insights
The future of extrusion
| Petra Rehmet
TecDays inspire the industry
From March 25 to 27, around 300 visitors from 44 countries gathered in Laatzen near Hannover for the "World of Extrusion" TecDays – a highlight for anyone wanting to experience forward-thinking solutions for pipe and profile extrusion and the circular economy up close. Three days filled with expert presentations, live demonstrations, and inspiring exchanges in the state-of-the-art Technology Center made the premiere of the TecDays a resounding success.
Focus on sustainability
In his welcome speech, Dr. Thomas Unger, Vice President of Technology at KraussMaffei Extrusion, emphasized the shared responsibility for a sustainable future: "Our goal is to reduce the CO₂ footprint with our solutions. Sustainability in extrusion is driven by innovation. And that is exactly what you will experience here in our Technology Center."
Ralf Benack, Managing Director at KraussMaffei Extrusion, highlighted the importance of personal dialogue: "Extrusion is a business for experts. We need to come together and share knowledge. That’s why we’re even more excited to exchange ideas and experiences with you over the coming days."
View of the Forum: High-profile keynote speeches from industry and research partners enriched the program.
Pipe & Profile – The lifeline of civilization
The first part of the event focused entirely on pipe and profile extrusion. Ralf J. Dahl, Director Global Sales, underlined the societal importance of modern pipe systems: "They are the lifeline of civilization."
Keynotes from partners such as Borealis, Baerlocher, Omya, and Georg Fischer provided insights into current trends and global challenges. Kabelwerk Eupen presented a vision of the factory of the future with its "Smart Factories" concept, shaped by digitalization and automation.
A technical highlight was the live demonstration of the new multi-layer PVC pipe head: three-layer pipes with a foamed core were produced in real time – resource-efficient, material-saving, and without spider lines.
In addition, visitors could witness live demonstrations of PE-PA pipe production and PVC pelletizing.
Innovative and Sustainable: The new PVC multi-layer pipe head with recycled material usage drew great interest from visitors.
Recycling and Circular Economy
The second part of TecDays was dedicated entirely to recycling and the circular economy. A special highlight was the premiere of a new machine concept for the controlled upcycling of post-consumer plastic waste into high-quality automotive compounds.
The innovative ColorAdjust system ensured precise, reproducible colors. Another standout was the live demonstration of an energy-efficient and scalable process for the production of food-grade rPET granules.
Beyond the live demonstrations, the TecDays offered comprehensive insights into various recycling processes. Mechanical, solvent-based, and chemical methods were presented, as well as the latest developments in the field of circular economy.
Spotlight Recycling: The new machine concept for controlled upcycling of post-consumer plastic waste to high-quality automotive compounds attracted great interest.
Expert presentations from industry partners such as PureCycle Technologies, Veolia, Lober, Polymetrix, and Exxon Mobil, as well as Plastics Europe and leading research institutions like IKV Aachen and IKK Hannover, provided valuable insights into current developments and trends.
The program was rounded off with forward-looking technologies such as the use of artificial intelligence in compound development, smart sensor systems for inline quality monitoring, and solutions for cable compounds in an electrified future.
100 years of partnership with Kabelwerk Eupen
An emotional moment during the evening event was the ceremonial handover of a collage featuring pages from a debtor’s ledger over 100 years old to long-time partner Kabelwerk Eupen – a powerful symbol of a strong and successful partnership.
Thank you for 100 Years of Partnership: Ralf Benack (left) and Klaus-Dieter Lorius (right) handed a special gift to Michael Goebels and Patrick Ernst from Kabelwerk Eupen during the TecDays.
A successful premiere
The TecDays 2025 offered a perfect platform for knowledge transfer, networking, and discussions on sustainable extrusion solutions. "The response was overwhelmingly positive – we’re very pleased with the success of this event", summarized Dr. Thomas Unger. KraussMaffei plans to continue this successful format in the future.
