drupa to Continue on Four-Year Cycle; Show Length Shortened to 11 Days
DÜSSELDORF, GERMANY—Nov. 5, 2012—drupa is to maintain its four-year cycle for conducting the international printing trade show. That decision was made by the 20-member drupa committee at its meeting held on Nov. 2, 2012. A key factor in this decision was the international trade fair calendar that is built around a four-year cycle with drupa as the world’s most important trade fair for the print and media industry.
“Many innovative exhibitors and their successful customers would very much like a more frequent event. However, the supplier industry plans its entire trade fair marketing activities within a global concept. Dependable planning is of the utmost importance here in view of the current economic climate and the situation in international sales markets,” explained Kai Büntemeyer, chairman of the Printing and Paper Technology Assn. (Fachverband Druck-und Papiertechnik) within the VDMA (German Engineering Federation) and president of Global Print.
At the same time, the drupa committee decided to shorten the length of the fair to eleven days. The next installment is schedule to run May 31 to June 10, 2016.
“The visitor structure at drupa has changed. While in the past large groups travelled to the fair—preferably at the weekend—drupa is now increasingly developing into a B2B fair with a high proportion of top decision-makers,” noted Werner Matthias Dornscheidt, CEO at Messe Düsseldorf. “At this year’s drupa, 78 percent of the international visitors and 52 percent of German visitors came from top management; respectively this is four and five percentage points more than in 2008. This makes running over two weekends unnecessary. With 11 days—i.e. one weekend and nine working days—we perfectly cater to the needs of both supply and demand.”
The second major item on the agenda of the meeting concerned personnel. The body unanimously appointed Dipl.-Ing. Claus Bolza-Schünemann, CEO of Koenig & Bauer AG, as the chairman of drupa 2016. As in 1995, 2000, 2004 and 2008, Koenig & Bauer will once again be providing drupa’s chairman in the form of Claus Bolza-Schünemann, now aged 56.
“I am delighted to assume the presidency at such an exciting time. Our sector is developing at a rapid pace and drupa 2016 will represent a key milestone on the path into the future,” explained Claus Bolza-Schünemann.
Dr. Jürgen Vutz, CEO at Windmöller & Hölscher KG was confirmed as vice chairman and thus chairman of the Admissions Committee, and Rolf Schwarz, president of the German Printing and Media Industries Federation (Bundesverband Druck und Medien e.V.), was confirmed as the second vice chairman of drupa 2016.
For further information on visiting or exhibiting at drupa 2016, contact Messe Düsseldorf North America, 150 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 2920, Chicago, IL 60601. Telephone: (312) 781-5180; Fax: (312) 781-5188; e-mail: info@mdna.com; website: www.mdna.com.
Source: Messe Düsseldorf.
