The news has finally arrived: the Drupa exhibition will not take place this year! The rapid spread of the coronavirus epidemic has taken the edge off the biggest event in the graphic arts world. Scheduled from Tuesday 16 to Friday 26 June 2020 in Dusseldorf, Germany, Drupa has been postponed to Tuesday 20 to Friday 30 April 2021 at the same venue.
"A postponement of Drupa was inevitable after the latest developments. The decision is therefore fair and responsible." says Drupa President Claus Bolza-Schünemann.
The organizer Messe Düsseldorf is thus following the recommendation of the crisis management team of the German Federal Government and the Robert-Koch Institute, which is responsible for disease control and prevention in Germany.
Added to this is the decision of the city of Düsseldorf, on Wednesday 11 March, to ban all events with more than 1000 participants in order to slow the spread of the coronavirus and maintain a functioning health system. Drupa 2016 attracted more than 260,000 visitors from 180 countries.
In addition, the measures to reduce the risk of transmission at major events advocated by the Robert Koch Institute were practically impossible for the organizer to implement (such as ventilation of the sites appropriate to the risk of infection, exclusion of people at risk or the installation of screening at the entrance to the exhibition).
"Many exhibitors begin their logistical preparations in mid-March. Today's announcement allows everyone involved to react now, to postpone and prepare for the new event date in April 2021, indicates Claus Bolza-Schünemann. Enthusiasm 'embracing the future' (Drupa's 2020 slogan, editor's note) remains intact".
"We would like to thank all the partners for their excellent cooperation in making these difficult and time-sensitive decisions." continues Werner M. Dornscheidt.
And Messe Düsseldorf assures that it will do everything it can to reduce the economic losses suffered by exhibitors.
