The atmosphere at drupa 2016, the world’s biggest and most important trade fair for print and crossmedia solutions, can hardly be topped: the investment climate is extremely good and has far exceeded all expectations. As the 11-day trade fair draws to a close the 1,837 exhibitors from 54 countries unanimously reported excellent business deals, extremely promising contacts and a positive spirit for the global print industry.
The re-positioning of drupa and its focus on future themes with strong growth potential – such as 3D printing, functional printing or packaging printing – proves to be a real asset. Be it publication, commercial, packaging or industrial printing – printing technology offers matching solutions for all of these applications while opening up new lines of business and business models at the same time. “The print industry is constantly re-inventing itself and offers a wealth of high-potential facets. And this is precisely what drupa 2016 has very impressively proven. We were able to experience a highly innovative industry here in the 19 exhibition halls, one that has succeeded in moving out of the “valley of tears” and grasping the future by the neck,” explains Claus Bolza-Schünemann, Chairman of the drupa Committee and Chairman of the Board at Koenig & Bauer AG.
DRUPA 2016: TRADE FAIR OF DECISION MAKERS AND CAPITAL SPENDERS
Some 260,000 visitors from 188 countries and some 1,900 journalists from 74 countries travelled to Düsseldorf to learn about technology innovations, further developments and new business lines. Visitors’ decision-making competence is extremely high: approximately 75% of all visitors are executives and in a decisive and or co-decisive capacity when it comes to capital expenditure in their companies. Various other indicators produced by the visitors’ survey also underscore very clearly that drupa is a flawless B2B trade fair and platform for business decisions:
• 54% of visitors came to drupa 2016 with concrete investment intentions
• 29% placed orders during drupa
• 30% are planning to place their orders after drupa
• 60% found new suppliers at drupa
The development in visitor attendance (2012: 314,248) reflects the worldwide consolidation occurring in the industry. This is why visitors’ high decision-making competence produced a particularly positive effect, all the more as one in two visitors expected their companies’ business to develop very well over the next twelve months. “Customers – with very few exceptions – no longer come with large delegations or as part of a company outing to drupa. It is rather the top managers that travel to Düsseldorf today – and from 188 countries to this drupa,” explains Werner Matthias Dornscheidt, President & CEO of Messe Düsseldorf GmbH.
DRUPA 2016: GLOBAL NO. 1 TRADE FAIR
Totalling 76%, the percentage of international visitors is up 16% from four years ago. This figure can be attributed to Asian visitors: 17% of international visitors came from this continent alone (2012: 13.6%). And here India accounted for the largest share with 5%, followed by China with 3%. The leading European countries were Italy, France, the Netherlands and the UK. “This means that drupa has enhanced its global market significance and its international rating even further. It is the unrivalled global No. 1 trade fair for the print and media industries,” reaffirms Werner Matthias Dornscheidt.
POSITIVE VERDICT FOR TECHNICAL SIDE EVENTS
Meeting with high demand was the programme of accompanying expert events with its three pillars drupa cube, drupa innovation park, 3D fab + print, touchpoint packaging as well as Printed Electronics and Solutions. One in two drupa visitors were interested in the various special shows and lecture theatres. drupa cube, the event and congress location, was received particularly enthusiastically. Almost 3,500 drupa visitors flooded into the cube over the eleven trade fair days in order to find out about a plethora of topics. In particular high demand were the keynotes by Frans Johansson (founder and CEO of The Medici Group), Silas Amos (founder of Silas Amos Ltd. Design Thought) and Shane Wall (Chief Technology Officer HP And Global Head of HP Labs). The Creative Day organised by Messe Düsseldorf in cooperation with W&V which addresses marketers and creative workers in particular, was even sold out. And the C-Level Sessions specifically targeting executives were also fully booked.
Meeting with a very positive response was the drupa innovation park that focused on innovative business models in addition to technology innovations from renowned exhibitors. On display were ready-to-market applications for Augmented Reality in field service and in advertising but also successful examples for multi-channel campaigns. The crucial insights from the content-driven dip 2016: print creates content and added value!
DRUPACITY: AN EXPERIENCE FOR ALL
And drupa does not stop at the gates of the exhibition centre. Instead, Düsseldorf presented itself with a versatile programme as an attractive trade fair destination for all things drupa: be it an exhibition or 3D event, discussion forums or a “rolling lab”: drupacity allowed thousands of interested visitors to experience the trade fair themes – live and hands-on right in the city centre – providing both drupa visitors and exhibitors with tangible added value and a concept that is truly “one of a kind” worldwide. “Our concept of bringing the drupa themes to the city thereby making it possible for people to understand and experience technology has paid off 100%. Thanks to numerous city-centre activities Düsseldorf citizens and visitors were able relate to the trade fair themes. drupacity proved an experience for all,” reworked Boris Neisser, General Manager at the trade association Destination Düsseldorf, which organised the drupacity programme, who went on to say: “The many multipliers from all over the world felt welcome in Düsseldorf and will return to their home countries with these positive impressions. This is “city marketing live” representing a locational advantage not to be underestimated for our city.”
DRUPA STICKS TO PROVEN 4-YEAR CYCLE
As announced at the midpoint of drupa, the event stick to its four-year cycle meaning the next drupa will be held in 2020 – same Düsseldorf, Germany from Tuesday, 23 June, to Friday, 3 July. With this decision Messe Düsseldorf is responding to the numerous demands voiced by exhibiting industry players.
“The current drupa, with its outstanding business deals and positive atmosphere really stands out and has made one thing perfectly clear: “Its USP are the production lines and are in full operation here,” explains Werner Matthias Dornscheidt who adds: “This is one of the reasons why drupa is such a beacon. Precisely this investment – this is what many representatives of the exhibitor community have assured us over the past few days here – they want to be at and with drupa in the future, their No. 1 international industry platform. Therefore in the interest of our customers and international markets, drupa will stick to its 4-year cycle.”
