DRUPA organisers say 80 per cent of stand space for the 2016 show is booked.
The international trade fair – which now addresses “print and crossmedia solutions” – opens in Düsseldorf, Germany, on May 31, 2016.
Messe Düsseldorf chairman Werner Dornscheidt says that if the trend continues, “DRUPA 2016 will once again, as throughout its 60 year history, be sold out and will cover the entire marketplace relating to print and crossmedia”.
“In the light of the challenging environment, this is a more than outstanding result. No other industry event worldwide – neither the small, regional niche events nor national trade shows – can offer what we can.
“This result clearly confirms that our strategic realignment with its focus on future-oriented and highlight topics is correct.”
Organisers say the show will focus more heavily on future-oriented technologies such as printed electronics, 3D printing and inkjet, including its industrial applications.
KBA president Claus Bolza-Schünemann – who is chairman of the exhibitor advisory board – welcomed the “new” DRUPA, saying the internet “simply cannot replace direct contact with people and ideas in the global print and media marketplace”, or direct experience of the latest technologies.
“At DRUPA 2016 we are again expecting lively interaction for both tried and trusted and the very latest ideas in all areas of print and crossmedia. The slogan ‘touch the future’ clearly highlights the focus on innovation and new concepts.”
And he says KBA “will certainly be there once again”.
Another supporter is Kodak, whose new chief marketing officer Steven Overman sees it as “the ultimate venue” to show integrated print solutions to customers and partners. Alongside process-free plates will be inkjet presses and micro-3D printing processes to mass-produce touch sensors.
Sheetfed giant Heidelberg has also pledged its full backing for what it says will be “an interesting milestone”.
A recent ‘Global insights’ report noted the ways the internet and digital communication overall had changed print “in a fundamental way”, referring to interaction through Big data, web-to-print, variable data printing and internet-supported tools such as augmented reality and QR codes.
A highlighted topic is multichannel printing with Hewlett-Packard, a top ten exhibitor and active committee member, confirming its involvement. “Communication between people is evolving just as quickly as technology,” graphics solutions worldwide marketing director Francois Martin says. “The new DRUPA stands for effective and sustainable communication in a social, mobile and cloud-based world."
Also giving their backing to the digitisation of the sector and the repositioning of the trade show is Landa Nanographic Printing, which expects to almost double its stand space to 2600 m2 for “another historic milestone on the road to the digitisation of the printing industry, according to marketing vice president Ila Bialystok.
The 19 halls will be structured “according to the individual industry areas and topics” starting at the end of 2014, with the specialised programme – including the innovation park, DRUPA cube and ‘touch points’ theme parks – will be designed accordingly.
Organisers say the exhibitor admission process will begin in September 2015 with an initial exhibitor list published online then.