Organisers say they found it difficult to postpone the next drupa trade show, but they regard it as the only right choice for everyone involved. The question for everyone now is what will happen on the way to drupa 2021?
The organisers have gathered statements from the industry confirming loyalty to the trade fair and stressing the importance of direct interaction with existing and new customers that global trade fairs make possible. The industry hopes for a quick end of the pandemic and is counting on a strong drupa 2021.
Giacomo Farnè, sales representative for Italian exhibitor Pentabox, says, “We are glad Messe Düsseldorf decided to postpone drupa to 2021. drupa is the industry’s key event everyone is waiting for. That is why it is so important that the fair can function without restrictions, that many visitors come and that we can exchange ideas intensively for 11 days.”
Hiroaki Shimosaka, general manager of Graphic Systems Business Division at Fujifilm Corporation agrees. He says, “We were already in the final stages of preparing for drupa 2020. However, given the current exceptional situation, we believe the decision to postpone was both right and unavoidable. The announcement in March has minimised the economic damage to exhibitors and we are grateful that the decision was made before the impact could become even more drastic.
“However, while the Coronavirus is causing social-distancing and general caution, the communication infrastructure provided by the printing industry, and the role of print remains unchanged. We are therefore preparing for drupa 2021 to be successful, when the extent of the Coronavirus has subsided.”
Organisers add that, while the postponement goes hand in hand with adjustments, it also offers opportunities: Some exhibitors plan to make the most of the additional time and complete and redevelop further innovations and to ask for a greater presence at the trade fair in 2021.
In the meantime, drupa invites its community to take advantage of the website’s various features to present themselves, publish company and product information free of charge and keep up to date via the newsroom and social media channels. These services can bridge the current need for presentation and visibility as well as provide the industry with targeted information and interaction.
Positive comments have come from countries with strong representation at drupa which are heavily affected by the Coronavirus such as China and Italy. Stefano Monfredini, sales director at Technomac Italia, says, “Due to the pandemic, we need to give people and companies the time to regain their strength and wait for confidence to return as the driving force for private and business life. We believe that the postponement of drupa gives everyone the opportunity to regain balance on which to build the future.”
Loretta Sellecchia, manager for Marketing and Exports SCS Atomaberg, says, “Although it will take some time to get back to normal, we are confident that drupa will be the solution to give the printing industry a new boost.”
Organisers say that as a platform for industry participants, drupa provides orientation, impetus and, above all, meeting the demand for face to face meetings to a high degree. Jean-Pascal Bobst, chief executive officer at Bobst, says, “At the first drupa in 1951, Bobst sold 43 machines. 70 years later, in 2021, we will be shaping the future of the packaging world at drupa by actively driving change in the industry, sharing our vision in a changing world is essential, and drupa 2021 will be the right place to do so.”
Claus Bolza-Schünemann, chief executive of Koenig & Bauer adds, “drupa is the leading trade fair and the highlight of an entire industry. We at Koenig & Bauer have already put a lot of energy and passion into drupa. We would like to share this with you, also in 2021, and of course on the way there. Stay tuned, it’s worth it.”
The drupa team will continue working hard to support the exhibitors in their efforts to remain successful in the market even after the effects of the Coronavirus. Guanghui Wu, chairman of Shanghai Yoco Printing Machinery. And Wei Huang, chairman of UP Group, add, “After the storm comes a rainbow. We are looking forward to April 2021 to meet at the most important global meeting place for the industry, drupa. “
