“K´98 in Düsseldorf produced excellent results. Our expectations were exceeded”. These were the words used by Karlheinz Wismer, Managing Director of the Messe Düsseldorf GmbH (D-40001 Düsseldorf) to describe the outcome of the 14th International Plastics and Rubber Trade Fair that ended on 29 October. The exhibitors were also very pleased with the trade fair, according to initial survey results. Business during the trade fair was rated as “very good” to “satisfactory” by 95%, while as many as 97% of the companies involved are expecting good follow-on business from the trade fair. Companies were united in reporting an increase in promising customer contacts, intensive contract negotiations and a large number of completed business transactions for machinery. A total of 265,000 visitors from 103 countries came to K´98, slightly surpassing the already good result of K´95 (262,000 visitors). Fifty percent of visitors arrived in Düsseldorf from abroad, with two thirds of these visitors from abroad being of European origin. All in all, the specialist competence and “high quality” of the visitors was emphasised. Some 90,000 visitors participated in the electronic visitor registration system introduced for the first time.

The next “K” trade fair in Düsseldorf is to be held from 25 October to 1 November 2001. Even now it is clear that Dr. Helmut Eschwey (Battenfeld GmbH), chairman of the exhibitors´ advisory board to date, will be remaining in this office for the next “K” trade fair.