Views: 0 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2025-12-12 Origin: Site
Overseas Study Report
Observations and Reflections on the 2025K Exhibition
Technological innovation
Energy saving and consumption reduction
On October 5, 2025, a delegation of 14 people, including Song Yuping, Chairman of the China Plastics Processing Industry Association Hollow Products Committee and Chairman of Hebei Century Hengtaifu Plastics Co., Ltd., Zhu Yihua, Vice Chairman of the Committee and Chairman of Changzhou Plastics Factory Co., Ltd., Zhang Ru, Vice Chairman of the Committee and General Manager of Xingping Gaoke Plastics Co., Ltd., and Miao Dan, Secretary-General of the Committee and the delegation (see attached table), visited the 2025 Düsseldorf International Plastics and Rubber Exhibition (referred to as "K Exhibition") in Germany and conducted friendly business exchanges with two blow molding equipment companies, Cotes of Germany and ST of Italy.
Exhibition Overview: Exploring the Cutting-Edge Trends in Hollow Blow Molding
The 23rd K Show in Germany, themed "The Power of Plastics! Green - Smart - Responsible," opened on October 8, 2025, at the Düsseldorf Exhibition Center. According to the organizer, Messe Düsseldorf, the event brought together 3,257 exhibitors from 66 countries, covering 18 indoor halls and outdoor areas, showcasing cutting-edge technologies, innovative products, and advanced processes across the entire plastics industry chain, with a total exhibition area of 177,000 square meters. The show attracted over 175,000 professional visitors from approximately 160 countries, 73% of whom were international. Notable visitors came from China (6,300), India (6,400), and the United States and Brazil (10,000 each), demonstrating the high level of attention paid to the plastics industry by key global markets. This steady increase in visitor numbers further solidifies K Show's position as the most influential exchange and exhibition platform for the global plastics industry.
Based on my on-site observations, the following article will focus on the field of hollow blow molding, sharing relevant new technologies, design concepts and representative exhibits.
Innovative Achievements:
Technological breakthroughs and application highlights are emerging frequently.
K 2025
01
Despite the impact of the global, particularly European, economic situation, K Show remains a core platform for the global plastics industry to announce the latest technological advancements. At this year's show, the following innovations were particularly noteworthy:
PET extrusion blow molding technology enables cross-material applications. Bekum's on-site demonstration of its 2L extrusion blow PET bottle production technology with handles became the focus of attention. Their EBLOW 508D fully electric dual-station extruder demonstrated exceptional flexibility, compatible with the production of HDPE stacking drums up to 12 liters and high-transparency PET containers. The extruder head is suitable for processing both PET and HDPE, equipped with a hot cutter to cut the parison, a die clamping force of 300kN, and a die travel of 320mm. The dedicated screw system can process virgin PET and materials with up to 25% r-PET content, exhibiting excellent plasticization uniformity. The equipment is equipped with the Bekum Control 8.0 intelligent control system, which monitors output and energy consumption in real time and possesses Industry 4.0 standard data analysis capabilities. According to on-site data, the equipment can produce 960 2L PET bottles with handles per hour.
Magnetic levitation mold-moving technology drives high efficiency and energy saving in equipment. Magic's all-electric linear magnetic track carriage mold-closing system uses magnetic levitation technology to achieve contactless mold movement, eliminating mechanical wear and requiring no lubrication during operation. The system is equipped with an electrically driven automatic die head centering mechanism, an upgraded 3-layer co-extrusion die head and reducer, and a new screw suitable for PCR material processing, resulting in a more compact overall structure. This technology significantly improves mold-closing speed, reduces maintenance costs, and offers high precision, making it suitable for high-end applications such as cleanrooms.
A new radial wall thickness control system designed to replace PWDS. Tahara's commercial version of the GWDS preform forming system provides a new path for machining complex parts. Unlike the mainstream PWDS system, which relies on 2-4 servo pistons to dynamically deform the steel mold ring, GWDS uses a cylindrical mold head and a design concept where the mold head can slide up and down relative to a fixed core. This avoids mold head deformation caused by strong mechanical forces and effectively improves the problems of excessive thickness at the bottom of small bottles and uneven wall thickness in large products. The system can also be extended to vacuum forming and blow molding processes, offering significant advantages in cost control, ease of maintenance, and application range.
Fluorine-free solvent barrier coating technology enhances packaging performance. Delta Engineering showcased its plasma coating technology, suitable for containers made of PET, HDPE, and other materials. This process involves introducing gases such as acetylene, argon, or R134a into a vacuum environment. Using electrical energy, a low-pressure environment is created within the reactor, causing the gases to decompose and deposit onto the bottle surface, forming a thin film coating. This effectively blocks oxygen and carbon dioxide, and protects against chemical corrosion and loss of active ingredients. The finished product has a bright white surface, is compatible with existing plasma coating equipment, is fully recyclable, and is suitable for solvent-based coatings, agricultural chemicals, and specialty substrate packaging markets.
PET bottles produced using Delta plasma coating technology
Energy Conservation Focus:
Cost reduction and efficiency improvement and energy optimization have become an industry consensus.
K 2025
02
Against the backdrop of high energy costs, exhibitors have launched high-efficiency, low-energy blow molding systems, driving the industry toward green manufacturing transformation.
The all-electric blow molding system enables efficient production of large-capacity products. The CXT 810 HT CoEx3 model, launched globally by the Italian company ST, is specifically designed for 220-liter L-shaped ring barrels. Except for the blow needle, the parison conveying, mold closing, and part removal are all fully electrically driven. The machine has a clamping force of 1000kN and a production speed of 60 barrels per hour (8.2kg). The system employs fanless adiabatic extrusion technology, and according to EUROMAP 46.1 standards, energy consumption is less than 0.23kW·h/kg, and it supports PCR material processing.
Ultra-large all-electric clamping mechanism expands application boundaries. German company BBM has launched the world's largest all-electric extrusion blow molding machine, with a clamping force of 1600kN and adjustable, a mold opening and closing stroke of 700mm, and a maximum mold size of 3100mm×1600mm. It is suitable for large technical components and the automotive and mobility sectors.
The Smartline series drives cost restructuring through TCO optimization. Beckm's Smartline all-electric series achieves a 30% reduction in equipment investment thanks to leading motor technology and a new procurement/manufacturing strategy. Energy costs are reduced by 20% through optimized drive systems and the use of energy-efficient HIPEx extruders; combined with precise process control and improved material utilization, material costs are reduced by 10%. The SBLOW 5S model showcased on-site has a clamping force of 50kN and a die opening stroke of 380mm, suitable for the efficient production of 300ml HDPE vials, providing a feasible low-cost technology path for industry newcomers.
Site Visit: Exploring the Success Strategies of Benchmark Enterprises
Visit to the headquarters in Körtsbon, Germany:
Technological accumulation and collaborative development
K 2025
01
On the morning of October 10th, the delegation visited the Bonn headquarters of Cortes Mechanical Engineering GmbH in Germany. Accompanied by Chairman He Haichao, the delegation toured the sample showroom, R&D center, and mechanical production and assembly workshop. The sample showroom systematically displayed Cortes' achievements in blow molding products in the fields of automotive fuel tanks, industrial packaging, daily chemical products, and special-shaped products since its inception. In the production workshop, Christoph, head of the production department, and Zhou Quanquan, general manager, provided a detailed introduction to the latest breakthroughs in equipment structure, production efficiency, and energy consumption control of the Skyreef 2.0 all-motor and KBS 20 hollow molding machines, and demonstrated equipment operation and sample production on-site. They also highlighted Cortes' technological advantages in the manufacture of composite hydrogen storage pressure vessel liners and large hollow containers. Since Kingway Machinery completed its acquisition of Cortes in early 2024, the two companies have completed team integration and product structure optimization, injecting new momentum into the technological upgrading and high-quality development of the hollow products industry.
The delegation watched a full-motor startup demonstration of the Skyreef 2.0 at the Cortsborn factory.
At the subsequent exchange and discussion meeting, Wang Zhanjie, Chairman of the China Plastics Processing Industry Association, fully affirmed the collaborative development between Kingwise and Cortes. He stated, "Kingwise's global footprint and Cortes' profound technological accumulation provide the hollow product industry with dual guarantees of equipment and solutions, making them worthy of the industry's trust." Under the joint witness of Chairman Wang Zhanjie and Director Song Yuping, Cortes and Jiangsu Shangyuan Container Manufacturing Co., Ltd. signed an equipment procurement and technology cooperation agreement, under which the two parties will engage in in-depth cooperation in hollow product technology innovation and market expansion.
The signing ceremony between Cotes and Shangyuan
Visit to Italian ST blow molding machinery factory:
Lean manufacturing and sustainable development
K 2025
02
On October 13th, the delegation visited ST Soffiaggio Tecnica Srl (ST Company). Andrea Rigliano, General Manager and Senior Advisor for China, and Zhang Guangming, General Manager and Chief Strategy Officer, provided a comprehensive overview of ST's development history and corporate structure. ST's revenue reached €45-50 million in 2024, covering three main areas: automotive, industrial packaging, and specialty products. The company currently has three manufacturing bases in Switzerland, Italy, and China, and is building a new factory in Italy to meet the growing demand for orders. Lorenzo Erbetta, Engineering Director, and Leila Zhou, Assistant General Manager and Marketing Assistant, highlighted the performance characteristics of ST's star product launched at the 2025 K Show – the continuous all-electric 200-liter L-ring blow molding machine (XT810 HT CoEx3). Erbetta also shared ST's latest achievements in carbon footprint reduction and large-scale equipment technology iteration. Against the backdrop of increasing global environmental awareness, ST actively fulfills its social responsibility and is committed to promoting sustainable development in the industry through technological innovation.
The delegation then visited the production workshop and sample display area of ST Monza's factory. The sample room showcased a wide variety of blow-molded products, while over ten blow molding machines of different specifications were operating efficiently in the workshop, demonstrating the company's vibrant development. In addition, the delegation visited ST's new Lentat factory, currently under construction. This factory is a key part of ST's strategic plan, aimed at further enhancing its production capacity and market competitiveness.
K-Exhibition Reflections: Finding Direction in Gaps, Seeking Breakthroughs through Innovation
The gap is particularly significant at the equipment manufacturing level. Companies like Beckham, Tahara, BBM, Magic, and ST have redefined the standards of modern industrial equipment with their high-efficiency, low-energy-consumption, highly automated, and intelligent integrated production lines. These companies continuously pursue speed improvements, energy reduction, and sustainability optimization. From precise structural design to the selection of high-quality and durable materials, each piece of equipment achieves excellence in safety, rationality, and durability, thereby ensuring high consistency and long-term stability in product quality.
The K Show also offers profound insights into corporate development strategies. European companies generally follow a path of specialization, refinement, and innovation; while not large in scale, they possess unique technological barriers and continuously cultivate and break through in their niche markets. In contrast, some domestic companies have fragmented business layouts and lack long-term strategic focus, resulting in insufficient momentum for future development in an increasingly competitive industry. This suggests that clarifying development direction and building a product system with core competitiveness are the fundamental paths for companies to achieve sustainable development.
In the field of circular economy, the gap is even more alarming. European and American countries have effectively promoted the construction and implementation of circular economy systems through systematic policies such as deposit refunds, packaging recycling, and extended producer responsibility (EPR). Their enterprises have achieved fruitful results in the research and application of PCR materials, with abundant case studies. In contrast, my country remains weak in related policy support and system construction, its recycling technology is generally low-end, and its PCR production technology is still immature and its conceptual definition is vague. This not only restricts industrial upgrading but also brings many problems to downstream applications. Acknowledging this gap is the first step for us to find the right direction for improvement and achieve leapfrog development.
This trip to the K Expo, while forcing us to confront our shortcomings, also provided us with the impetus to move forward. It profoundly enlightened us that isolationism leads to few breakthroughs; only by proactively integrating into the global industrial chain, strengthening exchanges and cooperation with world-leading companies, and learning from their strengths in technology, management, and concepts can we continuously improve our own capabilities. Moving forward, we will take this exhibition as a new starting point, firmly upholding our goal of "Made in China, Better in China," continuously deepening our expertise in niche markets, actively contributing to energy conservation, environmental protection, and the circular economy, striving to narrow the gap with international advanced levels, and showcasing the excellence of Chinese enterprises on the global manufacturing stage.