Better Performance, less weight: BARLOG Plastics showcases the potential of metal replacement at Fakuma 2026

Overath, 14 September 2026 Reducing weight, integrating functions and cutting costs at the same time: replacing metal with modern high-performance plastics opens up new opportunities for companies in the development of high-performance and cost-effective products. BARLOG Plastics GmbH will be demonstrating how this potential can be harnessed in practice at Fakuma 2026 in Friedrichshafen (Hall A3, Stand 3309) . The focus will be on material and component design concepts that enable metal components to be replaced or supplemented by high-performance plastics. This is no longer solely about weight reduction or corrosion resistance. Modern compounds open up new possibilities for functional integration and provide additional degrees of freedom in product development.

More than just a substitute for metal

Whether in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, the automotive industry or consumer goods: in numerous applications, engineering plastics now offer properties that were traditionally the preserve of metals. These include, amongst others, high mechanical strength, electromagnetic shielding, magnetic properties and the ability to precisely control high material densities.

At Fakuma 2026, BARLOG Plastics will use specific application examples to demonstrate how these properties can be specifically utilised to make components more high-performing, cost-effective and sustainable. Furthermore, the use of highly reinforced and application-optimised compounds enables functions to be integrated, component structures to be simplified and assembly costs to be reduced.

“Modern plastics today offer significantly more than simply a substitute for metal. The combination of innovative materials, technical expertise and application-specific component design results in solutions that can sustainably improve both the performance and cost-effectiveness of products,” explains Peter Barlog, managing partner of BARLOG Plastics GmbH.

Boosting performance, reducing costs

In addition to technical performance, the focus is particularly on economic potential. Through lighter component weights, reduced manufacturing and assembly costs, and the possibility of functional integration, companies can sustainably lower their overall costs. At the same time, modern plastics solutions open up new possibilities for material-efficient designs, functional integration and the use of materials containing recycled content.

Further innovations at Fakuma 2026

Alongside innovative material concepts for metal replacement, BARLOG Plastics will be presenting further highlights from its range of services and materials at Fakuma 2026. The focus will be on rapid tooling for the swift production of prototypes, pilot runs and small batches; the expansion of the KEBALLOY® ECO portfolio with materials based on recycled content; PFAS-free plain bearing materials; and the new KEBAPEAK® high-performance compounds based on PEKK.
In addition, the company will be presenting the ECO Calculator and its ECO Consulting services. These enable companies to evaluate and compare different material and product concepts using key metrics such as the Product Carbon Footprint (PCF), material usage and costs. This supports the technical and economic assessment of material decisions right from the early stages of development.
With its combination of materials development, application-oriented engineering and solutions for prototype and small-batch production, BARLOG Plastics is presenting itself at Fakuma 2026 as a development partner for demanding plastics applications.

BARLOG Plastics at Fakuma 2026: Hall A3, Stand 3309