The “K” Fair Is a Success Factor for WTH
“Committed for Over 30 Years”
“Committed for Over 30 Years”
The K Fair in Düsseldorf, globally leading in the fields of plastics and rubber, has developed since its founding in 1952 into one of the most important industry events in the chemical sector. Every three years, it brings together manufacturers, distributors, developers, and processors from all over the world. For chemical trading companies in particular, it offers a unique platform to present innovations, build networks, and tap into new business opportunities.
Managing Director Gero Thieme: “For us, the K Fair is far more than just an industry event. Since our company’s founding, it has been a key part of our corporate strategy.” As a continuous exhibitor since 1992, the company demonstrates not only exceptional consistency, but also a deep understanding of the importance of personal presence and long-term customer loyalty in a competitive market.
“The continuous participation at the K has given WTH GmbH both national and international visibility and has opened doors to new markets, partners, and developments. Especially in the fast-moving world of plastics and chemical trading, this consistency is a sign of reliability and industry expertise,” reflects company founder Walter Thieme, who handed the business over to his son Gero in 2021.
In the past, substances like heavy metals, halogenated flame retardants, or non-degradable plasticizers played a leading role. Functionality and cost were prioritized, while recycling and environmental impact were barely considered. Today, environmental and health aspects are moving to the forefront. Additives should now be RoHS-compliant, biocompatible where possible, recyclable, and free from critical substances.
In the future, additives will need to be circular in design: sourced from renewables, recycling-friendly, and ideally biodegradable. Of course, functionality remains important—but it must now align with environmental and lifecycle considerations, making sustainability the standard, not the exception, even in additives.
Accordingly, WTH will present at K 2025, among other things, alternatives to antimony trioxide (Sb₂O₃), which is still commonly used in flame retardants but classified as possibly carcinogenic (IARC Group 2B). Antimony compounds are also poorly degradable and potentially harmful to water.
WTH CEO Gero Thieme: “Under the WTH-FR trade names, we offer various alternatives, including APP (ammonium polyphosphates) and Phoslite (white inorganic phosphinate-based flame retardants). For polymer systems compatible with fillers, Addforce FR and Reflamal (aluminum hydroxide) are also good options.”
Still, halogen-containing materials and additives remain indispensable and highly relevant—particularly for long-life products like those made from PVC. For PVC processing, WTH offers Addforce Mod (various chlorinated polyethylenes), WTH-AN (various antioxidants), and WTH-UV (various UV stabilizers). Today, large volumes of PVC products are known to be successfully recycled at the end of their lifecycle.
Gero Thieme sees himself in a proud tradition: “That’s why the K Fair remains a central meeting point of the chemical industry. For WTH GmbH, it has always been and continues to be a crucial driver of growth, partnerships, and innovation. Our uninterrupted participation for more than thirty years impressively underscores the company’s commitment and strategic foresight.”
