Running the K-athlon to winRunning the K-athlon to win

The K 2004 theme is Sport, appropriate for the triennial Olympics of plastics. Everyone is competing to maximize their investments. Whether or not you intend to buy, go—and plan your time to get the best view on what''s new.

A veteran of multiple Ks, Wolfgang Meyer, president of SIG Kautex Inc. (North Branch, NJ), notes a dilemma that confronts exhibitors regularly during the show. "For some time, there are no visitors, and then all of a sudden, three come to you," Meyer explains.

Although companies are segregated by technology, making targeted stand visits easier, the K Show isn''t an event where "winging it" will accomplish very much, unless you''re simply attending to gather molded freebies.

"We always recommend to our customers and our visitors that they please let us know when they are coming if possible," Meyer says. "Give us a time and make an appointment so that you can set time aside and schedule your day."

Appreciating the need for some amount of pre-show planning, the Demag Plastics Group will again offer an online portal to allow customers and interested parties to set up appointments via the Internet.

"Every sales guy in the world can make appointments via the Internet," says Demag''s Gerd Liebig, "so our customers are able to say, ''On this day I will come, and I will talk to this person.''"

Karlheinz Bourdon, of Milacron Inc., admits that such planning is common for those with specific goals, but as any exhibitor would, he assures those without an appointment that no one will be turned away.

"Every visitor is very welcome in our booth," Bourdon says. "Maybe it''s prearranged; maybe he just comes. We don''t care. We want to treat everybody the same, and I want to welcome and help everybody."

Those attending K are encouraged to visit the show website, www.k-online.com, where exhibitor lists and floor plans are posted, helping you plan booth visits by location, important for such a large show. Attendees can also contact local sales representatives to find out if they''re attending, and if not, who might be there in their stead.

For their part, Liebig and Krauss-Maffei''s Paul Caprio say that even if showgoers are unable to lock down an appointment, they can count on seeing the latest advances in plastics processing.

"You''re going to see new technology," Caprio says, "and that is a great investment. You don''t have to be going there with purchasing in mind at all. We spend millions on the K, there''s no question, and people always ask us, ''How do you get that money back?'' and you don''t. But it is much more than a show to us; it''s a competition of engineers to come up with new technology every three years."

Liebig offers the same carrot to those who might feel overwhelmed by crowds, fatigue, and failing feet. "Of course this show is very tough," Liebig admits. "There''s no time to talk to anyone very long—everybody is in a hurry—but this is the innovation show. Ninety percent of those who go to K go to see what''s new, who''s driving the market, and who''s driving the different industries."

Tony Deligio [email protected]

10 things we love about K: No. 6

Turning Japanese. In its official capacity as the capital of North-Rhine Westphalia, Dusseldorf''s regional culinary specialty is rheinish sauerbraten, a pickled roast beef that comes with stewed apples. In its unofficial capacity as "Nippon on the Rhine"—earned by boasting the highest concentration of Japanese residents in Europe—it serves up sushi by the boatful.

This probably won''t be changing anytime soon, since, according to a report issued by the Dusseldorf Dept. of Economic Development, 10 new Japanese companies settled in the city in 2002, joining the roughly 450 that were already there.

Bringing capital and cuisine to the shores of the Rhine, Japanese ex-pats have definitely left their mark on local culture. During traditional holidays, the area around the train station is decorated so enthusiastically as to be known as "Little Tokyo."

The online Sushi World Guide lists 26 sushi restaurants in Dusseldorf, housed in both hotels like the Four Seasons and standalone eateries. Combined with markets, bookstores, and other retail outlets, this German center of commerce has a distinctive Japanese flair.