Earlier this month the floorplan for the 2020 event was released, and organisers unveiled a raft of new services and tools to help visitors plan their trip to Germany, where the show will take place at Messe Düsseldorf from 16 to 26 June 2020.
It has been confirmed that, based on the current booking status, around 30% of the expected 1,800 international exhibitors will be new to the show in 2020. New faces on the floorplan include metal coatings specialist Actega and ceramics and electronics manufacturer Kyocera.
Drupa director Sabine Geldermann told Printweek that visitors will see a number of changes compared with the 2016 event.
“Our industry continues to evolve and so does Drupa as a mirror of the industry. Due to mergers and acquisitions as well as new partnerships between manufacturers and suppliers, some halls reveal new exhibitor constellation and the emphasis of product focus by that has been adapted where necessary.
“Our floorplan reflects this development. Package printing certainly will see a much bigger presence, as in 2016, and digital technologies and applications are shown in nearly all halls of our fair ground. One major fact is that joint initiatives and production lines/workflows will be shown in cooperation to fully reveal the potential of efficient supply chains.”
She added: “The new Hall 1 and south entrance has been one of the most significant investments in our infrastructure. It will be an 'architectonical' highlight with a complete new facelift towards the river Rhein.
“In addition, Hall 1 provides excellent seminar facilities, an impressive new foyer and multifunctional facilities. [There is] new parking space and easy access by car, bus and taxi – a completely new customer experience.”
Reflecting on the increasing presence of online printers at the 2020 show, which will include FlyerAlarm, and Cimpress companies WirMachenDruck and Pixart, Geldermann said: “While having formed an integral part of our visitor community over the last Drupa editions, we are happy to welcome an increasing number of print service providers on the exhibitor side in 2020, too.
“As the last element of the value chain, these companies showcase the result of print technology applications, i.e. the final product, and this in turn attracts a growing number of media agencies and brand owners on the visitor side.”
As was confirmed earlier this month, tickets to the 2020 show can now be purchased online from the Drupa Ticketshop.
“Efficient planning is crucial and offers the best conditions for getting in touch with exhibitors in time,” said Geldermann.
“Our dedicated forums and conference areas will again offer high-quality knowledge transfer and we would like to encourage and engage our worldwide visitors at an early stage.
“We want to facilitate their agenda setting and also offer the best support for them to benefit from early registrations e.g. the use of public transportation free of charge.”
Michael Smetana, global head of marketing operations at HP’s Graphics Solutions Business, has confirmed that, as in 2016, the manufacturer will once again take around 6,200sqm space.
He told Printweek: “Drupa is a launch pad for new products and innovations that will further drive the analogue to Indigo transformation. HP’s Graphics Solutions Business will be hosting the tradeshow’s largest exhibit and digital printing showcase.”
But while digital and inkjet technologies continue to become an increasingly large part of Drupa with each subsequent outing, litho is still well represented, with Heidelberg, Mitsubishi, Komori and Koenig & Bauer all having large presences in halls 1, 8a, 15 and 16 respectively.
