After having postponed Drupa until next year due to the coronavirus epidemic, the organisers of the major graphic arts event have decided to reduce the duration of the show from 11 to nine days. Drupa 2021 will therefore be held tuesday 20 to Wednesday 28 April 2021 in Düsseldorf, Germany.
This change meets the wishes of the partner association VDMA (Printing and Paper Technology Trade Association) and numerous exhibitors to concentrate product presentations and visitor numbers.
"Given that fewer foreign visitors should be able to visit Drupa 2021, a reduction from 11 to nine days seems sensible to us in order to direct the flow of visitors more effectively. In addition, the nine-day duration ensures that machines in operation can still be presented, which is a unique selling point of Drupa", explains Drupa President Claus Bolza-Schünemann.
Another 140,000 m2 of exhibition space reserved
And the organizers are trying to minimize the defections of several major manufacturers like Bobst, Xerox more importantly the German Heidelberg . They point out that despite "some cancellations" the current status of reservations remains at "a high level" with more than 1?500 exhibitors and a net area of more than 140?000 m 2 . At the last Drupa in 2016, the 1?823 exhibitors present had occupied about 156?500 m 2.
"This underlines, once again, the industry's confidence in the international appeal of the event, and that the need for face-to-face meetings, new customer acquisition and live machine presentations still exists."
Of course, the organisers remain particularly vigilant to the health of visitors, exhibitors and employees and will adapt the hygiene and protection measures against coronavirus during the exhibition.
Sabine Geldermann, the director of Drupa, adds: "Drupa 2021, due to the pandemic and hygiene regulations, will certainly be different from what we are used to, but the show will continue to make a very important contribution to the economic recovery."
