drupa 2024, the world’s No. 1 commerce honest for printing applied sciences, got here to a profitable shut on June 7 after eleven days in Düsseldorf, Germany. It impressively demonstrated the progress of a whole sector and demonstrated the operational excellence of the business.
A complete of 1,643 exhibitors from 52 nations introduced an impressive showcase of improvements within the Düsseldorf exhibition halls and impressed the commerce guests with unforgettable performances. The worldwide share of the guests was 80%, with attendees coming from 174 international locations—a report determine. After Europe, Asia was probably the most strongly represented area with 22%, adopted by America with 12%. Asia in addition to Latin America and the MENA area are markets with nice progress potential, which was mirrored within the important enhance in exhibitor participation and order books.
Many key gamers, similar to Bobst, Canon, Fujifilm, Heidelberger Druckmaschinen, HP, Horizon, Koenig & Bauer, Komori Konica Minolta, Kurz and Landa, reported having signed contracts that considerably exceeded expectations. In some instances, the gross sales targets set had been already achieved within the first few days of the commerce honest.
Erhard Wienkamp, Managing Director at Messe Düsseldorf, is extremely glad with the course of the commerce honest: “drupa has underpinned its place because the business’s main commerce honest and its distinctive enchantment in a exceptional means. The spectacular worldwide aptitude and, above all, the excessive decision-making competence of the guests ensured in-depth and well-founded technical discussions on the commerce honest stands on the one hand and many direct funding choices on the opposite. Our exhibitors instructed us about large-volume buy agreements.”
Dr. Andreas Pleßke, Chairman of the drupa Committee, emphasised the distinctive place and relevance of drupa: “drupa stands for brand spanking new approaches and new applied sciences like no different commerce honest. It’s not solely the biggest, however additionally a very powerful international platform for our business, as a result of the whole printing and post-press business meets at this the world-leading commerce honest. It has been invaluable for producing leads. Nowhere else gives the chance to make so many new worldwide contacts from all around the world in such a quick area of time in a single place.”
Trade decision-makers extremely glad
Exhibitors praised the excessive degree of decision-making authority of the guests. They, in flip, gave high marks to the vary of services and products on supply within the 18 exhibition halls. Round 96% of all guests confirmed that that they had totally achieved the aims related to their go to. Over 50% got here from the printing business, adopted by the packaging business, whose share has elevated considerably and which was the focus of many exhibitors as a progress driver. Many well-known model house owners had been welcomed on the commerce honest stands. Total, 170,000 commerce guests attended drupa 2024.
Digitalization as a figuring out issue
Automation took heart stage at this yr’s drupa, with a powerful give attention to AI and good workflows, together with software program options. It grew to become evident that digital and analogue applied sciences ideally complement and profit from one another. Conventional business leaders introduced a variety of digital options, whereas digital pioneers built-in standard parts into their choices. Robotics performed an vital function within the exhibition halls and illustrated the trail in direction of the good manufacturing facility.
Transformation and progress
drupa made it very clear that the business has nice potential for the long run, even towards the backdrop of many challenges and that the prospects are promising. Within the final monetary yr, the worldwide printing business achieved a turnover of round EUR 840 billion (supply: Smithers) and continues to develop at various tempo worldwide.
“At drupa 2024, we skilled firsthand simply how related and resilient this business is,” summarizes Sabine Geldermann, Director drupa, Portfolio Print Applied sciences. “The neighborhood is decided to set the course for the long run collectively. Exchanging concepts with individuals from all continents and from all areas of the business was extraordinarily enriching and provoking. We had been capable of welcome round 50 massive delegations from varied nations, and quite a few globally lively associations and organizations selected drupa as the perfect setting for his or her conferences and board conferences.”
Collectively we’re stronger. Many new strategic alliances concluded on the commerce honest mirrored the alternatives which can be solely doable in such a concentrated type at drupa: assembly market gamers from different international locations around the globe in particular person, utilizing core competences as synergy results, forming networks and driving the market ahead collectively
Sustainable applied sciences in focus
Expertise is the important thing to reaching sustainability objectives – exhibitors at drupa illustrated this with quite a few practice-orientated developments and concrete options. Prime precedence is given to useful resource effectivity and the trail to a functioning round financial system. As well as, Touchpoint Sustainability from the German Equipment and Gear Producers’ Affiliation (VDMA) showcased present state-of-the-art improvements, introduced best-practice use instances and gave a far-reaching outlook into the way forward for a sustainable printing business.
Priceless data switch
The intensive supporting program with its 5 high-caliber particular boards drupa dice, drupa subsequent age (dna) and the Touchpoints Packaging, Textile and Sustainability was very effectively acquired. In instances of fixed change and the ensuing new enterprise fashions, they ensured an intensive switch of data and supplied vital steerage. Along with its companions, drupa targeted on spectacular business experience and the long run subjects of its goal teams. Guided excursions on varied key subjects rounded off the commerce honest expertise.
The subsequent staging of drupa will likely be in 2028 in Düsseldorf, Germany.
