drupa 2016 to Showcase Printed Electronics, 3D Printing, Production Inkjet Printing

drupa 2016 is already set for success: Worldwide industry and its global players are giving their clear support for the next drupa, and many have booked larger exhibition space than for the previous show. Even now – 18 months before the start of the event on May 31, 2016 – 80 percent of the exhibition space has been booked.
 
If this 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. International global players and market leaders will be at drupa 2016 alongside upcoming and innovative companies from around the world.
 
With the motto of “Touch the Future,” drupa 2016 will focus more heavily on future-oriented technologies such as printed electronics, 3D printing and inkjet printing with its industrial applications. These innovative technologies are driving the market forward and are opening up significant opportunities and growth potential worldwide, primarily in the field of packaging, functional and industrial printing.
 
According to Smithers Pira (UK), sales in the packaging print sector will rise annually by four percentage points to US$970 billion by 2018. There are also indications of growth in the industrial and functional printing sector. Since 2008 this market, that includes printing processes for the production of decorative and laminated surfaces, ceramics, vehicle parts, promotional items or electronic products, has risen annually by 13.4%, and in 2013 achieved a volume of US$43.7 billion. Experts from InfoTrends (USA/UK) currently value the market at US$100 billion.
 
“We recognized the growth potential of these markets very early on and successfully set in motion the special ‘PEPSO’ (Printed Electronics Products and Solutions) exhibition at drupa 2012, for example,” said Werner Dornscheidt, president and CEO of Messe Düsseldorf. “At drupa 2016 we will cover this topic with additional events in the specialized program and in form of special shows, known as ‘touch points.’”
 
The market for 3D printing is developing even more dynamically. The global market volume is currently estimated at around US$2.2 billion. The Association of German Machine and System Engineers (Verband Deutscher Maschinen- und Anlagenbau), which recently founded the company Additive Manufacturing, is anticipating an annual growth rate of 25 percent.
 
“We have therefore developed the ‘3D fab+print’ brand specifically for this market segment,” said Dornscheidt. “At drupa and other relevant Düsseldorf trade shows, we are joining forces with other exhibitors in 3D printing technology and bringing greater focus to the entire topic of 3D.”