Printing United has grown its exhibitor numbers in a drupa year and has addressed the issues with overlapping Labelexpo dates.
Mark Stubers, president of Printing United, said, “This year, we have 817 exhibitors which is surprising in a drupa year across 386,850 net square feet, which is up from 810 exhibitors and 380,000 net square feet last year.”
He explained that Heidelberg and Koenig & Bauer had made significant investments for drupa 2024. He said, “We would have had another 15,000 square feet of growth if those two companies had attended Printing United this year.”
The global printing industry has criticised this year’s overlapping dates for Printing United and Labelexpo Americas. In addition, a third show, SuperCorr corrugated exhibition, is running September 8-12 in Oralndo, Florida.
Subers explained that their preferred dates of late October were changed to September when one of the world’s largest trade fairs for the private jet and aviation industry decided to hold its event every year in Las Vegas.
He said, “The show that knocked us out this year is now every year in Las Vegas. And while these September dates are not ideal, we will have the beautiful North Hall and Central Hall all re-done by the time we return in 2026. The reason why we are back to back in Las Vegas is because we had to cancel the event in 2020 and 2021 and the contracts were extended and this is how they have been able to fit us in.”
Printing United will not overlap with Labelexpo Europe next year when it is held from 16-19 September in Barcelona. Organsiers have confirmed dates for the next six years to ensure no more overlaps will occur. The dates are
Printing United 2025 – October 22-24 in Orlando, Florida.
Printing United 2026 – September 23-25 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Printing United 2027 – September 14-16 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Printing United 2028 – October 18-20 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Printing United 2029 – October 24-26 in Orlando, Florida.
Printing United 2030 – October 16-18 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Printing United’s reach is also be bolstered through the strategic partnership of Messe Düsseldorf Group and Printing United Alliance announced at drupa 2024.
