Fakuma, making it an anniversary event for the organizer.
Event Highlights
Event Name
Fakuma 2026 (30th Fakuma International Trade Fair for Plastics Processing)
Organizer
P.E. Schall GmbH & Co. KG
Event Dates
12–16 October 2026
Venue
Messe Friedrichshafen
City
Friedrichshafen, Germany
What Fakuma Covers
Fakuma is built around one core industry: turning raw plastic into finished parts and products.
Machinery on Display
Injection molding machines, extrusion lines, and thermoforming equipment make up the largest part of the showroom floor. Machine builders bring working demo units so visitors can watch full production cycles in person rather than just reading spec sheets.
Materials and Additives
Alongside machines, the fair also brings in suppliers of plastic granulates, colorants, and additives such as flame retardants and stabilizers. Buyers use this section to compare materials side by side before placing orders.
Recycling and Circular Economy
Plastics recycling has become a bigger part of Fakuma over the past few editions. Companies showing recycling systems, PCR (post-consumer recycled) materials, and bioplastics get a growing amount of floor space each year.
Scale of the 2026 Edition
The last full edition of Fakuma, held in 2024, brought together 1,639 exhibitors across the Friedrichshafen exhibition halls. Since this is the 30th anniversary, organizers have said interest from exhibitors has been strong well ahead of the show, with booth bookings filling up early.
What’s New for the 30th Fakuma
Being a milestone edition, the 2026 show adds a few extra elements on top of the usual exhibition halls.
Fakuma Innovation Award
2026 marks the first year the Fakuma Innovation Award will be handed out, giving exhibitors a new way to get recognized for new products and processes at the show.
Career Friday
Fakuma runs a dedicated day aimed at students and young people considering a career in plastics. Companies use Career Friday to meet potential future hires and show what working in the industry actually looks like.
Start-Up Area
A section of the fair is set aside for newer companies working on plastics innovation, giving smaller firms a way to get in front of the same buyers as the bigger machine builders.
Who Should Attend
Fakuma pulls in a specific, technical crowd rather than a general business audience.
Typical Visitors
Production engineers, plant managers, and procurement teams from companies that process plastic into finished goods attend to source new machinery and materials.
Typical Exhibitors
Machine builders, material suppliers, tooling and mould makers, and companies offering automation or recycling equipment for plastics production make up most of the exhibitor list.
Strategic Takeaway
Companies exhibiting at Fakuma 2026 should be ready to run live machine demonstrations, since buyers here expect to see equipment working, not just displayed. Given the anniversary edition and early booth demand, exhibitors planning to attend should confirm stand space and logistics well before the October dates.
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where does Fakuma 2026 take place?
Fakuma 2026 runs from 12 to 16 October 2026 at Messe Friedrichshafen in Germany.
Who organizes Fakuma?
Fakuma is organized by P. E. Schall GmbH & Co. KG, a German trade fair company that also runs other industrial shows such as Blechexpo and Control.
What kind of companies exhibit at Fakuma?
Exhibitors mainly include injection molding machine makers, extrusion and thermoforming equipment suppliers, plastic material and additive producers, and companies offering recycling or automation solutions for plastics processing.
Is Fakuma open to the general public?
No. Fakuma is a trade-only event aimed at industry professionals, engineers, and procurement teams rather than the general public.
What makes the 2026 edition different from past years?
2026 is the 30th Fakuma, an anniversary edition that introduces the first-ever Fakuma Innovation Award alongside the fair’s regular Career Friday and Start-Up Area programs.
