Driving innovation together: KURZ showcases strong partner projects at FAKUMA

Fuerth/Germany, September 29, 2026: For LEONHARD KURZ, strong partnerships are key to successfully bringing innovative decoration and functional technologies into industrial applications. At FAKUMA 2026, the company will therefore join forces with leading machine manufacturers, toolmakers, and industry partners to showcase several collaborative projects demonstrating the potential of advanced process integration, premium surfaces, and sustainable manufacturing.

“Innovation thrives on the interplay of different areas of expertise. That is why, at FAKUMA, we are not only presenting our technologies, but also demonstrating together with our partners how they can be transformed into market-ready applications,” explains Johannes Romming, Project Manager Innovation & Sustainability at KURZ.

CATWALK: Contour-Following Roll-on Hot Stamping for Complex 3D Geometries

At the DECKERFORM booth (Hall A5, Booth 5205), KURZ and its tooling partner will present the new Contour-Following Roll-on Hot Stamping process live at FAKUMA for the first time. The technology will be demonstrated using the innovative ‘CATWALK INTEGRAL’ plastic cat staircase developed by Swiss start-up CATWALK Adventure Toys AG. The collaborative project illustrates how complex three-dimensional geometries can be decorated with precision along curved surfaces.

Previously manufactured from wood and steel, the stair elements will in future be produced as cost-efficient plastic components. Partial hot stamping gives the components premium surfaces in a wide range of finishes, from authentic wood effects to metallic designs.

What makes this application particularly challenging is its complex three-dimensional geometry. The decoration is applied along curved surfaces that are positioned at different angles to one another. Contour-Following Roll-on Hot Stamping makes it possible to decorate these complex geometries precisely and reproducibly.

The KURZ system on display will demonstrate the stamping process live. The tool is supplied by DECKERFORM, while the machine, tooling technology, process development, and decoration foil are presented as an integrated KURZ solution.

Partnership with ARBURG: Performance Car Key Demonstrates Intelligent Process Integration

At Booth 3101 in Hall A3, KURZ and ARBURG will showcase a premium Performance Car Key that combines design, functionality, and protection in a single component. The exhibit is produced on an ARBURG ALLROUNDER 475 V vertical injection molding machine.

The component is made from post-industrial recycled material (PIR). The tool, developed by KURZ subsidiary Schöfer, integrates KURZ’s new Protective Layer Finish (PLF) technology. This process leaves an exceptionally thin PET protective layer permanently on the component, protecting its surface against mechanical wear. Combined with an exclusive laser texture, the technology creates a premium look and feel while enabling an efficient production process.

The project demonstrates how design, surface protection, sustainability, and cost-efficient manufacturing can be combined within a single component through intelligent process integration. At the same time, it highlights the potential of close collaboration across the entire value chain – from material, tooling, and machinery to the finished product.

Jointly Developed Solutions for Real-World Applications

Whether through live demonstrations of new hot-stamping technologies or integrated IMD solutions for demanding automotive applications, all of the exhibits at FAKUMA share the same objective: To demonstrate how close collaboration between specialized partners can deliver innovative manufacturing solutions that are cost-effective, sustainable, and scalable for industrial production.

With these projects, KURZ reinforces its position as a cross-industry solutions provider, presenting concepts that go far beyond individual components and pave the way for fully integrated processes for the production of the future.