There’s something very intimate about a huge international trade show on a Sunday morning. Not many people are about, and those who are look happy that the incredible hustle and bustle - let alone the sheer level of noise - of the past four days have temporarily receded. It’s the day, too, that many exhibitors have brought their families along: a surprising number of strollers and kids clutching their parents’ hands can be seen in the aisles. Other stands are thinly staffed, with people coming in late – or not at all today. It’s Sunday, after all.

As I enjoy the sensation of actually being able to negotiate my way through Hall 6, on my way to talk to one of the exhibitors here, I stop to ask a lonely employee of a large rubber producer what he expects today. “Not so much,” was the answer. “Actually that’s not completely true. I expect to have my first chance to look around, to see who’s here and check out a few of the other halls. I haven’t been off this stand all week, there has simply not been time. So I'm looking forward to it!”

He’s not exaggerating. Although we are only halfway through, this edition of the K Show already promises to be the K to end all Ks. Even before it opened, its organizers were diplomatic, but obviously thrilled. With a total of 3,285 exhibitors, around 100 more than in 2013, it’s a very full house.

 “Everything is booked – all 19 halls are full, completely occupied, the last square meter is sold, so we have no complaints,” said Werner Dornscheidt, president and CEO of Messe Düsseldorf GmbH. “Nowhere in the world can one experience the full breadth of raw materials, processing and application equipment as completely as at K in Düsseldorf,” he proclaimed proudly.

And the world has taken note: the attendance numbers have exceeded all expectation until now, and there are no signs that this will change, in view of the number of tickets sold. Sunday, in other words, is the only the eye of the storm. A record 71,000 visitors were welcomed on the first two days; the third day, Friday peaked at 38,000 – around 2,500 more than the same day three years ago, with another 30,000 showing up on Saturday. “Indeed no complaints”, said press director Eva Rugenstein. “We can be happy. And it’s not just the numbers, but also what we are hearing from the exhibitors that the visitors also want to do business, to invest. It is really great. Yes, we are happy.”

Me, too, for that matter - all the major companies have held their press conferences, and today there’s no rushing from interview to interview, no meetings. Now’s my chance, too, to walk the show, to enjoy the exhibits and check out the halls I haven’t had a chance to see yet.

Looking forward to it!