Much of the ANZ print industry is preparing to head over to Dusseldorf in the next few days, as drupa, the biggest global print show, which will have a strong packaging component, opens its doors on 28 May.
This year’s drupa will be the first since 2016, the longest break in its 83-year history, with Covid putting paid to the 2020 show. Organisers have high hopes for this years’ event, which will have sustainability, connection, integration and automation as key themes, and where packaging will play the biggest role it has to date.
PKN and stablemate Print21 will have the local industry’s most experienced editorial team covering the expo, with editor Wayne Robinson, editor-at-large Patrick Howard, and publisher Lindy Hughson all at the show, having attended numerous drupas in the past. Robinson and Howard have both been to the past seven, dating from the 1990 event.
The drupa expo effectively sets the agenda for print, highlighting and explaining developments and trends. In automation and labour saving for instance there will be plenty of AI on show, along with robots, with the Smart Factory concept prevalent. There are a host of programmes, educational forums, workshops and presentations taking place, and three special touchpoint streams on packaging, sustainability and textiles.
Visitor numbers will be keenly noted. The 2016 show attracted 260,000 visitors, some 2000 of those from Australia and New Zealand, representing just two of the 183 countries that print professionals came from. The 2016 event saw 20 per cent fewer visitors that the 2012 show, which had 314,000 people through the doors, while 2008 attracted some 391,000 printers, the lower numbers representing a contraction and consolidation of the global industry.
There are 1437 exhibitors this time around, compared with 1828 in 2016, representing the major industry consolidation that has taken place over the last eight years. Hall space this year is the same as 2016, with all 19 halls booked out for the duration of the show, representing 158,000sqm of stands.
At 11 days, this is the shortest drupa for decades, it has been running at 15 days for as long as anyone can remember.
Proprietors of the bars and restaurants of Dusseldorf’s Aldstadt are also preparing for the nightly influx of printers in what will be the best 11 nights of their year.
drupa 2024 open on Tuesday.
