Features Printing
One year out, industry looks forward to drupa 2021

The new date of April 20-30, 2021 for the drupa 2021 trade show is now firmly established in the international calendar, and the print industry seems to be looking forward to the rescheduled event.

“The decision to postpone [drupa 2020] was difficult, but the only right choice for everyone involved,” officials from show operator Messe Düsseldorf said. “Following are some statements from the industry confirming loyalty to the trade fair and emphasizing the importance of direct interaction with existing and new customers made possible by global trade fairs. The industry hopes for a quick end of the pandemic and is counting on a strong drupa 2021.”

“We are glad Messe Düsseldorf decided to postpone drupa to 2021,” said Giacomo Farnè, a sales representative with Italian exhibitor Pentabox. “drupa is the industry’s key event everyone is waiting for. That’s why it is so important that the trade fair can function without restrictions, that many visitors come and that we can exchange ideas intensively for 11 days.”

“We were already in the final stages of preparing for drupa 2020,” said Hiroaki Shimosaka, general manager of the graphic systems business division of Fujifilm Corp. “However, given the current exceptional situation, we believe the decision to postpone was both right and unavoidable. The announcement in March has minimized 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.”

The postponement goes hand in hand with adjustments, but it also offers opportunities, Messe Düsseldorf said. “Some exhibitors plan to make the most of the additional time and complete and redevelop further innovations, and thus have a greater presence at the trade fair in 2021,” officials said. “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.”

There are also positive comments from countries with strong representation at drupa which have been among those hardest hit by the COVID-19 virus, such as China and Italy. “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,” said Stefano Monfredini, sales director with Technomac Italia. “We believe that the postponement of drupa gives everyone the opportunity to regain balance on which to build the future.”

Loretta Sellecchia, marketing and export manager at SCS Atomaberg, is equally hopeful. “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,” he said.

The online ticket shop for drupa 2021 is now open. For further information and regular updates, visit www.drupa.com.

For further information on visiting or exhibiting at drupa 2021, contact Messe Düsseldorf North America at 312-781-5180, or by email at info@mdna.com.