drupa 2016 to Relaunch, Restructure Trade Show with a Key Focus on Future Technologies

After a strategic realignment, drupa 2016, the largest trade fair for print and cross-media solutions, will be re-launched with a substantially revised nomenclature and a new key visual.

With the slogan “touch the future,” it will focus on the industry’s innovative strength and establish a platform for future technologies. This re-launch was recently announced at a press conference during the interpack 2014 trade fair (leading trade show for the packaging industry) in Düsseldorf, Germany. drupa will take place from May 31-June 10, 2016, at the fairgrounds in Düsseldorf.

“No other trade fair – regional or international, nice market event or special trade show – is of similar relevance for the entire industry,” said Werner Matthias Dornscheidt, president and CEO of Messe Düsseldorf. “The drupa trade fair presents innovations and trends, provides hands-on experience of the printing and media industry, makes visions come to life and turns investments into real products. During its more than 60-year history, drupa has been tried and tested _ and has never failed to impress. And drupa 2016 will be no different.”

Currently, the printing industry is undergoing radical structural changes and far-reaching consolidation processes. At the same time, new technologies such as functional printing, printed electronics and 3-D printing, which have significantly increased their market share, provide major opportunities and potential for growth. The same applies to applications and solutions in the area of digital printing, package and label printing, as well as to the industrial production segment.

“It is precisely these areas that the drupa’s structural realignment and repositioning measures are focused on, highlighting the industry’s innovative strength,” explained Dorscheidt. “Together with our partners, the German Engineering Federation (VDMA), our member companies Heidelberger Druckmaschinen, Koenig & Bauer, Kolbus, Leonhard Kurz, manroland web systems, Polar-Mohr, technotrans, Voith, Windmöller & Hölscher – to name just a few – and global players such as Bobst, Canon, EFI, Gallus, Hewlett-Packard, Ricoh and Xerox, we have developed the concept for the drupa’s re-launch.”

drupa 2016 will stand for “print & cross-media solutions.” All technical processes related to the areas of printing and cross-media, the entire range of applications and business areas will be presented at the trade fair.

drupa has defined key issues with prominent market relevance and significant potential which are already playing an important role in the market or will do so in the future: package printing including digital label printing, multichannel publishing and green printing. The implementation of strategic activities such as separate events, event formats and systematically addressing the industry’s target groups will define drupa’s strategic re-alignment in these areas.

In addition to this realignment, drupa’s corporate design got a complete makeover and a new key visual highlights the innovative strength of this industry. It was important to keep established elements such as the pixel logo and the color red, while conveying a new image that underlines the claim of the new drupa.

The slogan “touch the future” highlights the industry’s innovative strength and future technologies, such as printed electronics and 3-D printing. drupa 2012 launched and prepared the market for pioneering technologies and they have become increasingly integrated into the trade fair concept.

In cooperation with the partners OE-A (Organic Electronics Association) and ESMA (Association in Europe for Specialist Printing Manufacturers of Screen, Digital and Flexo technology), the PEPSO brand Printed Electronics Products and Solutions was established. This theme was initially addressed by introducing a special show that has now been developed into a unique concept. Since its premiere in 2012, the PEPSO brand has been systematically developed and featured at six other leading trade fairs organized by Messe Düsseldorf: glasstec, COMPAMED, EuroCIS, K, EuroShop and interpack.

drupa addresses the issue of 3-D printing with the same strategic approach and has introduced the “3D fab + print” brand, which is supported by the VDMA with its affiliated Printing and Paper Technology association. The importance of additive production methods for tooling, component production, medical technology and consumer goods manufacturing is substantial.