Special | Drupa Preview
FLYING THE FLAG FOR THE FUTURE OF PRINT
ACROSS 18 SHOW HALLS, MORE THAN 1,500 EXHIBITORS FROM 50 COUNTRIES WILL COME TOGETHER AT MESSE DUSSELDORF FOR DRUPA 2024. SHOULD YOU BE AT THE PARTY?
The last in-person Drupa was in 2016. There have been a few developments since then, but now is not the time for a review, and indeed the tagline for what Wikipedia describes as ‘the largest printing equipment exhibition in the world,’ is running with the tagline ‘We Create the Future’. Yes, it’s hype, but it’s also accurate because together that’s exactly what we’re doing. And if there’s any place you’re going to get the industry together - well, bar the odd notable exception - it’s here. Believe it or not, Wikipedia isn’t always completely accurate, and as everyone within the print industry knows, Drupa is far more than a printing equipment exhibition. At the last count 1,575 exhibitors from 50 countries had signed up to present a plethora of technologies impacting all aspects of print. Add to that high-calibre knowledge exchange, discussion and networking platforms - not to mention the odd party or two - and you get a fabulous melting pot of ideas as well as insight into technological development and market trends.
10 | June/July 2024 Yup, packaging is going to be an enormous focus, AT A GLANCE
Drupa 2024 Where:
Messe Dusseldorf, Germany When:
28 May - 7 June, 2024 Times:
10am - 6pm, Monday-Friday 10am - 5pm, Saturday-Sunday Cost:
1-day - 60 euros 3-day - 165 euros 5-day - 255 euros
as we all assumed it would be given the amount of studies/data flagging it up as a sector most ripe for digitisation - that watchword which seems to have segued into ‘digitalisation’. Having conducted surveys of over 600 printers and manufacturers last year Drupa organisers drew up a list of six key topics as being at the top of printers’ priority lists for more research and investment: the changing dynamics of analogue and digital production came top, followed by: workflow and automation; print embellishment and finishing; Web-to-print; digital packaging and labels; sustainability and ESG (environmental, social and governance). Needless to say, these topics will get a good airing at the show - which can be a blur of activity and stimulus overload for even old-timers never mind the uninitiated, so prepare well. If you’re focusing on large-format at the event, you
might want to bear in mind the following information on new introductions - and we’ll keep you updated on other ‘launch’ news on the Image Reports website as it comes in of course.
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