Circularity and Recycling are Changing Plastics Engineering in the Automobile

Leading International Congress for Plastics in Automotive Engineering

With around 600 participants, 70 exhibitors and 75 hand-picked presentations from science and industry, the PIAE once again lived up to its status as the leading congress for plastics in automotive engineering. The diverse contributions and discussions showed that plastics will continue to be indispensable in the future – and are likely to become even more important in view of technological trends such as electrification and lightweight construction. At the same time, OEMs and suppliers are challenged to find solutions for sustainability requirements and stricter regulations. 
 

On the Way to Circular Value Creation

Many keynotes, presentations and the accompanying press conference showed that plastics are increasingly becoming a driver of circular value creation. Today's construction methods need to be fundamentally rethought, as conference chair Dipl.-Ing. Thomas Drescher, Volkswagen AG, made clear: “In future, design for recycling will be necessary. The planned quotas for the use of automotive closed-loop recyclates require a rethink on the part of component developers as well as end-of-life vehicle recyclers.” This requires new design guidelines and further development of sorting and processing technologies: “The circular economy is only possible through intensive cooperation between all process partners involved in the life cycle. The PIAE is the ideal opportunity for this,” says Drescher.
 

Harmonizing Material Design and Recycling

Dipl.-Ing. Timo Unger, Hyundai Motor Europe Technical Center, also addressed new ways of manufacturing components in his part: “In order to achieve a genuine and truly sustainable circular economy, we must harmonize material design, recycling technologies and regulatory requirements.” Plastics will remain an indispensable material for sustainable mobility, Unger went on to emphasize: “The automotive industry must work together with politicians and scientists to develop innovative solutions that are both economically viable and ecologically sound.”
 

Frugal Designs Ensure Competitiveness

Frugality is more than just a trend – it is the potential “game changer” of the coming decades, focusing on the economical use of scarce natural resources and affordable solutions. This thesis was presented by Prof. Dr. habil. Rajnish Tiwari, Fresenius University of Applied Sciences Hamburg: “Established companies are faced with the task of generating competitive advantages through frugal innovations. In view of the urgent need for social, ecological and economic sustainability, it is crucial to future-proof your own innovation strategy now and proactively face up to the challenges.”
 

Regulatory Challenges

The currently discussed EU End-of-Life Vehicle Regulation (ELVR) is an apt example of new regulatory requirements. Frank Stammer, TecPart, addressed the political dynamics in the context of the EU End-of-Life Vehicle Regulation. He explained the challenges that still exist in practice and possible solutions – particularly with regard to the availability and uncertainties surrounding the procurement of plastic recyclates. He also described the areas of standardization in which the Verband Technische Kunststoff-Produkte e.V. is actively involved in order to find solutions in the interests of the industry and future plastics processing.
 

Well Prepared for the Next Crisis

What does it take for companies to successfully manage change and overcome potential risks? Dr. Arno Rogalla, Rogalla Consulting, Bad Bramstedt, addressed this question in his highly acclaimed keynote speech. Two things in particular are crucial: clear risk management and permanent, active communication by company management, both internally and externally: “Communication is king. Successful leadership is based on responsibility, trust and a role model function.” His recommendation was to repeatedly simulate and train for crisis situations – because in a real crisis, there is simply no time for learning curves and experiments.
 

Networking Platform for the Community

In addition to the specialist presentations, the Autosalon offered an overview of new plastics technology solutions. Opportunities for mutual exchange and networking, including at the PIAE networking party, rounded off the two days of the event.
 

The next VDI PIAE Congress will take place in Mannheim on March 25 and 26, 2026.
 

Registration and program at https://www.vdiconference.com/piae/ or via the VDI Wissensforum Customer Center, P.O. Box 10 11 39, 40002 Dusseldorf, e-mail: wissensforum@vdi.de, phone: +49 211 6214-201, fax: -154.