„In response to repeated requests from our customers, Euromold 2015 will now be held from 22 to 25 September 2015,“ said Demat Managing Director Diana Schnabel. „The decision to change venues was made in the short term, so that we only had the opportunity for detailed discussions with all stakeholders and to weigh all arguments afterwards. We wish to sincerely apologise for the short notice! This is something we would have liked to avoid.“

In January, customers will be invited to Düsseldorf so they can see the new exhibition site in person, Schnabel added. This is also when the expanded and adapted trade fair concept will be presented and discussed. „With the move to Düsseldorf, we now have the opportunity to incorporate the needs and wishes of our customers in the trade fair concept,“ she said.

The Institute of Plastics Processing (IKV) in Industry and the Skilled Crafts at RWTH Aachen University staged its first International Injection Moulding Conference in December – in brief, IIMC. International experts from industry and science came to Aachen to discuss the latest trends in injection moulding technology. The focus was on applications in the automotive sector. With more than 100 experts from 15 nations including Australia, Japan, China, Korea, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, United States and various European countries, the conference was very successful, IKV reports.

In 16 lectures given in English, the speakers presented current developments in the automotive industry and injection moulding technology. Representing the practical side, Dr. Toru Hirata, Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Japan, and Professor Georg Steinbichler, ENGEL AUSTRIA, Austria, presented some new process control technologies from leading injection moulding machine manufacturers. Steve Braig, Trexel, USA, spoke about the production of lightweight construction materials by combined process technologies.

The presentation by Dr.-Ing. Thomas Wolff from BMW AG on the thermoplastic outer skin of the BMW i3 was another highlight. He described the numerous challenges that arose during the development process of this innovative vehicle concept and then presented the final production strategy. Other topics included the specific selection of materials for automotive applications and integrative simulation, through to quality assurance at global sites. The IKV research staff concentrated on the scientific side of the event with lectures on lightweight construction strategies and the combined simulation of process and part properties.

Three keynote lectures at the beginning of the event prepared the delegates for the complex topic: Dr.-Ing. Peter Urban, deputy head of the Institute of Automotive Engineering (ika) of RWTH Aachen University, spoke about current trends in the automotive industry. Prof. Lutz Fügener from the University of Pforzheim then talked about what has made cars attractive and desirable products, both in the past and in the present, and Professor Christian Hopmann, head of IKV, gave an overview of the latest technological developments in injection moulding.

The large number of visitors, with more than 60% from abroad, and the positive feedback from the delegates are proof of the success of the first IIMC in Aachen. IKV is pleased to announce the date for the second International Injection Moulding Conference next year, namely 30 September to 1 October 2015.