--- title: "IKV Boosts the Plastics Branch" id: "4026" type: "post" slug: "ikv-boosts-the-plastics-branch" published_at: "2024-03-23T15:05:24+00:00" modified_at: "2024-03-19T15:10:12+00:00" url: "https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2024/03/ikv-boosts-the-plastics-branch-004026/" markdown_url: "https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2024/03/ikv-boosts-the-plastics-branch-004026.md" excerpt: "The IKV Colloquium demonstrated the plastics industry's resilience in addressing current challenges. On February 28th-29th, 2024, RWTH Aachen University's IKV organized an event fostering industry-academia exchanges." taxonomy_category: - "Artificial Intelligence" - "Automation" - "Bioplastics" - "Blow Molding" - "Circular Economy" - "Compounding" - "Design" - "Education & Training" - "Electric Vehicles" - "Electrical & Electronics" - "Energy Generation" - "Extrusion" - "Hybrid Manufacturing" - "Industry" - "Industry 4.0" - "Injection Molding" - "Legal Analysis" - "Materials" - "Medical" - "Process" - "Recyclate" - "Recycling" - "Resins" - "Semi-Finished Products" - "Sensors" - "Strategy" - "Sustainability" - "Thermoplastics" - "Trending" - "Wearables" taxonomy_post_tag: - "Circular Economy" - "Digitalization" - "Education" - "Future Outlook." - "Future Sustainability" - "IKV" - "IKV Colloquium" - "IKV Event" - "Industry" - "Industry-Academia Exchange" - "innovation" - "Networking" - "Plastic Engineering" - "Plastic Industry" - "Plastics Engineering" - "Plastics Industry Association" - "research" - "Resilience" - "SPE" --- [Home](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/) » [News](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/news/) » [Trending](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/c/trending/) » [Education & Training](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/c/trending/education-training/) » IKV Boosts the Plastics Branch # IKV Boosts the Plastics Branch During the IKV Colloquium, around 600 participants in the 15 lecture sessions actively engaged in discussions about the latest developments and technologies in the plastic engineering sector at Aachen Eurogress and IKV's technical facilities.### The IKV Colloquium demonstrated the plastics industry’s resilience in addressing current challenges. On February 28th-29th, 2024, RWTH Aachen University’s IKV organized an event fostering industry-academia exchanges. **You can also read: [32nd IKV Colloquium, The Five Cutting-Edge Topics](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2024/02/32nd-ikv-colloquium-the-five-cutting-edge-topics-003767/)** ## The event and key speakers Around 600 participants in the 15 lecture sessions actively engaged in discussions about the latest developments and technologies in the plastic engineering sector at Aachen Eurogress and IKV’s technical facilities. Distinguished keynote speakers, including VDI President Prof. Lutz Eckstein, highlighted the industry’s innovation potential and the future of engineering professions. By and large, keynote speakers addressed various industry themes from different perspectives. Correspondingly, Dr. Alexander Kronimus, CEO of PlasticsEurope Germany, outlined the plastics industry’s role in achieving a climate-neutral Europe by 2050. During the analysis of the status quo in Europe, he concluded that the goal cannot be achieved by solely optimizing the plastic system for climate protection. Instead, what is needed is the integration of basic chemicals into the circular economy, so that plastic waste not only serves as a source of raw materials for the plastics circular economy, but can also be used for the production of basic chemicals. Prof. Hopmann highlighted IKV’s efforts in addressing sustainability and digitalization challenges, counteracting societal skepticism towards new technologies, and securing scientific talent for the future. He introduced Prof. Dr.-Ing. Achim Grefenstein, IKV’s new scientific director for circular economy, highlighting sustainability and industry collaboration. ## Closing the gap between research and application The IKV Colloquium demonstrated the plastics industry’s resilience in addressing current challenges. On February 28th-29th, 2024, RWTH Aachen University’s IKV organized an event fostering industry-academia exchanges. Professor Dr.-Ing. Christian Hopmann, Director of IKV, stressed the need to pause and reflect amid hectic daily life. The colloquium provided ample opportunities for such reflection, including presentations of cutting-edge research, guided tours of IKV’s facilities, an industry exhibition, recruiting speed dating, and networking during breaks. Sessions covered a wide range of topics, including process technologies, material characterization, and simulation models, all with a focus on industry relevance and sustainability. IKV 360° allowed attendees to experience research in action, touring IKV’s laboratories and witnessing ongoing projects firsthand. Recruiting Speeddating facilitated connections between the industry and young talent. The industry exhibition provided a platform for networking and showcasing innovations across the plastics value chain. The next IKV International Colloquium will take place on March 4th and 5th of 2026 in Aachen. **To read more: [IKV Insights](https://www.ikv-aachen.de/fileadmin/user_upload/PDF/Mitgliederbereich-FBG/IKV-Insight-4-2023.pdf)** By **[Andres Urbina](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/author/afurbina452/)** | March 23, 2024 [https://www.plasticsengineering.org](https://www.plasticsengineering.org) ##### [Andres Urbina](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/author/afurbina452/) [Website](https://www.plasticsengineering.org) | [+ postsBio ⮌](#) ### Other posts you could read [April 29, 2026Renewable Functional Coatings for Advanced Applications](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/04/renewable-functional-coatings-for-advanced-applications-011134/) [April 28, 2026IKV Colloquium 2026: The Journey of Research and Industry](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/04/ikv-colloquium-2026-the-journey-of-research-and-industry-010989/) [May 4, 2026Why Your Feeder Choice Is Quietly Undermining Consistency](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/05/why-your-feeder-choice-is-quietly-undermining-consistency-011175/) [May 14, 2026Carbon Fiber Production from End-of-Life Automotive Polymers](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/05/carbon-fiber-production-from-end-of-life-automotive-polymers-011254/) [May 18, 2026Packaging Redesign: Why Most Fail and What Drives Success](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/05/packaging-redesign-why-most-fail-and-what-drives-success-011263/) [May 22, 2026Packaging Embellishment as Brand Storytelling in Premium Design](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/05/packaging-embellishment-as-brand-storytelling-in-premium-design-011273/) [May 15, 2026Feedstocks for Light Olefins, Steam Cracking & Decarbonization](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/05/feedstocks-for-light-olefins-steam-cracking-decarbonization-011260/) [May 20, 2026Chopped Fiber Compounding Enters Injection Molding](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/05/chopped-fiber-compounding-enters-injection-molding-011294/) ### One comment Join the discussion and tell us your opinion. 1. [Xiaojuren](https://xjrmixer.com/) says: [April 30, 2024 at 4:02 am](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2024/03/ikv-boosts-the-plastics-branch-004026/#comment-702) The application of plastic auxiliary machinery can effectively promote the development of the plastic manufacturing industry and effectively improve the utilization rate of plastics. 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