In an exclusive interview, Thomas Franken, Director of K, speaks with Ben Daniel on the success of K 2025, the growing strategic relevance of the MEA region, and how regional engagement is shaping innovation and collaboration across the global plastics industry.
At the latest edition of K, the world’s premier trade fair for plastics and rubber held at Messe Düsseldorf, Germany, Thomas Franken, Director of K Show, engaged in an in-depth discussion with Ben Daniel, Chief Editor of Packaging MEA.
The conversation explored the event’s key outcomes, industry signals, and its increasing strategic relevance for the Middle East and Africa markets.
Ben Daniel:
Thomas, it’s a pleasure to meet you at K. To begin, how would you assess the overall success of K 2025 in terms of industry engagement, innovation, and global participation?
Thomas Franken:
Thank you, Ben. K 2025 was a real success. I think everyone came in with some uncertainty, given the challenging times we’re living in. But over the course of the eight days, it became clear that business is returning. There’s a renewed sense of optimism among exhibitors and visitors.
We saw a great number of valuable contacts being made, and the quality of the visitors was particularly impressive. This level of engagement clearly underlines K’s role as a key global platform for meaningful business exchange and industry direction.
Ben Daniel:
That’s encouraging to hear. Turning to the MEA region, how would you describe your experience with visitors from the Middle East and Africa at K?
Thomas Franken:
Yes, we received very positive feedback from participants coming from the Middle East and Africa. There was a noticeable increase in visitors from these regions, and that aligns with what we’re observing globally.
This area is certainly emerging as a significant player in the plastics industry. We also had the pleasure of welcoming an important delegation from Saudi Arabia, which reflects the growing strategic importance of this region for the plastics and rubber sector. Overall, the level of interest and intent to invest underscored the region’s long-term growth potential and its increasing influence on global industry dynamics.
Ben Daniel:
Given this strong level of engagement, what message would you like to share with the plastics industry across the MEA as the region continues to expand within the global supply chain?
Thomas Franken:
The message to stakeholders in the MEA is clear: the region is moving towards a more integrated role in the global value chain. They’re investing more in processing capabilities, machinery, and technology.
This is a very promising development. The demand is certainly there, and it’s encouraging to see regional actors stepping up to meet that demand with innovation and long-term strategy. This positions the region as an increasingly important and competitive contributor to the global plastics value chain.
Ben Daniel:
As Director of K, a globally influential platform, how do you see perceptions of plastics evolving—particularly as sustainability increasingly shapes industry priorities?
Thomas Franken:
That’s a very good point. The conversation around plastics is definitely changing. There’s a strong emphasis on sustainability and circularity, and this is shaping not just how we produce and use plastics, but also how we talk about them.
It’s no longer just about functionality or cost efficiency—it’s also about environmental responsibility. The good news is that the industry is responding. Whether it’s through design innovations, recycling technologies, or regulatory frameworks, we’re seeing concrete steps being taken. Events like K help to showcase these efforts and connect people who are driving change. Importantly, this collective momentum is helping to rebuild trust and redefine plastics’ role in a more sustainable future.
Ben Daniel:
Thank you for sharing your insights, Thomas. It has been a pleasure speaking with you, and congratulations on a highly successful edition of K.
Thomas Franken:
Thank you, Ben. It’s been great talking with you as well. I look forward to continuing the conversation at future platforms like Packaging MEA. Play an important role in keeping these industry dialogues moving forward.