Record Registration Results For Drupa 2008: 19 Halls Totalling 170,000 Square Meters of Exhibition Space

DÜSSELDORF, GERMANY—It’s official: drupa 2008 will break all previous records. With some 170,000 square metres of net exhibition space (roughly equivalent to 40 soccer fields) and exhibitor numbers topping 1,800, the print media fair to be staged from 29 May to 11 June 2008 will be the biggest ever in its more than 50-year history. This will entail the use of the Düsseldorf Trade Fair Center’s full capacity, including all new additions. There were already indications of this trend last year, shortly before the official close of registrations on 31 October. Increases to leading international technology suppliers’ space requirements, plus larger-scale joint presentations from Asia in particular were the major factors influencing this result.

“The registration figures provide compelling proof that more than substantiates the status of the fair as the world’s No. 1 event for the print and media industry,” asserted Werner M. Dornscheidt, President and CEO of Messe Düsseldorf. “The complete palette of the global market’s offerings and each link in the value chain, from design to the finished printed product, will be showcased in Düsseldorf. Industry leaders and global players will share the floor with small, innovative companies at Drupa,” continued Dornscheidt.

What’s more, the registration results also reflect the industry’s development. “What’s most striking is the boost in participation by suppliers of digital solutions. Compared to Drupa 2004, this focal area will swell significantly and take on a key role in the fair’s overall concept,” commented Manuel Mataré, Drupa Project Director. The guiding principle in implementing the sector breakdown is a focus on demand-oriented presentation that takes into account visitors’ needs. In other words, organizing Drupa according to the most intuitive and transparent plan. The two new halls, 8a and 8b, in the north of the fairgrounds have a key role to play as they will primarily house exhibitors whose product portfolios hinge on digital solutions (e.g. Xerox, HP-Indigo, Agfa-Gevaert, Fujifilm). The same thematic focus will also spill over into the closest neighboring Halls 5 and 9 (e.g. Kodak, Konica Minolta, Ricoh). The other Drupa 2008 cornerstones are: