Proven Strengths, New Elements
The congress's enhanced concept will place even greater emphasis on innovative developments from passenger car and commercial vehicle manufacturers, as well as trends in exteriors, interiors, and powertrains. New features include scientifically based, in-depth spotlight sessions on PU coatings, material cycles, raw material security, and regulations. In addition, the TecPart Innovation Award winners will present their award-winning components.
Keynotes from Renowned Industry Insiders
Well-known voices from the industry will enrich the two-day event with their keynotes. “Lost in Transformation?” – Prof. Dr. Stefan Bratzel, founder of the Center of Automotive Management, will open the congress with this title. He will provide an overview of the transformation of the industry and analyze market and production trends as well as innovations.
Interior spaces under the microscope of a car tester: Dipl.-Ing. Alexander Bloch, one of Germany's best-known technology communicators and chief reporter for auto motor und sport, will show in his keynote speech how modern interior solutions are perceived from the customer's point of view. Other top speakers at PIAE 2026 include Prof. Christian Hopmann, Head of IKV, ikv-RWTH Aachen, Hartmut Häberle (Traton Group), and Dr. Leonardo Pascali, Head of Racing at Audi Sport.
Key Topics and Highlights of PIAE 2026 at a Glance:
- Lightweight construction & material innovations: new fiber composites, composites, and thermoplastic materials
- Design & surface technologies: smart surfaces, light integration, and automated coating
- Sustainability & circular economy: recyclates, monomaterial designs, and closed material cycles
- Artificial intelligence & digitalization: AI-supported processes and digital twins for development, quality assurance, and series production
- Electromobility & functional materials: plastics and system solutions for battery technology, thermal management, and safety in electric vehicles
Trade Exhibition and Networking Opportunities
The accompanying trade exhibition, featuring around 70 companies, provides in-depth insights into the various topics. The car salon will showcase current production vehicles and visionary concept studies from renowned manufacturers. Here, visitors can see how design, function, and materials interact: from the exterior and interior to the supporting structures. There will also be numerous opportunities for exchanging experiences and networking, including at the networking party on the evening of March 18 at the Kurhaus Baden-Baden.
Parallel Conference on High-Voltage Batteries in Electric Vehicles
Parallel to PIAE 2026, the conference “High-Voltage Batteries in Electric Vehicles” broadens the technical horizons for anyone interested in further developing their expertise in materials and batteries in interoperable systems. Advantage: PIAE participants can attend this parallel conference free of charge.
Registration for participation is possible at https://www.vdiconference.com/piae/ or via the VDI Wissensforum Customer Center, P.O. Box 10 11 39, 40002 Düsseldorf, e-mail: wissensforum@vdi.de, telephone: +49 211 6214-201, fax: -154.
All information and current updates on PIAE 2026, as well as the opportunity to exchange ideas on trends and developments in plastics applications, can be found on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/piae.
Trade Press Conference and Accreditation
A visit to Baden-Baden is also worthwhile for journalists: the annual trade press conference features top-class experts from the plastics and automotive industries. We offer trade journalists the exclusive opportunity to engage in personal discussions and bring the press and plastics experts together around one table.
Accreditation is already available at https://www.vdiconference.com/piae/press/.
